The Cracking Ideas Competition is a creative invention competition, plus classroom resources for pupils aged 5-11 years in England, Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland. Children can learn about research and creative product design, explore the core phases of design and technology, and come up with a new invention or a reworking of an existing object. During the process children will be introduced to Intellectual Property (IP) and the importance of protecting their own ideas. They are designed to be used flexibly to adapt to different ages, spaces and interests. You can follow age-appropriate activities to help children come up with their own unique inventions which can then be entered into our nationwide competition - there’s a very special prize up for grabs.

The Cracking Ideas Competition is a creative invention competition, plus classroom resources for pupils aged 5-11 years in England, Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland. Children can learn about research and creative product design, explore the core phases of design and technology, and come up with a new invention or a reworking of an existing object. During the process children will be introduced to Intellectual Property (IP) and the importance of protecting their own ideas. They are designed to be used flexibly to adapt to different ages, spaces and interests. You can follow age-appropriate activities to help children come up with their own unique inventions which can then be entered into our nationwide competition - there’s a very special prize up for grabs.

Wallace Gromit’s Cracking Ideas aims to inspire your children to be creative and inventive, whether you’re in a classroom, a club or at home! Designed with the help of Aardman, whose invention-loving duo Wallace & Gromit feature in the learning materials, Cracking Ideas provides curriculum-led activities that get children engaged with design and the importance of protecting intellectual property. Our age-appropriate activities inspire children aged 4-7 and 8-11 to come up with their own inventions which they can enter into our nationwide competition. This certificate is free to download and aims to recognise the young people who submitted their creative inventions into our 2021/2022 nationwide competition .

These curriculum linked resources are designed to help teachers of Level 3 STEM subjects get students thinking about the relevance of intellectual property to their lives and future careers. Students will also develop employability and enterprise competencies including creativity, problem solving, communication and working as part of a team.

Fun facts, stories and inspiring activity ideas introducing innovation, creativity and intellectual property with Wallace & Gromit.

The ‘Wallace & Gromit Innovation Session’ introduces young people to the concept of innovation. It highlights how innovation surrounds us in everyday life and how some household products may have been designed. The session is split into four activities focusing on innovation in product design.

A Cracking Ideas themed worksheet to design a Christmas decoration. Includes a variety of shapes to cut around as inspiration. The design of your decoration could be protected by registered design. This protects the appearance of it and includes colour shape and texture when added to your decoration. Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Ideas is a series of fun innovation challenges for primary education.

2023 Competition Closed Your resources: Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Ideas Competition Form – Key Stage 1 (Ages 4 to 7) 2023 Competition Terms and Conditions 2023 Adult Registration Form 2023 Certificate of Recognition - New! Cracking Ideas Educational Resources - New! About: Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Ideas aims to inspire your children to be creative and inventive, whether you’re in a classroom, a club or at home! Designed with the help of Aardman, whose invention-loving duo Wallace & Gromit feature in the learning materials, Cracking Ideas provides curriculum-led activities that get children engaged with design and the importance of protecting Intellectual Property (IP). Our age-appropriate activities inspire children aged 4-7 and 8-11 to come up with their own inventions which they can enter into our nationwide competition - there’s some very special prizes up for grabs! Flexible resources support different ages, settings, abilities and interests. Use them in your classroom or with an after-school club, youth centre, Scout or Guide group. In these activities, children think about how innovative design can improve the world around them. Working as individuals or as part of a team, children will undertake some creative product design, explore some important stages in the design process, and help Wallace & Gromit reinvent the Wrong Trousers so that they can do good for our planet. As they learn and invent, children are introduced to Intellectual Property (IP) and the importance of protecting original ideas. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with IP! We explain IP in simple, age-appropriate ways in the resources. Wallace & Gromit will be sharing their competition top tips and inspirational ideas throughout the competition via the IPO Education – Cracking Ideas social media channels, and through our ‘IP in Education’ newsletter. It might even be that their adventures and tips will inspire your very own Cracking Ideas. Please share tour design journey with us on social media by using #CrackingIdeas Let’s show the world world what a cracking bunch of inventors the next generation are! Competition closes 1st September 2023

