problem solving examples elementary

Problem-Solving in Elementary School

Elementary students practice problem-solving and self-questioning techniques to improve reading and social and emotional learning skills.

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Three elementary students reading together in a library

In a school district in New Jersey, beginning in kindergarten each child is seen as a future problem solver with creative ideas that can help the world. Vince Caputo, superintendent of the Metuchen School District, explained that what drew him to the position was “a shared value for whole child education.”

Caputo’s first hire as superintendent was Rick Cohen, who works as both the district’s K–12 director of curriculum and principal of Moss Elementary School . Cohen is committed to integrating social and emotional learning (SEL) into academic curriculum and instruction by linking cognitive processes and guided self-talk.

Cohen’s first focus was kindergarten students. “I recommended Moss teachers teach just one problem-solving process to our 6-year-olds across all academic content areas and challenge students to use the same process for social problem-solving,” he explained.

Reading and Social Problem-Solving

Moss Elementary classrooms use a specific process to develop problem-solving skills focused on tending to social and interpersonal relationships. The process also concentrates on building reading skills—specifically, decoding and comprehension.

Stop, Look, and Think. Students define the problem. As they read, they look at the pictures and text for clues, searching for information and asking, “What is important and what is not?” Social problem-solving aspect: Students look for signs of feelings in others’ faces, postures, and tone of voice.

Gather Information . Next, students explore what feelings they’re having and what feelings others may be having. As they read, they look at the beginning sound of a word and ask, “What else sounds like this?” Social problem-solving aspect: Students reflect on questions such as, “What word or words describe the feeling you see or hear in others? What word describes your feeling? How do you know, and how sure are you?”

Brainstorming . Then students seek different solutions. As they read, they wonder, “Does it sound right? Does it make sense? How else could it sound to make more sense? What other sounds do those letters make?” Social problem-solving aspect: Students reflect on questions such as, “How can you solve the problem or make the situation better? What else can you think of? What else can you try? What other ideas do you have?”

Pick the Best One. Next, students evaluate the solution. While reading, they scan for smaller words they know within larger, more difficult words. They read the difficult words the way they think they sound while asking, “Will it make sense to other people?” Social problem-solving aspect: Students reflect on prompts such as, “Pick the solution that you think will be best to solve the problem. Ask yourself, ‘What will happen if I do this—for me, and for others involved?’”

Go . In the next step, students make a plan and act. They do this by rereading the text. Social problem-solving aspect: Students are asked to try out what they will say and how they will say it. They’re asked to pick a good time to do this, when they’re willing to try it.

Check . Finally, students reflect and revise. After they have read, they ponder what exactly was challenging about what they read and, based on this, decide what to do next. Social problem-solving aspect: Students reflect on questions such as, “How did it work out? Did you solve the problem? How did others feel about what happened? What did you learn? What would you do if the same thing happened again?”

You can watch the Moss Elementary Problem Solvers video and see aspects of this process in action.

The Process of Self-Questioning

Moss Elementary students and other students in the district are also taught structured self-questioning. Cohen notes, “We realized that many of our elementary students would struggle to generalize the same steps and thinking skills they previously used to figure out an unknown word in a text or resolve social conflicts to think through complex inquiries and research projects.” The solution? Teach students how to self-question, knowing they can also apply this effective strategy across contexts. The self-questioning process students use looks like this:

Stop and Think. “What’s the question?”

Gather Information. “How do I gather information? What are different sides of the issue?”

Brainstorm and Choose. “How do I select, organize, and choose the information? What are some ways to solve the problem? What’s the best choice?”

Plan and Try. “What does the plan look like? When and how can it happen? Who needs to be involved?”

Check & Revise. “How can I present the information? What did I do well? How can I improve?”

The Benefits

Since using the problem-solving and self-questioning processes, the students at Moss Elementary have had growth in their scores for the last two years on the fifth-grade English language arts PARCC tests . However, as Cohen shares, “More important than preparing our students for the tests on state standards, there is evidence that we are also preparing them for the tests of life.”

15 Problem solving activities for students

In this guide

1. The detective game
2. Help ‘em out
3. What if…
4. Move IT!
5. The build
6. Just survive
7. Good old scavenger hunt maybe with a twist
9. Tower of terror
10. Community problem solving
11. Community problem solving documentary
12. Digital storytelling
13. Minefield/Lead the blind
14. Design sprints
15. Debates

Problem solving entails identifying, analyzing, and addressing challenges or obstacles using critical thinking, creativity, analytical skills, and reasoning. The World Economic Forum consistently ranks critical thinking and problem solving as top skills for the future in their list of essential abilities.

Why is problem solving an important skill for students?

In a 2020 report, the World Economic Forum emphasized the growing significance of critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the upcoming years ( Whiting, 2020 ). These skills are vital not only for academic success but also for navigating challenges beyond the classroom. Let’s explore four key benefits of problem-solving skills for students.

