Lemelson-MIT Education Partnership: Inspiring Young Inventors
Updated: 18 hours ago
New Covenant School is proud to offer an invention and design-thinking curriculum for our K–5 students through our partnership with the Lemelson-MIT Program. Through this collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, we help young children discover their passions early, see themselves as inventors, and use creative problem-solving to serve others. Located on four wooded acres between historic downtown Lexington and Route 2, our campus gives students room to imagine, build, and test ideas that can improve their communities.
Invention-Based Learning
Through Lemelson-MIT’s invention education resources, our teachers integrate hands-on design challenges into the school day for our students. Children learn to identify problems they feel are important, brainstorm solutions, and use age-appropriate STEM tools to turn ideas into action. This program aligns directly with one of our central values at the school: serving others in the community through creative solutions.
Encouraging Curious Minds
One of the most exciting moments in our classrooms is when children realize that having an idea is the first step to becoming an inventor. With guidance from caring teachers, students see that their everyday questions and curiosities can lead to meaningful change. Whether they’re imagining a better playground tool or a device to help a friend, our inventors learn that their voices and creativity matter. Students move from idea to prototype and, in the process, develop resilience, creativity, and the courage to tackle today's problems. The program focuses on:
Emphasis on positive, real-world change
Student-driven projects aligned with their interests
Growing confidence as children build and share their inventions
About the Lemelson-MIT Program
The Lemelson-MIT Program (LMIT) is widely recognized as a national leader in advancing invention education for young people across the country. The program expands opportunities for students to learn how inventors identify and solve problems that matter, with a strong commitment to inclusion and access for learners from all backgrounds. LMIT supports schools and educators with curricula, professional development, and partnerships that help students build invention skills and see themselves as future innovators. Jerome Lemelson is one of the most prolific inventors in U.S. history. He and his wife established LMIT in 1994 to celebrate invention and inspire youth.
Why Early Invention Education Matters
Introducing STEM innovation education in Elementary (K-5) and Preschool helps children learn to spot problems in their own lives, neighborhoods, and surrounding communities that could benefit from a technological solution. Discovering challenges that have personal meaning turns students into enthusiastic learners and shows them that future college and career pathways in science, technology, engineering, and math can make a difference. As they continue with their education, their ideas and inventions become more sophisticated and complex. Along the way, students:
Learn that identifying problems is the first step in problem-solving
Develop technical knowledge through playful experimentation
Strengthen social and emotional skills through trial and error, teamwork, and communication
How the Learning Process Works
Our invention and design thinking curriculum gives children a simple, repeatable process for turning ideas into action. With support from Lemelson-MIT educators and NCS teachers, students learn to move through each phase thoughtfully. Failure is often part of the learning process, but we’re prepared to help students move past those hurdles. Examples of how we guide young inventors include encouraging them to:
Identify the problem through a compassionate lens
Ask clarifying questions and research
Design a solution using available tools and materials
Build, test, and refine the solution based on results and feedback
Benefits for New Covenant Students and Parents
Our invention education programs bring a nationally recognized curriculum to our Lexington campus. LMIT staff collaborate with our school to assess needs, design offerings, and support the implementation of age-appropriate invention and design curricula for K–5 students. This ensures that our teachers and administrators have ongoing guidance as they integrate invention into academics, character formation, and spiritual growth. Key benefits include:
Direct collaboration with Lemelson-MIT staff on program design and support
Professional development and resources for New Covenant teachers and leaders
A structured, yet flexible curriculum tailored to young learners in elementary school
Exposure to STEM programs in early development grade levels
Preparing Inventors for Tomorrow’s World
There’s no shortage of problems in our world, but learning to recognize challenges and address them with technological solutions is a gift. The MIT education initiatives available in Lexington, MA at New Covenant School offer hands-on, experiential learning to build technical knowledge and analytical thinking, while highlighting the importance of communication and collaboration. These are essential skills for tomorrow’s jobs. To learn more about enrollment and how your child can grow as a young inventor, we invite you to contact our admissions team and schedule a visit.
