Introduction

Teaching problem-solving skills to students in special education can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. The Solve It game is an engaging and effective way to help students develop these essential skills. In this game, students work through problems step by step, discussing the problem and possible solutions as they go. This blog post will guide you through the process of implementing the Solve It game in your classroom and provide you with additional resources to support your students’ learning.

No-Prep Activity: The Solve It Game

The Solve It game requires no preparation or materials from the educator, making it an ideal choice for busy classrooms. To play the game, follow these steps:

1. Identify the problem: Have the students discuss a problem they might encounter in their day-to-day lives.
2. Figure out how big the problem is: Help students determine whether the problem is small, medium, or large.
3. Think of possible solutions: Encourage students to brainstorm different ways to solve the problem.
4. Pick a solution: Have the students choose the best solution from their list.
5. Try the solution and reassess: Students should try their chosen solution and then discuss whether it worked or not.

If the solution works, the problem is solved! If not, students can try again with another solution. Remember, problem-solving is a process, and students may not find the perfect solution on their first try.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to stimulate further discussions about problem-solving among your students:

1. Why is it important to identify the problem before trying to solve it?
2. How can we determine the size of a problem, and why is this step important?
3. What are some strategies for brainstorming solutions to a problem?
4. How can we decide which solution is the best one to try?
5. What should we do if our first solution doesn’t work?

Related Skills

In addition to problem-solving, the Solve It game helps students develop other essential social-emotional learning skills, such as:

• Communication: Students must effectively express their thoughts and ideas during the game.
• Collaboration: Working together to solve problems helps students build teamwork skills.
• Emotional regulation: Recognizing and managing emotions during the problem-solving process is crucial for success.
• Decision-making: Choosing the best solution requires critical thinking and decision-making abilities.

Next Steps

Now that you’re familiar with the Solve It game and its benefits, it’s time to implement it in your classroom and help your students develop essential problem-solving skills. To access free sample materials for the Solve It game and other related skills, visit Everyday Speech’s sample materials page. These resources can help you further support your students’ social-emotional learning journey.