Student centered learning: Problem solving encourages student engagement by encouraging hands-on exploration and discovery. Students fully engage with a topic, they are not expected to simply absorb and memorize information. It recognizes and honors students’ individual learning pace, as well as their unique strengths, interests, and motivations.
Enhanced critical thinking: By tackling problems from diverse perspectives and evaluating information from various sources and viewing the problem from various angles, students are able to develop improved critical thinking skills. Problem solving also cultivates systems thinking, enabling students to grasp the interconnectedness of systems, complex issues, and devise holistic solutions.
Confidence building: Through regular practice, students gain confidence in their problem solving skills, equipping them to address challenges across a wide variety of subject areas and real-life scenarios. “The goal in teaching problem-solving is for it to become second nature, and for students to routinely express their curiosity, explore innovative solutions, and analyze the world around them to draw their own conclusions.” (Marshall, 2022)
Teamwork and communication: Engaging in problem solving activities nurtures essential teamwork skills such as communication and collaboration. Students learn to actively listen, respect diverse perspectives, and resolve conflicts in a constructive manner. Moreover, they develop goal setting abilities, organization, and build a sense of personal accountability within a team environment.

Problem solving activities for elementary

Problem solving activities can range from simple to complex and short to long.

1) The detective game

Gather 5-10 clues about a person, place, historical event, pop culture phenomenon, animal, etc. these can be physical clues or images of clues.
Place the clues to a bag and have students draw one clue at a time.
Encourage students to work in small groups to solve the mystery.
Require a minimum number of clues to be drawn (2-3) before attempting their first guess.

Problem Solving Activities Students Detective Game

2) Help ‘em out

Engage students in brainstorming sessions while reading about historical events or fictional characters.
Encourage small group discussion and decision making.
Students can work at desks or on whiteboards.
Challenge the students to identify the problems faced and devise creative solutions to alter the outcomes.

3) What if…

Create a list of moral dilemmas for students to ponder, ChatGPT would be perfect for this.
Cut them up and put them in a bag for students to pull out of or use an online randomizing tool like WheelPicker to make the selection.
Students then have to share how they would handle the situation using ethical reasoning and decision making skills.

Here are the prompts I used on ChatGPT:

I am looking for a list of 15 moral dilemmas for elementary students to try and solve.

And a follow-up prompt:

Could you give 10 more that are based around honesty, fairness, respect, and peer pressure?

And here are 10 dilemmas ChatGPT came up with in seconds:

Truth dilemma: Your friend breaks something and asks you not to tell anyone. Should you keep their secret or tell an adult what happened?
Fairness dilemma: You’re playing a game and your friend keeps losing. Do you let them win to make them feel better or play your best?
Respecting property dilemma: You find money on the ground. Do you keep it, try to find the owner, or turn it into a teacher?
Honesty dilemma: You accidentally take something that belongs to someone else. Do you return it, keep it, or ignore what happened?
Respect dilemma: Your friend likes a certain game, but you don’t. They invite you to play. Do you decline and risk hurting their feelings, or play to make them happy?
Cheating dilemma: You notice someone cheating during a class assignment. Should you tell the teacher or keep quiet?
Environment dilemma: You see someone littering in the park. Do you pick up the trash, ignore it, or say something to the person?
Privacy dilemma: You find a diary belonging to your sibling or friend. Should you read it or respect their privacy?
Homework dilemma: You finish your homework but notice that your friend forgot to complete theirs. They ask to copy your work. What do you do?
Peer pressure dilemma: Your friends want to gossip about another classmate. Do you join in, stay silent, or change the subject?

4) Move IT!

In this activity students are required to move an object across the classroom while navigating various constraints.

Introduce limitations such as restrictions on carrying the object, it can’t touch the floor, limited steps, use of specific body parts, or communication limitations with team members.
Encourage collaborative problem solving and creative thinking to overcome the obstacles.

5) The build

Provide students with materials like straws, marshmallows, paper cups, etc. and challenge them to build. Challenges can be the tallest freestanding tower, a bridge that can hold a certain weight, or other structures following specific rules. Students must learn to think creatively, collaborate, and iterate.

Problem solving activities for middle school

Middle school problem solving can also utilize those activities mentioned for elementary school with some slight tweaks. But, here are some more middle school style activities.

6) Just survive

Use survival scenarios to encourage small groups to employ critical thinking, collaboration, and creative problem solving skills. These scenarios immerse students in real-world situations and foster resilience and adaptability.

Many scenarios can be found online. Here are a few:

Survival Island (complete with Google Slides)
Plane Crash (survival game with a Hatchet by Gary Paulsen feel)
Moon Landing (space survival game)

7) Good old scavenger hunt maybe with a twist

Scavenger hunts require problem solving skills to solve clues, think critically, and collaborate to complete the hunt. A fun and innovative way to do this was created by a friend named Kathi Kersznowski, co-author of Sail the 7Cs with Microsoft Education, called FlipHunt:

A Fliphunt is a video-based scavenger hunt that is completely organized and run in the AMAZING Flip (formerly Flipgrid) environment. It is a wonderfully fun way to get students up and moving while exploring new learning or documenting understanding using the most beloved edtech site for amplifying student voice and student engagement in ways never known before! https://kerszi.com

Escape rooms are an amazing way to promote problem solving and critical thinking with middle school students. Students are presented with a scenario or challenge within a controlled environment, such as a themed classroom or designated area, where they must work together to decipher puzzles, uncover clues, and solve challenges within a set time limit. Escape rooms provide immersive and engaging problem-solving experiences.

