Name
Inventor Stories to Inspire the Next Generation (Online)
Date
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Time
2:00 PM - 2:50 PM (EDT)
Description

The Lemelson Center’s Inspiring STEM Pathways (ISP) is a multimedia initiative that helps middle school students see themselves as inventors through the stories of athletes who invented solutions to challenges they saw in their own communities. Invention education, which lives at the intersection of civics and STEAM disciplines, provides opportunities for educators to weave hands-on activities and student-led inquiry into their instruction. In this session, we’ll demonstrate practical strategies that help teachers bring inventive habits of mind and innovative thinking into the classroom through compelling video interviews and ready-to-use educational resources.

Speakers
Stephany Fry, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation
Maya Oliver, Smithsonian's Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation
Stephany Fry Maya Oliver
Session Type
50-minute online session (Tues., July 14 only)
Session Track
Designing STEAM Solutions for Civic Challenges
Grades
6-8
Subject Areas
Science, Social Studies, Visual Arts
Audience
Middle and High School Teachers, Museum Educators and Staff, Non-Profit Organizations in Education