Introduction
Welcome to Solve It, a game designed for educators to teach essential problem-solving skills to their students. This engaging activity incorporates principles of Social-Emotional Learning, guiding students through the process of identifying and resolving problems they may face in their day-to-day lives. In this blog post, we will explore the game’s structure, provide a no-prep activity, discuss related skills, and offer next steps for further learning.
No-Prep Activity
To play Solve It, follow these steps:
- Identify the problem – what’s wrong?
- Figure out how big the problem is.
- Think of possible solutions to the problem.
- Pick a solution.
- Try that solution and then reassess it. How did it work?
If the solution works, the problem is solved! If it doesn’t, students can try again. Problem-solving is a process, and learners may not always go straight to the solution. To facilitate discussion and reflection, include an icon in the corner of your presentation or handout. Whenever students see this icon, they can pause and talk about how they are feeling.
Discussion Questions
- What are some common problems students face in their daily lives, and how can they be addressed using the Solve It approach?
- How can students better understand the size of a problem and avoid overreacting or underreacting to it?
- What strategies can students use to think of creative solutions to problems they encounter?
- How can students determine which solution to try first when faced with multiple options?
- What can students learn from unsuccessful attempts at solving a problem, and how can they use that knowledge to improve their problem-solving skills?
Related Skills
While problem-solving is a crucial skill for students to develop, it’s important to remember that it’s just one aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. Other relevant skills include:
- Communication – expressing thoughts and feelings effectively
- Empathy – understanding and sharing the feelings of others
- Conflict resolution – addressing disagreements constructively
- Emotion regulation – managing one’s emotions in a healthy way
- Decision-making – making thoughtful choices based on available information
Next Steps
If you’re interested in exploring more activities like Solve It and incorporating them into your curriculum, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of the discussed skill and others at Everyday Speech. These resources will provide you with additional tools and strategies to help your students develop essential Social-Emotional Learning skills, setting them up for success in all aspects of their lives.