There are a number of places teachers can go to find escape rooms, some paid, some free or freemium, and some physical with locked boxes or digital using Google Sites or Google Forms.

BreakoutEDU – Standards aligned Escape Room games.
Digital Escape Rooms from Ditch That Textbook
How to make your own digital escape room with Google Forms

9) Tower of terror

This is a “Red Solo Cup” cup stacking game.

Students are given 3 cups and 2 large index cards.
Cups are stacked with a card in between each cup.
Student teams have 3-10 minutes (be fluid with your time depending on the class) to pull the cards and get the cups to nest on top of each other, earning a point for each successful attempt. Check out this X (Twitter post) by Jonathan Alsheimer , Tower Of Terror . This quick, simple game encourages teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration in a fun fast paced way.

10) Community problem solving

Empower students to address real-world problems from the local community or your school community. Maybe it’s a dangerous intersection, food waste with school lunches, or single-use plastics in the cafeteria. Students can research, analyze data, and propose solutions, fostering civic engagement and social responsibility. This is an activity that can also be used for high school students.

Problem solving activities for high school

High school problem-solving activities build on foundational skills while providing opportunities for deeper exploration and application. Here are some elevated ideas tailored to high school students:

11) Community problem solving documentary

Challenge students to create short documentaries using their phones as cameras about solving problems they see in the community, in school, or in the world. Students can edit directly on their phones, on sites like Canva , WeVideo , or Capcut .

12) Digital storytelling

Encourage students to harness the power of Digital storytelling to promote problem solving. Whether through videos, graphics, podcasts, or interactive presentations, data visualization, or digital books ( BookCreator ), students can craft compelling narratives that inspire action and promote a problem-solving mindset.

Check out Michael Hernandez’s book Storytelling with Purpose Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity and you can listen to Michael on the TeacherNerdz Podcast .

13) Minefield/Lead the blind

This is an outstanding activity created by Dr. Krista Welz & Melissa Welz which involves communication, collaboration, and planning. The “Minefield” activity is where one student navigates through a “Minefield” guided only by verbal commands from their peers. This hands-on exercise promotes teamwork, planning, and effective communication skills. Here is a detailed Google Slides explanation by the creators.

14) Design sprints

Introduce students to the concept of design sprints, a structured process for solving complex problems through rapid prototyping and user feedback. Small teams collaborate intensely over a short period, usually five days (can be shorter a class period or a few days), to ideate, prototype, and validate solutions. Here is a famous design sprint from IDEO shown on ABC’s Nightline, the shopping cart design sprint:

Here are a few ideas:

Redesigning the school cafeteria menu: Students work collaboratively to identify issues with the current cafeteria menu, brainstorm innovative solutions, create prototypes of redesigned menus, and gather feedback through testing sessions to ultimately present improved menu designs to school administrators.
Redesigning classroom layouts for enhanced learning: This sprint focuses on reimagining classroom setups to optimize student learning experiences. Students research, ideate, prototype, test, and present innovative classroom layouts designed to foster a more engaging and effective learning environment.
Creating solutions for reducing school waste: Students address sustainability concerns by identifying sources of waste within the school, brainstorming eco-friendly solutions, prototyping waste reduction strategies, testing their effectiveness, and pitching refined solutions aimed at minimizing waste and promoting environmental stewardship.
11 Activities from IDEO’s d.school for educators: Link

15) Debates

Facilitate lively debates on contemporary issues to stimulate critical thinking and persuasive communication skills. Topics could include:

Establishing a universal basic income to address poverty.
Social media regulation to address misinformation and hate speech on platforms.
Banning TikTok or any social media platform
Animal testing for cosmetics and scientific purposes.
Space exploration funding: Should governments invest more resources in space exploration and colonization efforts, or should these funds be allocated to other pressing issues on Earth?

As we navigate an era of unprecedented change and uncertainty, the need for problem-solving skills has never been more pressing. Gone are the days of lifelong careers; instead, today’s students face a landscape where adaptability and innovation are key. By integrating problem-solving activities tailored to elementary, middle school, and high school students, educators play a pivotal role in equipping the next generation with the tools they need to thrive.

As educators, parents, and stakeholders, we must acknowledge the role of problem-solving skills in shaping resilient, creative, and adaptable individuals. Educators should prioritize the cultivation of these essential skills in our schools and communities, empowering students to confront challenges with confidence, innovation, and creativity. When we do, we not only prepare them for the future but also foster a generation capable of shaping a brighter tomorrow.

