This week, the first graders learned all about brainstorming and were introduced to the brainstorming technique called SCAMPER. We started the day by reviewing their thoughts about inventions that have changed the world. Then we read the book Not a Box a practiced imagining new uses for everyday objects such as boxes in order to build a brainstorm and wake up our brains. The class wrote the following definition for brainstorm: To think of a lot of ideas; creating a storm of ideas in your head. We also talked about how it can be helpful to even share silly ideas in a brainstorm because your silly idea might inspire a genius idea in someone else!

After recess, the students were introduced to the brainstorm method acronym called SCAMPER. This is a tool used by inventors and product designers to come up with novel ideas. We used Reese's peanut butter cups as our practice produce and though of all the ways we could Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, rePurpose, Eliminate, Reverse, and Resize a Reese's cup to make a new product! Then, the students SCAMPER-fied a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in their Book Creator portfolios. It is okay if the students don't fully grasp this concept yet because it is something we will circle back to a few more times this year as well as in future GATE years.