Students will use creativity and higher levels of thinking such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. They will work individually and in small groups. Activities include note taking, inventing, illustrating, letter writing, editing, evaluating, reading and discussing. Students will invent a product then apply for and receive a patent. PICK lessons lead naturally into further lessons about inventions and technology.
Inventors reveal the details of their inventions to the patent office.
If the invention is new, a patent is granted. During colonial times patents for inventions were issued by various colonial governments. The inconvenience of granting patents by individual states was apparent. During the Constitutional Convention both James Madison of Virginia and Charles Pinckney of South Carolina submitted proposals that the Congress have the power to grant patents and secure Copyrights. Anyone may apply to the U.S. Patent Office for a patent which, if granted, will be protected for 17 years.