2022 Competition closed Wallace Gromit’s Cracking Ideas aims to inspire your children to be creative and inventive, whether you’re in a classroom, a club or at home! Designed with the help of Aardman, whose invention-loving duo Wallace & Gromit feature in the learning materials, Cracking Ideas provides curriculum-led activities that get children engaged with design and the importance of protecting intellectual property. Our age-appropriate activities inspire children aged 4-7 and 8-11 to come up with their own inventions which they can enter into our nationwide competition - there’s a very special prize up for grabs! Flexible resources support different ages, settings, abilities and interests. Use them in your classroom or with an after-school club, youth centre, Scout or Guide group. In these activities children think about how we get from place to place, undertake some creative product design, explore some important stages in the design process, and come up with a sustainable and fun way to help Wallace and Gromit get from place to place during their tour of the UK. As they learn and invent, children are introduced to Intellectual Property (IP) and the importance of protecting original ideas. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with IP! We explain IP in simple, age-appropriate ways in the resources, and there’s more information for adults at the end of this guide. Wallace & Gromit’s UK tour of Innovation This year we are introducing a special challenge with the school or group that sends in the most entries winning a unique prize that they can all enjoy. Wallace & Gromit will be on their very own tour of innovation across the UK. The duo will travel a mile on their virtual tour for every competition entry received from a school/group. On the way they will stop at cities, towns and districts discovering innovations of the past and future. The whole journey will be documented on our social media channels and through our newsletter. It might even be that their exploits will inspire your very own Cracking Ideas.

2023 Competition Closed We’re thrilled to announce that certificates of recognition are available for all participants of Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Ideas Competition 2023. These certificates celebrate the inventive spirit of young minds. Let’s honour their creativity together! Your resources: 2023 Certificate of Recognition - New! About: Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Ideas aims to inspire your children to be creative and inventive, whether you’re in a classroom, a club or at home! Designed with the help of Aardman, whose invention-loving duo Wallace & Gromit feature in the learning materials, Cracking Ideas provides curriculum-led activities that get children engaged with design and the importance of protecting Intellectual Property (IP). 2023 Competition Closed Follow our IPO Education – Cracking Ideas social media channels, and sign up to our ‘IP in Education’ newsletter if you wish to keep up to date with our latest competition news, free resources and more!

2022 Competition Closed Wallace Gromit’s Cracking Ideas aims to inspire your children to be creative and inventive, whether you’re in a classroom, a club or at home! Designed with the help of Aardman, whose invention-loving duo Wallace & Gromit feature in the learning materials, Cracking Ideas provides curriculum-led activities that get children engaged with design and the importance of protecting intellectual property. Our age-appropriate activities inspire children aged 4-7 and 8-11 to come up with their own inventions which they can enter into our nationwide competition - there’s a very special prize up for grabs! Flexible resources support different ages, settings, abilities and interests. Use them in your classroom or with an after-school club, youth centre, Scout or Guide group. In these activities children think about how we get from place to place, undertake some creative product design, explore some important stages in the design process, and come up with a sustainable and fun way to help Wallace and Gromit get from place to place during their tour of the UK. As they learn and invent, children are introduced to Intellectual Property (IP) and the importance of protecting original ideas. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with IP! We explain IP in simple, age-appropriate ways in the resources, and there’s more information for adults at the end of this guide. Wallace & Gromit’s UK tour of Innovation This year we are introducing a special challenge with the school or group that sends in the most entries winning a unique prize that they can all enjoy. Wallace & Gromit will be on their very own tour of innovation across the UK. The duo will travel a mile on their virtual tour for every competition entry received from a school/group. On the way they will stop at cities, towns and districts discovering innovations of the past and future. The whole journey will be documented on our social media channels and through our newsletter. It might even be that their exploits will inspire your very own Cracking Ideas.

2023 Competition Closed Your resources: Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Ideas Competition Form – Printer Friendly Version 2023 Competition Terms and Conditions 2023 Certificate of Recognition About: Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Ideas aims to inspire your children to be creative and inventive, whether you’re in a classroom, a club or at home! Designed with the help of Aardman, whose invention-loving duo Wallace & Gromit feature in the learning materials, Cracking Ideas provides curriculum-led activities that get children engaged with design and the importance of protecting Intellectual Property (IP). Our age-appropriate activities inspire children aged 4-7 and 8-11 to come up with their own inventions which they can enter into our nationwide competition - there’s some very special prizes up for grabs! Flexible resources support different ages, settings, abilities and interests. Use them in your classroom or with an after-school club, youth centre, Scout or Guide group. In these activities, children think about how innovative design can improve the world around them. Working as individuals or as part of a team, children will undertake some creative product design, explore some important stages in the design process, and help Wallace & Gromit reinvent the Wrong Trousers so that they can do good for our planet. As they learn and invent, children are introduced to Intellectual Property (IP) and the importance of protecting original ideas. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with IP! We explain IP in simple, age-appropriate ways in the resources. Wallace & Gromit will be sharing their competition top tips and inspirational ideas throughout the competition via the IPO Education – Cracking Ideas social media channels, and through our ‘IP in Education’ newsletter. It might even be that their adventures and tips will inspire your very own Cracking Ideas. Please share tour design journey with us on social media by using #CrackingIdeas Let’s show the world world what a cracking bunch of inventors the next generation are! Competition closes 1st September 2023