*Many, if not all, of the activities above can be adapted up or down the grade levels. *

Daneshgari, F. (2023, March 29). High School Problem-Solving: 6 Activities That Work . Safes Parental Control App. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from https://www.safes.so/blogs/problem-solving-activities-for-high-school-students/
Educator Guides: Activities from d.school Books — Stanford d.school . (n.d.). Stanford d.school. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from https://dschool.stanford.edu/resources/educators-guides-books
Engaging Problem Solving Activities for Middle School Students . (n.d.). Everyday Speech. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://everydayspeech.com/sel-implementation/engaging-problem-solving-activities-for-middle-school-students/
5 Problem-Solving Activities for the Classroom . (2013, February 14). Resilient Educator. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/5-problem-solving-activities-for-the-classroom/
Foshay, W. R., & Kirkley, J. (1998). Principles for Teaching Problem Solving . PLATO Learning Inc. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262798359_Principles_for_Teaching_Problem_Solving
Khanna, B. (2023, September 29). World Economic Forum Warns of Skills Gap in the Future of Work . LinkedIn. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/world-economic-forum-warns-skills-gap-future-work-bhupendra-khanna
Marshall, M. (2022, October 5). Benefits of Problem-Solving in the K-12 Classroom – Institute of Competition Sciences . Institute of Competition Sciences. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.competitionsciences.org/2022/10/05/benefits-of-problem-solving-in-the-k-12-classroom/
Understanding the Importance of Teaching Creative Problem-Solving in Elementary Schools . (n.d.). Everyday Speech. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://everydayspeech.com/sel-implementation/understanding-the-importance-of-teaching-creative-problem-solving-in-elementary-schools/
Weil, Z. (2016). The World Becomes What We Teach: Educating a Generation of Solutionaries . Lantern Publishing & Media.
Whiting, K. (2020, October 21). What are the top 10 job skills for the future? The World Economic Forum. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/top-10-work-skills-of-tomorrow-how-long-it-takes-to-learn-them/

Ronald M. Nober

Technology/STEAM Teacher

Ron Nober is a technology/STEAM teacher and co-host of the TeacherNerdz Podcast. He has a focus on using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the classroom as well as connecting technology to social good.

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Problem Solving Scenarios For Elementary Students

Elementary students are at a crucial stage in their development, just beginning to develop their problem-solving skills. Problem-solving scenarios can be fun and interactive for elementary students to practice and enhance their critical thinking abilities. But what are the problem solving scenarios for elementary students?

Problem solving scenarios for elementary students can include activities such as having students work together to solve puzzles, create a plan to reach a goal or come up with creative solutions to everyday problems. These activities can help students develop problem-solving skills and critical-thinking skills.

In this blog, we will explore various problem-solving scenarios that are perfect for elementary students. These scenarios will challenge students to think creatively and logically and work collaboratively to develop solutions.

Table of Contents

What Are Problem Solving Scenarios For Elementary Students?

Problem-solving scenarios for elementary students can involve various everyday situations, such as resolving conflicts with peers, making choices in school, managing anger, and dealing with challenging social situations.

Some examples of problem-solving scenarios for elementary students include brainstorming solutions to a group project, deciding what to do when someone is bullying them, and finding ways to calm down when feeling frustrated or upset.

These scenarios can be used as part of a lesson plan, activity, or worksheet to teach learners essential skills such as communication, critical thinking, and conflict resolution.

Poster boards with learners can be created to model problem-solving skills and provide opportunities for conversational practice scenarios. Additionally, various games and quick scenarios can be used to teach problem-solving skills to elementary-aged students.

How To Design Problem Solving Scenarios For Elementary Students?

By creating scenarios that relate to real-life situations, students can learn how to approach and solve problems practically and engagingly. Here are some steps to designing problem-solving scenarios for elementary students:

Step 1: Identify the Skills You Want to Teach

The first step in designing problem-solving scenarios is identifying the skills you want to teach. Essential skills such as conflict resolution, anger management, and basic computer skills are crucial for students to develop. Additionally, social problem-solving and social skills are essential for students to interact with their peers effectively.

Step 2: Create Scenarios

Once you have identified the skills you want to teach, you can start creating scenarios. You can come up with social scenarios, problem-solving scenarios, and quick scenarios that challenge students to think critically .

You can also use assessment scenarios and basic problem-solving scenario cards to create a well-rounded lesson plan. Blank scenarios are also useful, allowing you to customize the situation to fit your lesson plan.

Step 3: Develop Activities and Worksheets

After creating scenarios, you can develop activities and worksheets that accompany them. Team-building, anger management, and conflict-resolution activities are just a few examples of the activities you can use to reinforce the skills students have learned. Downloadable, blank, and conflict-resolution worksheets can also be used to evaluate students’ understanding of the material.

Step 4: Use Games and Posters

Games and posters can also be used to engage students in problem-solving scenarios. Traditional board games and conflict resolution games can be used to reinforce the skills students have learned. Additionally, posters can remind students of the steps they need to take to solve problems effectively.

Step 5: Consider the Learners’ Age and Everyday Life

When designing problem-solving scenarios, it’s essential to consider the learners’ age and everyday life. Elementary-age learners will require scenarios that relate to their everyday life, such as choices at school, bus to school today, and day at school scenarios. Middle school students, on the other hand, may require scenarios that involve more complex situations.

Examples Of Problem-Solving Scenarios For Elementary Students

As young learners, elementary students encounter various scenarios that require problem-solving skills . These scenarios are opportunities to develop essential skills useful in their everyday lives. Here are some problem-solving scenarios that teachers can use to improve their students’ skills:

Everyday Life Scenarios:

You want to bake cookies for your friends but don’t have all the ingredients. What can you do?
You forgot your lunch at home, and the school doesn’t have extra food for you. What should you do?

