stealing?

I would like to begin a business in NY offering various classes to children. I've obtained many ideas for projects from various sources (books, Internet, etc.). If I modify these projects and rewrite them in my own words, am I infringing on a copyright? How significant do the changes have to be? Are ideas copyrighted or simply available to all? Thanks in advance for your help. Brian

I am a law school graduate. What I offer is mere information, not to be construed as forming an attorney client relationship.

Ideas aren't copyrightable. Two sources you haven't checked and need to check are: the copyright section at the freeadvice.com homepage and the u.s. copyright office. Make sure to read under derivative works.

http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/