Inspiring invention through story: The Inventor’s Workshop by Ruth Amos
Published 17th December 2025
Ruth Amos’s The Inventor’s Workshop offers design and technology teachers an engaging way to introduce invention, creativity and problem solving in the classroom. Blending storytelling with practical insight, the book supports pupils in understanding how ideas develop through curiosity, testing and improvement.
The story follows a group of young friends who discover an abandoned workshop filled with tools, gadgets and blueprints from a mysterious inventor. Each chapter presents a new challenge, allowing pupils to build knowledge gradually while staying absorbed in the narrative. For teachers, this structure works well as a lesson stimulus, a reading activity or a cross-curricular link that reinforces the design process.
Learning through characters and challenges
The characters represent different strengths, from practical making to creative thinking, reflecting the variety of learners teachers work with every day. Their collaboration highlights teamwork, resilience and learning from failure, all essential aspects of design and technology. These themes give teachers natural opportunities to discuss perseverance and confidence with pupils.
Scientific and engineering concepts are woven seamlessly into the story, making them accessible without feeling instructional. Practical tips and simple projects encourage hands-on experimentation, helping teachers translate ideas from the page into meaningful classroom activity.
A practical classroom resource
Curiosity sits at the heart of The Inventor’s Workshop. Ruth Amos presents invention as an ongoing process of questioning and refining, helping pupils see mistakes as part of learning rather than something to avoid. This supportive message can be particularly valuable for building confidence in design and technology lessons.
Clear writing and detailed illustrations by Stacey Thomas enhance understanding, with diagrams and step by step visuals that support discussion, sketching and making.
For design and technology teachers, The Inventor’s Workshop is a flexible, inspiring resource that brings invention to life while reinforcing essential skills and values.
Teachers can download the PDF version of this article, featured in Practice 2 2025, or access their digital copy here.
