This paper discusses using technology education in the elementary school to encourage innovation and adaptation, technological literacy, and creative problem solving. Technology education is seen based on hands-on activities where pupils make things and become familiar with their technological environment. The hands-on activity should evolve like the creative problem-solving process, which begins with an idea and ends with a product or solution via searching, trying, and realizing. If hands-on science is reviewed in a larger context than merely arts or aesthetics, one can learn to understand how man creates his technological world. If technology education is viewed from the viewpoint of students, one notices that students must be taught the knowledge, skills, readiness, and values which they will need later in life. Postmodern society and economic life will require young adults to have the capacity for innovation and adaptation, technological literacy, and creative problem-solving skills. Includes an example of teaching about different transportation systems in order to plan production of water vehicles. (Contains 18 references.) (PVD)