Introduction
Social-Emotional Learning is essential for the development of middle school students. One critical skill is problem-solving, which helps them navigate everyday challenges. Welcome to Solve It, a game designed to teach students about problem-solving in an engaging and interactive way. The game takes participants through a series of steps to identify, analyze, and solve everyday problems. This blog post will introduce you to a no-prep activity, discussion questions, and related skills to enhance problem-solving abilities in your students.
No-Prep Activity
The Problem-Solving Relay is an activity that requires no preparation or materials from the educator. To begin, divide your students into small groups. Each group will take turns solving a problem presented by the educator. The problems should be realistic and relevant to middle school students’ daily lives.
Once a problem is presented, the first student in the group will start by identifying the problem. The next student will determine the size of the issue, followed by the third student suggesting possible solutions. The fourth student will pick a solution, and the last student in the group will try the solution and reassess it. The group will then discuss the outcome and, if necessary, restart the process until they find a satisfactory solution.
The Problem-Solving Relay promotes teamwork, communication, and critical thinking while teaching students the importance of breaking down problems step by step.
Discussion Questions
- Why is it important to identify the problem before jumping to conclusions or solutions?
- How can understanding the size of the problem help us in the problem-solving process?
- Why is it essential to consider multiple solutions before choosing one to try?
- How can we learn from a solution that doesn’t work?
- Why is teamwork and communication crucial in problem-solving?
Related Skills
Problem-solving is just one aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. Other related skills that students can benefit from include:
- Communication: Effectively expressing thoughts and feelings and understanding others’ perspectives.
- Conflict Resolution: Identifying and resolving disagreements in a healthy and constructive manner.
- Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others, and responding with compassion.
- Resilience: Adapting and recovering from setbacks, and learning from experiences.
- Decision-Making: Evaluating options and making informed choices to achieve goals.
Next Steps
Are you interested in trying out Solve It and other Social-Emotional Learning activities with your students? Sign up today for free samples of these resources and more at Everyday Speech. Help your middle school students develop essential problem-solving skills and prepare them for a successful future.
