SCAMPER

Activity Overview

Students use seven creative thinking prompts to generate new ideas: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other uses, Eliminate, Reverse.

Grade Levels

4th Grade5th Grade6th Grade7th Grade8th Grade9th Grade10th Grade11th Grade12th Grade

Subject Areas

ScienceMathematicsEnglishHistoryForeign Language

Activity Types

IndividualCreativeAnalytical

Detailed Example

Creative Problem Solving for Design Challenge (Science/STEM - 6th Grade)

Materials Needed

SCAMPER reference cards
Design challenge description
Brainstorming paper
Sample product to improve

Preparation

Create SCAMPER reference cards with each letter's prompt and guiding questions. Select a design challenge or product to improve. Prepare examples of each SCAMPER technique.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Introduce SCAMPER as a creative thinking toolkit. Each letter is a different way to generate ideas.

The challenge: Improve a basic backpack for students.

Go through each SCAMPER prompt:

S - Substitute

What could you replace? 'Substitute solar panels for fabric on one pocket'

C - Combine

What could you merge? 'Combine backpack with water bottle holder'

A - Adapt

What could you copy from elsewhere? 'Adapt rolling suitcase wheels'

M - Modify

What could you change in size, shape, color? 'Modify to be expandable'

P - Put to other uses

What else could it do? 'Put to use as emergency shelter'

E - Eliminate

What could you remove? 'Eliminate zippers, use magnets instead'

R - Reverse/Rearrange

What if you flipped it? 'Reverse to wear on front'

Individual brainstorm (10 min): Use each prompt to generate at least one idea.

No judgment during brainstorm - all ideas valid.

Partner share: Combine lists, star the best ideas.

Share most creative ideas with class.

Discuss: Which SCAMPER letter helped you most?

Differentiation Strategies

Provide visual examples for each SCAMPER letter. Work through one letter together before independent work. For advanced students, require combining multiple SCAMPER techniques in single ideas.

Assessment Guidelines

Evaluate for creative thinking across multiple SCAMPER categories. Check that ideas are relevant to the challenge. Note which prompts generate most innovative thinking.