School Scenarios:

You and your friend have different choices on where to play during recess. How can you compromise?
You got lost on the way to the library. Who can you ask for help?

Social Scenarios:

Your friend is upset because you accidentally broke their toy. How can you make it right?
You see someone being bullied in the playground. What can you do to help?

Game-Based Scenarios:

You and your friends want to play a game but can’t agree on which one to play. How can you decide together?
You’re playing a board game, and someone is cheating. What can you do to address the situation?

Conflict Resolution Scenarios:

You and your classmate have different ideas for completing a group project. How can you work together?
Your sibling is taking too long in the bathroom, and you need to get ready for school. What can you do?

How To Use Problem-Solving Scenarios In The Classroom?

Problem-solving scenarios can be an effective tool for teaching essential skills to students of all ages. These scenarios allow learners to apply critical thinking, communication, and conflict resolution skills in real-life situations. Here are some ways to use problem-solving scenarios in the classroom:

Lesson Plan

Start by developing a lesson plan that outlines the steps you will take to introduce problem-solving scenarios to your students. Consider the age and skill level of your learners and choose scenarios that are appropriate for them.

Model Problem-Solving Skills

Before introducing the scenarios, model problem-solving skills for your students. Discuss the steps involved in solving a problem, such as identifying the problem, brainstorming solutions, and evaluating the effectiveness of each solution.

Social Scenarios

Introduce social scenarios that students may encounter in everyday life. For example, a scenario could involve a conflict with a friend or a challenging situation at home.

Quick Scenarios

Use quick scenarios as warm-up activities to engage students at the beginning of class. These scenarios can be completed in a few minutes and provide opportunities for students to practice problem-solving skills in a fun and interactive way.

Problem-Solving Scenario Cards

Create problem-solving scenario cards for students to work through challenges in small groups or pairs. These cards can be laminated and reused for multiple classes.

Provide a worksheet for students to complete after working through a problem-solving scenario. The worksheet should ask questions that prompt students to reflect on the problem-solving process and evaluate the effectiveness of their solutions.

Use a game to make problem-solving scenarios more engaging. Traditional board games can be adapted to include conflict resolution challenges or create a new conflict resolution game.

Create a poster that outlines the steps involved in solving a problem. Hang the poster in the classroom as a visual reminder for students.

Wrapping Up

Problem solving scenarios for elementary students offer a great way to help children learn to think critically and develop problem solving skills . Through hands-on activities and real-world examples, students can better understand the importance of problem solving and how to apply it to everyday life.

Additionally, problem solving activities can be tailored to the individual student and their specific needs, helping them to succeed in their academic and personal pursuits. With the right combination of guidance, instruction, and practice, problem solving scenarios.

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Free Elementary Problem-Solving Worksheet

In need of a resource for teaching problem-solving to your elementary students? Look no further, download our free elementary problem-solving worksheet!

Teaching Problem-Solving to Elementary Students

You can successfully teach problem-solving using Everyday Speech’s free problem-solving worksheet! Problem-solving is a complex goal that pulls together multiple cognitive skills used in order to make decisions. New thinking pathways are created as students practice a series of steps to analyze the problem, determine if there is a need for help, devise logical solutions, and use critical thinking skills to choose the best solution.

Lesson Plan – Using Your Free Problem-Solving Worksheet

1. introduce the problem-solving steps.

Before using our free problem-solving worksheet with your student, introduce the problem-solving steps. The five problem-solving steps become a mental checklist that learners can use to solve their problems without needing an adult’s assistance. The problem-solving steps are: identify the problem, decide if you need help, come up with multiple solutions, choose the best solution, and decide if the problem is solved.

2. Practice Using the Problem-Solving Steps

Provide your student with the opportunity to apply the problem-solving steps by giving them 2-3 hypothetical problems they need to solve. Help them work through the 5 problem-solving steps to find the right solution!

3. Use Our Free Elementary Problem-Solving Material

Our free elementary problem-solving material called ‘Pick the Solution to the Problem’ provides your students with the opportunity to pick the correct solution to a problem based on its size. You can teach your students that we must remember that small problems are problems we can handle independently or on our own, whereas big problems need help from an adult to be resolved.

Sample Elementary Problem-Solving Video:

This sample elementary video on problem-solving is s great enhancement to this lesson! Everyday Speech provides real-life scenarios as age-appropriate actors model new skills. We offer a 30-day free trial for all of our social skills materials!

Looking for Free Social Skills Samples? Click here!

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Engaging Problem Solving Activities That Spark Student Interest

In this article, we’ll explore a range of engaging problem solving activities crafted to captivate students’ interest and promote active learning across various subjects. From STEM design challenges to literature-based dilemmas, these hands-on activities are meticulously tailored to inspire curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking in the classroom .

What are Problem Solving Skills?

Problem-solving skills refer to the ability to identify challenges, analyze potential solutions, and implement strategies to resolve issues effectively. These skills involve a combination of cognitive processes, such as critical thinking, creativity, and logical reasoning, that help individuals tackle complex problems in a systematic way.

