In the journey of early childhood development, teaching preschoolers self-regulation and problem-solving skills is pivotal. This blog post aims to provide early childhood special educators with a practical and engaging lesson plan, centered around the “Free Preschool Problem-Solving Visuals” and the “My Problem Solving Toolbox” activity. This resource helps young learners build their own set of strategies for tackling challenges they encounter.

Lesson Plan Overview

Duration: 30 minutes

Materials: “My Problem Solving Toolbox” printable PDF, scissors, coloring supplies

Objective: To assist preschoolers in identifying and utilizing various problem-solving strategies in a fun and interactive way.

Preparation Steps

1. Download and print the “My Problem Solving Toolbox” worksheets.
2. Ensure scissors and coloring supplies are available for each student.
3. Set up a child-friendly space conducive to cutting and pasting activities.

Lesson Execution

1. Introduction to Problem Solving (5 minutes): Begin by discussing what problems are and why having different ways to solve them is important.
2. Toolbox Creation (15 minutes): Distribute the worksheets. Let students cut out the toolbox and various strategies, then choose which strategies they want to include in their toolbox.
3. Discussion and Personalization (10-15 minutes): Engage students in a discussion about why they chose certain strategies for their toolboxes. Encourage them to personalize their toolboxes with coloring and additional decorations.

Conclusion

The “My Problem Solving Toolbox” activity, along with the “Free Preschool Problem-Solving Visuals,” offers a dynamic and engaging way for early childhood special educators to teach essential self-regulation and problem-solving skills. By allowing preschoolers to build and personalize their own toolboxes, this lesson plan not only enhances their understanding of problem-solving but also fosters creativity and independence.

Sample Video

Students learn best from watching real students their own age model skills. Try out this sample video-modeling lesson below. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 30 days here!

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