What is the Invention Pathway?
Turn creative ideas into real inventions through experimentation, design, and innovation. The Invention STEM Pathway encourages youth to solve problems using creativity and innovation. Participants learn through hands-on learning experiences such as brainstorming solutions, building prototypes, and pitching their ideas.
Leadership Opportunities
Youth can grow as leaders by:
- Start an invention club in your community
- Use your invention skills to work with friends or family to come up with a unique solution to a problem you are facing
- Become a leader in innovation and invention by applying to be a 4-H STEM or Agriscience ambassador. You can help integrate new invention ideas in 4-H!
- Teaching brainstorming methods
- Presenting product ideas
Service Opportunities
Participants can give back through:
- Designing solutions for community needs
- STEM outreach booths
*Clubs working on inventions are eligible to complete the requirements to earn the Utah 4-H Service in STEM award by teaching others about inventing or inventing something to help your community. Find out more by emailing: Utah4HSTEM@aggies.usu.edu
Events & Trainings
- Invent something using a Fat Quarter of fabric when you participate in the Utah 4-H Fat Quarter Challenge
- Join Utah 4-H Invents! - Participate on a year-long team that invents a solution for a community partner, and presents it to peers nationwide
- Use the invention process to create an invention for the Utah Invention Convention and National Invention Convention
- Pitch competitions (4-H Entrepreneurs Program, 4-H Bright Ideas Contest)
- Create an artistic invention for Utah 4-H Kinetic Creations challenge
- Invent a solution for the Utah 4-H Problem Solvers’ Challenge
- Invent a new game for the Utah 4-H Game Design Challenge
- Prototype workshops (Utah 4-H STEM Challenges)
- Maker labs
- Innovation camps
Curriculum
LEARNING ACTIVITIES
Beginner: Idea generation, problem solving
Intermediate: Prototype design, testing
Advanced: Product development, pitching
4-H CURRICULUM & RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
- Clover by 4-H has some activities that may help you get ready to invent:
- Some activities to try: IoT in the Physical Environment; Design, Technology, and Patterns; Puzzles and Tesselations;
- Project Invent
- Learn more about Invention using technology through the Project Invent curriculum: projectinvent.org/resources
- The Henry Ford
- Free curriculum teaching the steps of invention for all ages: inhub.thehenryford.org/curriculum-resources/invention-convention-curriculum
- Utah 4-H Kits For Checkout Program
- Invention resources available for check-out, include: electric circuit kits, robots, and other technology supplies
- *Kits For Checkout is free of charge for: registered 4-H volunteers, public and afterschool educators, and USU employees
- Utah 4-H has developed several activities to help you get started with invention. For more information, email: Utah4HSTEM@aggies.usu.edu
Career Exploration
4-H helps youth get Beyond Ready for work, for college, for life!
Skills Learned in the Invention pathway, include:
- Creativity
- Experimentation
- Resilience
- Persistence
- Brainstorming
- Communication
- Planning
- Identifying community needs
- Collaboration
- Public speaking
- Budgeting
- Product design
- Problem solving
- Iteration
Careers in the Invention pathway include:
- Product Designer
- Entrepreneur
- Industrial Engineer
- Innovation Consultant
- Patent Specialist
- Industrial Engineer
Start Inventing
Register for invention labs or upcoming innovation events.
Are you the parent of a child interested in inventing?
Enroll my child in Utah 4-H
Volunteer with Utah 4-H
Utah 4-H STEM Home page • View Utah 4-H STEM Challenges • View Utah 4-H STEM Events