Introduction

Problem-solving is a crucial life skill that helps children navigate through various challenges they may encounter. The Solve It game is a fun and interactive way to teach elementary students how to tackle problems step by step. This game focuses on everyday issues students might face and encourages them to discuss their feelings and thoughts. In this blog post, we will explore the Solve It game and provide a no-prep activity, discussion questions, related skills, and next steps for educators to implement this game in their classrooms.

No-Prep Activity

The following activity requires no preparation or materials from the educator. You can implement this activity in your classroom to teach problem-solving skills:

1. Split your students into small groups or pairs.
2. Present a common problem that students might face, such as forgetting their homework or having a disagreement with a friend.
3. Ask the students to work together and go through the following steps to solve the problem:
   1. Identify the problem.
   2. Figure out how big the problem is.
   3. Think of possible solutions to the problem.
   4. Pick a solution.
   5. Try that solution and then reassess it.
4. After the students have worked through the problem, bring the class together and discuss the solutions each group came up with. Encourage students to share their thoughts and feelings throughout the process.

Discussion Questions

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

1. Why is it important to identify the problem before trying to solve it?
2. How can understanding the size of a problem help us come up with appropriate solutions?
3. What are some strategies you can use to think of different solutions to a problem?
4. How do you decide which solution to choose when faced with a problem?
5. Why is it important to reassess our chosen solution and try again if it doesn’t work?

Related Skills

Teaching problem-solving skills through the Solve It game also helps students develop other important social-emotional skills, such as:

• Communication: Students learn to express their thoughts and feelings effectively when discussing problems and solutions.
• Collaboration: Working in groups or pairs encourages students to cooperate and share ideas to solve problems.
• Resilience: By trying different solutions and reassessing their choices, students learn to adapt and persevere in the face of challenges.
• Empathy: Discussing problems and solutions helps students develop an understanding of the feelings and perspectives of others.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about the Solve It game and how it can help teach problem-solving skills to your elementary students, it’s time to put it into practice. To access free samples of the Solve It game and other helpful resources, sign up at Everyday Speech’s sample materials page. These resources will provide you with the tools you need to effectively teach problem-solving skills and promote social-emotional learning in your classroom.