Developing problem solving skills is essential not only in academic settings but also in everyday life and the workplace. They enhance decision-making, promote adaptability, and encourage the capacity to approach obstacles from multiple perspectives, enabling individuals to arrive at the most effective solutions.

Problem Solving Skills Examples

When exploring examples of problem solving skills, it’s important to understand how various abilities contribute to effective resolution of issues. These problem solving skills examples encompass a range of techniques and strategies that enable individuals to tackle challenges efficiently. Let’s explore these examples one by one:

Analytical Thinking : The ability to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable components, making it easier to understand and solve the issue systematically.
Creativity : Using innovative thinking to generate unique solutions to problems, often by approaching challenges from a new or unconventional perspective.
Critical Thinking : Assessing situations logically, evaluating evidence, and making informed decisions by considering all aspects of the problem before acting. This is a common example of problem solving skills. This is a classic example of problem solving skills, demonstrating how the ability to analyze, evaluate, and address challenges can lead to effective solutions.
Decision-Making : The ability to weigh different options, assess their potential outcomes, and choose the best course of action to resolve an issue effectively. It exemplifies the essential skills of solving problems, including the ability to weigh different options, assess their potential outcomes, and choose the best course of action to achieve a successful resolution.
Communication : Sharing ideas clearly and effectively with others, listening to different viewpoints, and collaborating to reach a solution collectively.
Adaptability : Being flexible in adjusting to new information or changes in circumstances, allowing one to modify their approach when the original plan is no longer effective.
Research : Gathering relevant information and resources to better understand the problem and find informed solutions based on facts and evidence.
Collaboration : Working together with others, leveraging diverse skills and knowledge, to solve a problem more efficiently than working alone.
Time Management : Prioritizing tasks and managing time efficiently to ensure problems are solved within deadlines or before they escalate.

From problem-solving skills examples such as analytical thinking and creativity, which help break down and innovate solutions, to critical thinking and decision-making, which guide the evaluation of options and implementation of the best strategies, each skill plays a pivotal role.

Additionally, skills like communication, adaptability, research, collaboration, and time management are crucial for addressing problems in a comprehensive manner. Understanding and developing these skills can greatly enhance one’s ability to navigate complex issues and achieve successful outcomes.

Problem Solving Activities for Students

In today’s educational landscape, fostering critical thinking and problem solving skills is paramount. As educators, we aim to cultivate a generation of students who excel not only academically but also in navigating real-world challenges with creativity and confidence. Here is the list of problem-solving activities that can help enhance these essential skills.

1. Escape Room Challenge: The Lost Treasure

“Escape Room Challenge: The Lost Treasure” offers compelling problem solving activities for students, immersing them in a thrilling adventure that enhances their critical thinking and teamwork skills as they work to solve puzzles and uncover hidden clues. This interactive experience also serves as one of the best team building problem solving activities, fostering collaboration and communication among participants.

Follow the steps below to implement this activity in the class:

Introduce the escape room challenge and set the scene with a captivating treasure hunt theme.
Transform the classroom into an immersive escape room environment with hidden clues and puzzles.
Divide students into teams and provide instructions for the challenge, emphasizing teamwork and problem solving skills.
Allow teams to explore the room and uncover hidden clues and puzzles.
Encourage observation and collaboration as teams work together to solve challenges.
Present teams with a variety of puzzles and obstacles to overcome.
Challenge them to solve each puzzle to progress through the adventure.
Set a time limit for the challenge to create urgency and excitement.
Encourage teams to work efficiently to unlock the secrets of the treasure before time runs out.
Foster effective communication and teamwork among team members.
Emphasize the importance of listening and leveraging each other’s strengths.
Throughout the challenge, students will develop critical thinking, communication, and problem solving skills.
Encourage reflection on their strategies and teamwork dynamics.
Celebrate each team’s success upon completing the challenge.
Facilitate a debrief session for students to share insights and reflect on their experiences.

With this guide, you can create an engaging escape room challenge that promotes teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving skills in a fun and immersive learning environment. Incorporating problem solving activities for kids like this one will not only keep them entertained but also sharpen their cognitive abilities as they tackle exciting challenges.

2. STEM Design Challenge: Build a Bridge

“STEM Design Challenge: Build a Bridge” is one of the most engaging problem solving activities for middle school students, offering a fun problem solving experience that enhances their engineering skills and encourages teamwork and innovation

Here is the step by step breakdown of this activity:

Present the STEM design challenge to students, explaining that they will be tasked with building a bridge using simple materials.
Supply students with materials such as popsicle sticks, straws, tape, string, and basic construction tools.
Encourage students to inspect the materials and plan their bridge designs accordingly.
Prompt students to brainstorm ideas and sketch their bridge designs before starting construction.
Encourage them to consider factors like structural stability, weight distribution, and material durability.
Instruct students to begin building their bridges based on their designs.
Remind them to apply principles of engineering and physics as they construct their bridges.
As students build their bridges, they’ll encounter challenges and obstacles.
Encourage them to apply problem solving strategies and make adjustments to their designs as needed.
Throughout the construction process, facilitate discussions among students.
Encourage them to reflect on their design choices and problem solving approaches.
Provide opportunities for students to test their bridges using various weight loads or simulated environmental conditions.
Encourage them to observe how their bridges perform and make further adjustments if necessary.

