As another school year ends, the team at CreositySpace would like to send out a big thank you and congratulations to all educators. We know at times it feels like a grind, but we hope you'll allow yourself a moment to step back and reflect on all the ways you, your students, and your classroom have grown this year. Sometimes growth comes as an easily seen step-change. Other times growth is a series of small, incremental adjustments, that nudge things in a different direction. Individually, these adjustments seem small, but over time, they have a huge impact. 

The same can be said for incorporating new instructional materials or methodology. "New" doesn't always need to be splashy, or disruptive, or a huge course adjustment. It can be something small, and fun, and easy to fit in or test out. Invention and entrepreneurship can be one of these smaller things. Something you weave into instruction when the time is right for you and your classroom. Incorporating invention and entrepreneurship into your instruction gives students a leg up on career exploration, instills confidence, and develops critical social and problem-solving skills. 

CreositySpace started out 12 years ago as an in-school program that brought young STEM entrepreneurs into third and fourth grade classrooms. They shared their stories, their inspiration for their inventions and businesses, and introduced hands-on activities. For 90 minutes students were focused, asking questions throughout, and collaborating. 

The most important observation by their teachers:  All their students were engaged. Quiet ones. Outgoing ones. Boys. Girls. Science-inclined. Science-curious. Students who gravitated toward social studies, art, writing and other non-science subjects.  Every student.

Entrepreneurs introduce students to the broad range of career opportunities possible in STEM-focused companies. And invention and entrepreneurship offer a unique platform for kids not only to grow academically, but to explore those career paths through their interests and talents. Students begin to see a path forward for themselves in careers directly or indirectly related to STEM. This in turn increases student confidence and encourages students to take ownership in their learning. Below we list a couple of easy ways to use invention and entrepreneurship to foster early career exploration in your elementary classroom.

Innovation Prompts

Innovation prompts provide a natural opening for early career discussions. As students work on their inventions you can encourage them to explore who might design, manufacture, sell, or use their invention, what type of jobs might be associated with those activities, and what kind of training or education might be needed for that job.

Technology Stories

 Technology stories personalize learning and modernize science instruction, while exposing students to a broad range of career opportunities. Websites for new technology companies often provide information on their employees and the jobs they perform. Spoiler Alert! Not all jobs at STEM companies are STEM jobs.

Group Challenges

Group challenges connect student experiences inside—and outside—the classroom to real-world problems. These are problems that are being solved by real people with real careers who are working for real companies. As your students work on their solutions, you can encourage your students to learn about these people and their careers.

While the strategies outlined above can be implemented with tools already in your classroom, the CreositySpace Book of Ideas-Class Pack and accompanying stories of inventions and entrepreneurs, provide a variety of opportunities to introduce career concepts into your elementary classroom.

This newsletter concludes our 3 Ways to Use Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Classroom series. Thank you for your feedback along the way. To check out the full series click HERE.

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