Introducing Solve It, a game designed to teach students essential problem-solving skills through a step-by-step process. This activity is perfect for educators looking to incorporate principles of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) into their lessons. In this blog post, we will provide an overview of the game, a no-prep activity, discussion questions, related skills, and next steps to help you incorporate Solve It into your curriculum.

Introduction

Solve It is a game where students learn to tackle problems by going through a series of steps. These steps include identifying the problem, figuring out its size, brainstorming possible solutions, choosing a solution, trying it out, and reassessing the results. By engaging in this process, students develop essential problem-solving skills and learn how to navigate challenging situations in a healthy and constructive manner. The game also encourages open communication and emotional awareness, as students are prompted to discuss their feelings throughout the process.

No-Prep Activity

To play Solve It without any preparation or materials, follow these simple steps:

1. Present a hypothetical problem to the class. For example, “Sarah and John are arguing about who gets to use the computer first.”
2. Ask the students to identify the problem and discuss its size. Is it a small, medium, or large problem? Can it be solved individually or does it require assistance?
3. Encourage students to brainstorm possible solutions to the problem. Remind them to think creatively and consider different perspectives.
4. Have the class choose a solution and discuss how they can implement it in the given scenario.
5. Ask the students to try out the selected solution and discuss its effectiveness. Did it solve the problem? If not, what could they do differently?
6. Repeat this process with various hypothetical situations to help students practice and refine their problem-solving skills.

Discussion Questions

After completing the Solve It activity, consider discussing the following questions with your students:

1. How did you feel during the problem-solving process? Were there any emotions that made it more difficult to think of solutions?
2. What strategies did you find most helpful when trying to come up with possible solutions to the problem?
3. How can effective communication and listening skills improve our ability to solve problems with others?
4. Why is it important to reassess our solutions and be open to trying new approaches when solving problems?
5. How can problem-solving skills help us in our daily lives and future careers?

Related Skills

In addition to problem-solving, Solve It helps students develop several other important SEL skills. Some of these related skills include:

• Emotional awareness: Recognizing and understanding one’s own emotions and the emotions of others.
• Empathy: Putting oneself in another’s shoes and understanding their perspective.
• Decision-making: Evaluating options and making informed choices in various situations.
• Conflict resolution: Addressing disagreements in a constructive and respectful manner.
• Adaptability: Being open to change and adjusting to new situations or challenges.

Next Steps

If you’re interested in incorporating Solve It and other SEL activities into your curriculum, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of our resources. Visit Everyday Speech to access a wide range of materials designed to support educators in teaching valuable social-emotional skills. By integrating these resources into your lessons, you can help your students develop the skills they need to navigate the challenges of life with confidence and resilience.