Middle school students encounter challenges daily—navigating friendships, managing schoolwork, handling emotions, and making decisions. However, one of the biggest obstacles to solving problems effectively is not recognizing the actual problem in the first place.

Many students react emotionally or make impulsive choices before taking a moment to define the problem clearly. Teaching students how to pause, analyze a situation, and identify what’s really wrong is the first and most essential step in effective problem-solving.

This article will cover:

• Why identifying the problem is the foundation of problem-solving
• How students can assess the size of a problem and decide if they need help
• A free downloadable problem-solving worksheet and lesson plan to reinforce these skills in the classroom

By the end, you will have practical strategies and a classroom-ready resource to help middle schoolers become better, more confident problem-solvers.

Why Identifying the Problem Matters in Middle School

Before students can solve a problem effectively, they must first define what the problem actually is. Often, students focus on how they feel about a situation rather than what is causing the issue. For example:

• A student might say, “I’m frustrated because my locker won’t open.” But the actual problem is not being able to access their school materials before class starts.
• Another might say, “My classmate is so annoying!” when the real issue is that they keep whispering mean comments, making the student feel uncomfortable.

Helping students recognize the core issue instead of reacting emotionally allows them to:

• Approach challenges more logically by thinking through situations instead of acting on impulse
• Focus on realistic solutions by defining the issue clearly and targeting the right response
• Decide when to ask for help by assessing whether a problem can be solved independently or requires outside support

By teaching middle schoolers how to define problems clearly, they develop stronger decision-making, emotional regulation, and independent problem-solving skills.

How to Teach Students to Identify the Problem

Problem-solving starts with clearly understanding what needs to be solved. Students can follow a three-step approach to break down any challenge.

Step 1: Define the Problem

Encourage students to state the problem in a clear, specific way instead of just expressing frustration. Ask:

• What exactly is happening?
• Why is this a problem?
• What do I need to solve?

For example, instead of saying “I’m mad at my friend,” they might say, “My friend canceled our plans without telling me, and I feel left out.”

Step 2: Determine the Size of the Problem

Not every problem is the same. Some can be solved independently, while others require outside help.

Ask students:

• Is this a small, medium, or big problem?
• Can I solve it on my own, or do I need support?
• Will this problem still matter in a day or a week?

For example:

• A small problem might be that their locker won’t open, but a friend or teacher can help quickly.
• A medium problem might be struggling with homework and needing to find a way to manage time better.
• A big problem might be feeling unsafe because someone is bullying them, which requires adult intervention.

Step 3: Decide if You Can Solve It Alone or Need Help

Encourage students to recognize when they need support and that asking for help is okay.

• Can I fix this with a simple action, such as moving to another seat or asking a teacher a question?
• Do I need advice from a parent, teacher, or friend?

This three-step approach helps students think before they react and prepares them to brainstorm effective solutions in the next phase of problem-solving.

Lesson Plan & Worksheet for Middle School: Identifying the Problem

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

• Identify and define problems clearly
• Assess the size of a problem and determine if they need help
• Apply these skills to real-life middle school scenarios

Materials

• Problem-Solving Worksheet
• Whiteboard or chart paper for class discussions
• Example problem-solving scenarios for discussion

Step 1: Class Discussion – Recognizing Problems (10 minutes)

Ask students:

• What are some common challenges middle schoolers face?
• How do people usually react when faced with a problem?
• Why do some problems feel bigger than they really are?

Write several real-life examples on the board and discuss how students might react to them.

Step 2: Introduce the Problem-Solving Process (10 minutes)

Explain that problem-solving starts with defining the problem clearly. Walk students through the three-step approach using relatable examples.

Example: A student forgets their homework at home. What’s the actual problem?

• Defining the problem: “I don’t have my homework, and it’s due today.”
• Determining the size: “This is a small problem if I can turn it in late, but a medium problem if it affects my grade.”
• Deciding on action: “I can talk to my teacher and see if I can submit it tomorrow.”

Step 3: Practice with the Problem-Solving Worksheet (15 minutes)

Divide students into small groups and distribute the Problem-Solving Worksheet, which includes real-world problem scenarios for them to analyze.

Example scenarios from the worksheet:

• You can’t open your locker, and class starts soon.
• A classmate keeps whispering mean things to you.
• You feel sick in class and aren’t sure what to do.
• You see two classmates get into a physical fight.

Each group will:

• Identify the problem in clear terms
• Decide how big the problem is
• Determine if they can solve it alone or need help

Step 4: Reflection and Takeaways (5 minutes)

Wrap up with a discussion:

• How did clearly defining the problem help?
• Did any problems seem smaller after breaking them down?
• How will this process help you next time you face a challenge?

Encourage students to apply this strategy in their daily lives to help them stay calm, think clearly, and make better decisions.

Want More? Access Additional Free Resources!

Everyday Speech is a no-prep digital curriculum that combines evidence-based video modeling, interactive web games, and digital and printable worksheets to make teaching social skills easy.

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: