Have you ever seen inventors on TV or in the newspaper and thought, "That could be me!" Well, it certainly could- and this book shows you how. Kids Inventing! gives you easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for turning your ideas into realities for fun, competition, and even profit

From finding an idea and creating a working model topatenting, manufacturing, and selling your invention, you get expert guidance in all the different stages of inventing. You'll see how to keep an inventor's log, present your ideas, and work as part of a team or with a mentor. You'll meet inspiring kids just like you who designed their own award-winning inventions. And you'll see how to prepare for the various state and national invention contests held each year, as well as international competitions and science fairs

Discover how exciting it can be to rethink the world around you, solve problems, and surprise and delight others with the results. Anything's possible with Kids Inventing! (Who knows- you might even become famous!)

Foreword /

Nicholas D. Frankovits

and

Leila Gay Evans --

Acknowledgments --

Introduction --

1.

Getting an idea -- Look for a problem to solve -- Break problems into smaller parts -- Think about improving something you already enjoy -- Think about solving a community problem -- Think about the needs of others -- Find an idea through research -- Find a use for something you discover -- Is your idea an invention? -- Activities --

2.

Keeping a journal or an inventor's log and writing a report -- Logs and journals -- Reports -- Inventor's logs, journals, and reports as part of a display -- Activities --

3.

Making a model -- Start with a sketch -- Make a list of materials -- List the tools you will need -- Estimate costs -- Inventory your skills and acquire others -- Set up a workshop -- Ask for help and be safe -- Make a scale model -- Activities --

4.

Naming your invention -- Name your invention after yourself -- Name your invention for what it does -- Use word tricks in naming your invention -- Name your invention for its sound -- Name your invention for its feel -- Give your invention a catchy name -- Activities --

5.

Participating in competitions, programs, and camps -- What you can gain by entering an invention contest -- Preparing for competition -- Camps -- Activities --

6.

Inventing as a team -- Teamwork calls for cooperation and compromise -- Small teams -- Large teams -- Activities --

7.

Learning with a mentor -- Mentors are guides -- School mentor programs -- Mentors from the business community -- Activities --

8.

Patenting an invention -- How inventions are patented --

The

patent search -- Types of patents -- Patent applications -- patent infringement -- Activities --

9.

Registering a trademark -- Trademarks are all around you -- Trademark symbols -- Types of trademarks -- Applying for a trademark -- Trademarks instead of patents -- Activities --

10.

Manufacturing, packaging, and selling an invention -- Product development -- Find the right company to manufacture your invention -- Selling your invention -- Licensing your invention -- Activities -- Appendix A : Suggested reading -- Appendix B : Useful web sites -- Appendix C : Invention competitions, programs and camps --

Index --

Photo credits