ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the role of inquiry in primary science and shares best practice for helping children become independent thinkers, problem solvers, and inventors. It provides an inventor is, with particular reference to children inventors, and why teachers should promote children as inventors by highlighting examples of the roles children have played as inventors. Case study one focuses on scientific inquiry and how it can promote children as inventors by exploring activities through inquiry such as investigations and problem-solving activities. The case study will highlight the processes involved in children becoming inventors and making links between creativity and inventions, and the importance of exploring children's concepts or ideas and how these could develop into a product. Children's perceptions of inventors in each of the case study schools were influenced by the activities discussed in case studies one and two conducted in each environment.
