High school students face challenges every day—missed assignments, social conflicts, test anxiety, and big decisions about the future. Without the right skills, they may feel overwhelmed, react impulsively, or struggle to find effective solutions.

One of the most important steps in problem-solving is learning to assess the size of a problem. Some challenges can be handled independently, while others require help. However, many students either overreact to minor issues or downplay problems that actually need support.

That’s why teaching students how to evaluate problems with The Problem Scale before reacting is an essential skill. This article will cover:

• What problem-solving is and why it matters for high schoolers
• The Problem Scale and how it helps students assess challenges
• A free downloadable problem-solving poster and lesson plan to help students apply these skills in real-life scenarios

By the end, you’ll have practical strategies and resources to help students become more confident, independent problem-solvers.

Download The Problem Scale Lesson Plan

What Is Problem-Solving?

Problem-solving is the ability to identify a challenge, think through possible solutions, and take action to resolve it. It is a fundamental skill that helps students navigate academic, social, and personal challenges.

For high school students, effective problem-solving means:

• Managing academic stress – Handling missed assignments, test anxiety, and project deadlines
• Resolving conflicts – Finding solutions to disagreements with friends, teachers, or family
• Making informed decisions – Weighing options about extracurricular activities, jobs, or future plans

Without structured problem-solving skills, students may feel overwhelmed, make impulsive decisions, or struggle to handle setbacks. Teaching a clear, step-by-step approach gives them the tools to assess challenges, think critically, and respond effectively.

Examples of Problem-Solving Skills

Strong problem-solving involves a mix of critical thinking, emotional regulation, and decision-making skills. Some of the most important skills high school students should develop include:

• Determining the size of a problem – Using The Problem Scale to decide whether a problem is small, medium, or big, and knowing when to seek help.
• Identifying root causes – Breaking a situation down to understand what is truly causing the issue.
• Considering multiple solutions – Thinking beyond the first idea and generating multiple possible responses.
• Evaluating outcomes – Weighing the pros and cons of different solutions before making a decision.
• Adjusting when needed – Recognizing when a solution isn’t working and trying a different approach.

Teaching students to determine the size of a problem is especially useful in helping them react appropriately and make independent decisions.

Teaching The Problem Scale: Helping Students Assess Problems

Not all problems are the same, and helping students determine the size of a problem is an essential step in building independent problem-solving skills. Some challenges are small and can be handled independently, while others are big and require support. Without this awareness, students may overreact to minor issues or downplay serious challenges that need attention.

The Problem Scale is a simple tool that helps students classify problems into five categories: very small, small, medium, big, and very big. By learning how to assess the size of a problem, students develop better emotional regulation, decision-making, and self-reliance. The Problem Scale:

1. Prevents Overreactions – Helps students put problems into perspective so they can respond appropriately instead of reacting emotionally.
2. Encourages Independent Problem-Solving – Teaches students to pause and assess whether they can handle the issue on their own before immediately seeking help.
3. Supports Emotional Regulation – Gives students a framework to think through a problem logically rather than responding based on frustration or stress.

By integrating The Problem Scale into classroom discussions and activities, students gain confidence in handling challenges and develop the ability to think critically before reacting.

1. Start with Real-Life Scenarios

Begin by presenting common high school problem-solving scenarios and asking students to classify each one using The Problem Scale.

Examples:

• Forgetting a homework assignment
• A disagreement with a friend
• Failing a major test
• Facing a personal crisis at home

Ask students: How big is this problem? Encourage them to explain why they rated the problem a certain way and compare their responses with their peers.

This exercise helps students see that not every challenge requires the same level of response. It also reinforces the idea that while some problems can be solved independently, others may require help from an adult.

2. Guide Students in Assessing the Problem’s Size

After discussing initial reactions to different scenarios, introduce guiding questions that help students determine whether a problem is something they can solve on their own or if outside help is needed.

Ask students to consider:

• Is this a problem I can solve on my own, or do I need help?
• What are my possible solutions?
• What might happen if I don’t solve this problem?

Encourage students to think critically about what makes a problem big or small. A minor disagreement with a friend, for example, might feel overwhelming in the moment, but is it a problem that will still matter in a week? By helping students reflect before reacting, they gain perspective on how to appropriately respond to different situations.

3. Reinforce That Not All Problems Require the Same Response

Once students understand how to classify problems, the next step is to discuss how to respond based on the problem’s size.

• Very Small or Small Problems – These can usually be handled independently. Encourage students to think of strategies for problem-solving before seeking outside help.
• Medium Problems – May require some assistance, but students should first try problem-solving on their own before escalating.
• Big or Very Big Problems – These require immediate attention from a trusted adult. Students should recognize when it’s appropriate to seek help.

Remind students that not every problem is urgent, and learning to differentiate between big and small problems can help them stay calm and focused.

Encourage students to use The Problem Scale as a mental checklist whenever they face a challenge. The more they practice, the easier it will be to assess problems, regulate emotions, and find effective solutions independently.

Lesson Plan: Teaching Problem-Solving with The Problem Scale

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand the problem-solving process
• Use The Problem Scale to evaluate the size of a problem
• Apply problem-solving skills in real-life high school scenarios

Materials

• The Problem Scale Poster

• Sticky notes
• Markers

Step 1: Review the Problem-Solving Steps (10 minutes)

Discuss the problem-solving process:

• Identify the Problem
• Decide if You Need Help
• Come Up with Multiple Solutions
• Choose the Best Solution

Walk through each of the steps with a relatable high school example, such as forgetting an important deadline. 

Step 2: Introduce The Problem Scale (10 minutes)

Display The Problem Scale Poster, and walk through each category with examples:

• Very Small: Losing a pen
• Small: Forgetting homework
• Medium: Conflict with a friend
• Big: Failing a major test
• Very Big: Family crisis

Discuss how students can respond appropriately based on the problem size.

Step 3: Group Activity – Apply the Problem-Solving Process (15 minutes)

Divide students into small groups. Assign each group a realistic problem such as a disagreement over a group project.

Have them walk through the problem-solving steps and use The Problem Scale to determine if help is needed. Groups will then present their problem, solutions, and decisions to the class.

Step 4: Independent Reflection and Discussion (10 minutes)

Ask students to reflect:

• What’s a problem you faced recently?
• How would you classify it using The Problem Scale?
• Would you have handled it differently using this process?

Reinforce that problem-solving is a skill that improves with practice.

Download The Problem Scale Lesson Plan

Want More? Access Additional Free Resources!

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We offer a free 30-day trial where you can use our thousands of video lessons, worksheets, and games to teach social skills like problem-solving. 

Here’s an example video modeling lesson for teaching problem-solving from our curriculum: