The Intellectual Property Office has a cracking new way of teaching children, at all key stages, the value of Intellectual Property, with the help of Wallace and Gromit.

The Intellectual Property Office along with Wallace and Gromit are running a Cracking Ideas Competition for children in the age groups 4-16. Wallace and Gromit need your help to build a new theme park ride for them, using your knowledge of Intellectual Property.

We aim to encourage creativity and teach children that they can all innovate, they all own ideas, innovation can be linked to financial reward and they can exploit their ideas if they are protected by Intellectual Property.

There are some wonderful prizes on offer, Lap tops, Family day out in Chessington World of adventure, bespoke trophy''s and signed Nick Park books.

Winner of the Wales 8- 11 age group, Ray Vandyck''s dad William, commented "The day was just excellent.  The children had a blast and felt very special.  And I got to talk about the invention I''d put into the competition, to a patent lawyer, which made me very happy".

Finn Collinson Overall Winner 8-11 age group said "I had a brilliant day and the prizes you gave me are great, especially the unique trophy! A highlight for me was certainly meeting the friends from 62 West Wallaby Street!"

For a chance to bag yourself a lap top and a cracking day out please follow this link

Supporting this we have a website http://www.crackingideas.com/teachers/,
is especially for teachers. This site will help age groups 4-7, 8-11 and
12-16 year olds with each page containing lesson plans and will help children understand innovation.

"This website contains a wealth of educational resources to introduce students to the world of innovation and creativity. All resources and curriculum links can be downloaded free.

These resources include interactive activity packs, one-hour innovation packs, challenges and an exciting competition, all designed to help young people nurture their own creativity and generate new ideas of their own.
Students will learn the personal and economic value of intellectual property, as well as how to protect their innovations through the correct use of patents, trade marks, design and copyright.