2023 Competition Closed Your resources: Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Ideas Competition Form – Key Stage 2 (Ages 8 to 11) 2023 Competition Terms and Conditions 2023 Adult Registration Form 2023 Certificate of Recognition - New! Cracking Ideas Educational Resources - New! About: Wallace & Gromit’s Cracking Ideas aims to inspire your children to be creative and inventive, whether you’re in a classroom, a club or at home! Designed with the help of Aardman, whose invention-loving duo Wallace & Gromit feature in the learning materials, Cracking Ideas provides curriculum-led activities that get children engaged with design and the importance of protecting Intellectual Property (IP). Our age-appropriate activities inspire children aged 4-7 and 8-11 to come up with their own inventions which they can enter into our nationwide competition - there’s some very special prizes up for grabs! Flexible resources support different ages, settings, abilities and interests. Use them in your classroom or with an after-school club, youth centre, Scout or Guide group. In these activities, children think about how innovative design can improve the world around them. Working as individuals or as part of a team, children will undertake some creative product design, explore some important stages in the design process, and help Wallace & Gromit reinvent the Wrong Trousers so that they can do good for our planet. As they learn and invent, children are introduced to Intellectual Property (IP) and the importance of protecting original ideas. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with IP! We explain IP in simple, age-appropriate ways in the resources. Wallace & Gromit will be sharing their competition top tips and inspirational ideas throughout the competition via the IPO Education – Cracking Ideas social media channels, and through our ‘IP in Education’ newsletter. It might even be that their adventures and tips will inspire your very own Cracking Ideas. Please share tour design journey with us on social media by using #CrackingIdeas Let’s show the world world what a cracking bunch of inventors the next generation are! Competition closes 1st September 2023

Can you make a ‘cracking’ short film to wish Aardman a Happy Birthday? It’s time to ‘get creative’ and be as inventive as you can, as you are about to become the writer, the producer and also the director of your VERY own film (with a little help from Morph if you need it)! You can enter your ‘cracking idea’ as an individual or as a group and there are a host of resources, activities and lesson plans to help inspire your Cracking Idea.

Designed to stimulate children’s imaginations and creativity both in school and beyond and can be used as a fun activity towards competition entry or as an integral part of your school education provision for children aged 4-7, the UK curriculua links also provided.

We’re inviting young inventors to create an invention that will help Little Alex Horne, Greg Davies’ assistant on Taskmaster. This exciting competition is run by Kids Invent Stuff and Taskmaster Education in partnership and is supported by the Intellectual Property Office. How It Works: One lucky winner will have their invention built by engineers Ruth and Shawn from Kids Invent Stuff and then tested at the Taskmaster House by Little Alex Horne himself. The deadline for submissions is Friday, the 13th of December 2024. The Task: Design an invention to help Little Alex Horne be the best Taskmaster’s Assistant ever! Whether it’s a drawing, picture, or video, we want to see your most imaginative ideas. Don’t forget to give your invention a cool name and explain how it works. The winning invention will be built by Kids Invent Stuff, tested by Alex at the Taskmaster house, and revealed during British Science Week in March 2025. Who can enter: The competition is open to UK residents aged 4 to 11 years. Terms and conditions apply. How to enter: Find instructions on how to enter via the terms and conditions document. Resources: Competition Guide & Activity Overview Competition Worksheet Part 1 Competition Worksheet Part 2 Activity 1 - What makes the best assistant? (Ages 4 to 7) Activity 1 - What makes the best assistant? (Ages 8 to 11) Activity 2 - Storyboard: How My Invention Helps Alex (All ages) Drawing an invention step-by-step guide Certificate of Participation Terms and conditions