8. Bridge-Building Showcase:

Conclude the challenge with a bridge-building showcase where students present their creations to their peers.
Encourage students to discuss their design process, challenges faced, and lessons learned.

9. Celebrate Achievements:

Celebrate students’ achievements and highlight the importance of their creativity and engineering prowess.
Encourage a spirit of inquiry and innovation as students showcase their bridge designs.

10. Reflect and Conclude:

Conclude the STEM design challenge with a reflection session.
Prompt students to reflect on their experiences and discuss the skills they’ve developed throughout the challenge.

By following these step-by-step instructions, students will engage in a hands-on STEM design challenge that fosters critical thinking, creativity, collaboration , and resilience while deepening their understanding of engineering and physics principles.

3. Mystery Box Inquiry: What’s Inside?

It is one of the ideal problem solving group activities that offers creative ways to improve problem solving skills in students, encouraging teamwork and critical thinking as they work together to uncover the secrets hidden within the box.

Incorporating problem solving team-building activities like this fosters collaboration and enhances communication, essential skills for both academic and personal growth. These engaging team problem solving activities challenge participants to think critically and combine their strengths to achieve a common goal.

Follow these steps to carry out this activity in the class:

Introduction and Setup: Introduce the Mystery Box Inquiry activity and set up a closed mystery box in the classroom.
Group Formation and Instructions: Divide students into small groups and provide instructions emphasizing teamwork and critical thinking.
Engage the Senses: Encourage students to gather around the mystery box and use their senses (touch, smell, hearing) to gather clues about its contents.
Making Observations: Instruct students to carefully observe the exterior of the mystery box and record their observations.
Formulating Hypotheses: Prompt students to formulate hypotheses about what might be inside the mystery box based on their observations.
Testing Hypotheses: Invite students to test their hypotheses by proposing various scenarios and explanations.
Refining Problem Solving Strategies: Encourage students to refine their problem solving strategies based on new information and insights.
Group Discussion and Conclusion: Gather the groups for a discussion, allowing students to share their observations, hypotheses, and insights. Conclude by revealing the contents of the mystery box and discussing the problem solving process.
Reflection and Extension: Provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their experience and optionally extend the activity by challenging them to design their own mystery box inquiries.

By following these steps, you can facilitate an engaging Mystery Box Inquiry activity that prompts students to make astute observations, test hypotheses, and refine their problem solving strategies effectively. Through teamwork and problem solving activities, students learn to communicate ideas, share diverse perspectives, and develop strategies that lead to creative and successful solutions.

Incorporating hands on problem-solving activities like this not only enhances critical thinking but also strengthens teamwork, as students collaborate and combine their efforts to solve challenges together.

4. Real-World Problem Simulation: Environmental Crisis

Real-World Problem Simulation: Environmental Crisis” is one of the most engaging problem solving activities for high school students, designed as a group problem solving challenge that immerses students in the complexities of environmental issues, encouraging collaboration and critical thinking to find innovative solutions.

Introduce the environmental crisis scenario.
Explain its significance and real-world implications.
Divide students into teams with varied skill sets.
Assign roles like researcher, negotiator, presenter.
Task teams with researching causes, impacts, and solutions.
Provide access to relevant resources.
Encourage teams to negotiate with stakeholders.
Prompt the development of comprehensive strategies.
Organize a debate or town hall-style discussion.
Facilitate analysis of proposed solutions.
Allow teams to implement proposed solutions.
Monitor progress and outcomes.
Conclude with a group reflection session.
Discuss lessons learned and the importance of problem solving skills.

This is one of the problem solving activities for students that can create a simulated environmental crisis scenario, fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and problem solving skills in students.

5. Mathematical Escape Puzzle: Crack the Code

Mathematical Escape Puzzle: Crack the Code” is one of the most intriguing problem solving activities in the classroom, offering an exciting blend of problem solving games for students and challenging puzzles that test their mathematical skills and teamwork. This activity presents a unique problem solving challenge for students, motivating them to collaborate and think critically to solve complex equations and unlock the code.

Introduce the escape puzzle, explaining the goal of unlocking a hidden code through math equations and logic puzzles.
Set up materials in the classroom.
Explain students’ task: solving math equations and logic puzzles to unlock the code.
Provide puzzle materials to teams or individuals.
Instruct on effective use.
Prompt students to solve provided math equations and logic puzzles.
Encourage collaboration and problem solving among students.
Offer guidance as needed.
Monitor student progress and provide assistance when required.
Celebrate successful completion of puzzles.
Guide students through unlocking the hidden code.
Conclude with a reflective discussion on math concepts and problem solving skills applied.

By following these steps, you can engage students in a challenging Mathematical Escape Puzzle that reinforces math skills and promotes problem solving abilities.

6. Literature-Based Problem Solving Activity: Character Dilemmas

Literature-Based Problem Solving Activity: Character Dilemmas” is an engaging problem solving activity for students that enhances problem solving skills in students by challenging them to analyze and resolve complex character dilemmas in literature. This activity not only deepens their understanding of the narrative but also sharpens their ability to think critically and collaboratively.

Choose literature pieces with rich character development and moral dilemmas that are suitable for your students’ age and maturity level.
Present the Literature-Based Problem Solving activity to students, explaining that they will engage in thought-provoking analysis and ethical reflection inspired by characters in literature.
Assign readings or excerpts from the selected literature to students.
Instruct students to analyze the characters’ motivations, actions, and the ethical dilemmas they face.
Encourage students to prepare for discussions by taking notes on key points, character motivations, and possible solutions to the dilemmas.
Host lively discussions where students explore the moral dilemmas presented in the literature.
Encourage students to express their thoughts, opinions, and interpretations while respecting diverse perspectives.
Organize persuasive debates where students defend their viewpoints and propose solutions to the character dilemmas.
Encourage students to use evidence from the literature to support their arguments.
Prompt students to apply problem solving skills to analyze the consequences of different decisions and actions within the literature.
Encourage critical thinking as students navigate complex ethical situations.
Guide students in applying the lessons learned from literature to real-world scenarios.
Encourage reflection on how the problem solving skills and ethical considerations explored in the activity can be applied in their own lives.
Conclude the Literature-Based Problem Solving activity by summarizing key insights and takeaways from the discussions and debates.
Encourage students to reflect on how their understanding of moral dilemmas and problem solving skills has evolved through the activity.

It is one of the problem solving activities through which students will engage in thought-provoking analysis, ethical reflection, and problem solving inspired by characters in literature, fostering critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills in a meaningful and engaging way.

Engaging problem solving activities for students are the cornerstone of active learning, fostering essential skills for success in today’s dynamic world. By seamlessly integrating these hands-on experiences into the classroom, educators inspire curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking in their students.

Whether through STEM design challenges, literature-based dilemmas, or coding adventures, these problem solving exercises empower students to become adept problem solvers, equipped to navigate the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and ingenuity. Embrace the transformative potential of engaging problem solving activities to unleash the full spectrum of educational possibilities and prepare students for a future brimming with possibilities.

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5 Problem-Solving Activities for Elementary Classrooms

Classroom problem-solving activities teach children how to engage problems rather than to become frustrated with them. Teachers have the opportunity to teach children the proper methods for dealing with stressful situations, complex problems, and fast decision-making. While a teacher is unlikely to actually put the child into a difficult or otherwise harmful situation, he or she can use activities to teach the child how to handle such situations later on in life.

Teach the problems

To solve any problem, students must go through a process to do so. The teacher can explore this process with students as a group. The first step is to fully understand the problem. To teach this, ask students to describe the problem in their own words. This ensures the student is able to comprehend and express the concern at hand. Then, they must describe and understand the barriers presented. At this point, it’s a good idea to provide ways for the student to find a solution. That’s where activities come into play.

The following are five activities elementary teachers can use to teach problem-solving to students. Teaching students to identify the possible solutions requires approaching the problem in various ways.

No. 1 – Create a visual image

One option is to teach children to create a visual image of the situation. Many times, this is an effective problem-solving skill. They are able to close their eyes and create a mind picture of the problem. For younger students, it may be helpful to draw out the problem they see on a piece of paper.

Ask the child to then discuss possible solutions to the problem. This could be done by visualizing what would happen if one action is taken or if another action is taken. By creating these mental images, the student is fully engaged and can map out any potential complications to their proposed solution.

No. 2 – Use manipulatives

Another activity that is ideal for children is to use manipulatives. In a situation where the problem is space-related, for example the children can move their desks around in various ways to create a pattern or to better visualize the problem. It’s also possible to use simple objects on a table, such as blocks, to create patterns or to set up a problem. This is an ideal way to teach problem-solving skills for math.

By doing this, it takes a problem, often a word problem that’s hard for some students to visualize, and places it in front of the student in a new way. The child is then able to organize the situation into something he or she understands.

No. 3 – Make a guess

Guessing is a very effective problem-solving skill. For those children who are unlikely to actually take action but are likely to sit and ponder until the right answer hits them, guessing is a critical step in problem-solving. This approach involves trial and error.

Rather than approaching guessing as a solution to problems (you do not want children to think they can always guess), teach that it is a way to gather more data. If, for example, they do not know enough about the situation to make a full decision, by guessing, they can gather more facts from the outcome and use that to find the right answer.

No. 4 – Patterns

No matter if the problem relates to social situations or if it is something that has to do with science, patterns are present. By teaching children to look for patterns, they can see what is happening more fully.

For example, define what a pattern is. Then, have the child look for any type of pattern in the context. If the children are solving a mystery, for example, they can look for patterns in time, place or people to better gather facts.

No. 5 – Making a list

Another effective tool is list making. Teach children how to make a list of all of the ideas they come up with right away. Brainstorming is a fun activity in any subject. Then, the child is able to work through the list to determine which options are problems or not.

Classroom problem-solving activities like these engage a group or a single student. They teach not what the answer is, but how the student can find that answer.