As speech-language pathologists (SLPs), our role in fostering essential life skills in students is pivotal. One such crucial skill is problem-solving. Teaching problem solving steps to solve a problem can significantly enhance their critical thinking and decision-making abilities. This blog post aims to provide a detailed lesson plan, complete with simple, no-prep games and activities, to make the learning process engaging and effective.
Why Teach Problem Solving?
Problem-solving is a fundamental skill that helps students navigate daily challenges, both academically and socially. By teaching problem-solving steps, we equip students with a structured approach to handle various situations, fostering independence and confidence.
Teaching Problem Solving Steps
- Identify the Problem
- Decide if You Need Help
- Think of Some Solutions
- Select a Solution to Try
- Evaluate if the Solution Worked
Lesson Plan for Teaching Problem Solving Steps
Objective:
Students will learn and practice the five steps to solve a problem through interactive activities and discussions.
Materials Needed:
- Whiteboard and markers
- Printable problem-solving steps chart
- Scenario cards
- Evaluation checklist
Introduction (10 minutes)
Start with a Discussion: Begin the lesson by discussing what problem-solving means. Ask the students if they have ever faced a problem and how they solved it. This helps activate prior knowledge and sets the stage for introducing the five steps.
Introduce the Five Steps: Present the five steps to solve a problem on the whiteboard. Explain each step briefly, ensuring that students understand the terminology.
Activities and Games
1. Identify the Problem (15 minutes)
Activity: Problem Identification Game
- Instructions: Provide students with scenario cards depicting various problems (e.g., losing a pencil, a friend not sharing, etc.).
- Task: Ask students to read the scenario and identify the main problem.
- Discussion: Discuss the identified problems as a class and reinforce the importance of clearly understanding what the problem is.
2. Decide if You Need Help (15 minutes)
Activity: Help or No Help?
- Instructions: Create a list of scenarios where students decide whether they can solve the problem on their own or if they need help.
- Task: For each scenario, students hold up a card indicating “Help” or “No Help.”
- Discussion: Discuss why they chose to seek help or handle it independently, emphasizing the importance of knowing when to ask for assistance.
3. Think of Some Solutions (20 minutes)
Activity: Solution Brainstorming
- Instructions: In small groups, provide students with a problem scenario and ask them to brainstorm as many solutions as possible.
- Task: Groups share their solutions with the class.
- Discussion: Highlight the creativity and variety in the solutions, and discuss how thinking of multiple solutions can lead to finding the best one.
4. Select a Solution to Try (15 minutes)
Activity: Solution Selection Game
- Instructions: Present a problem scenario with multiple possible solutions.
- Task: Students vote on which solution they think will work best and explain why.
- Discussion: Discuss the reasons behind their choices and the importance of selecting a practical and feasible solution.
5. Evaluate if the Solution Worked (15 minutes)
Activity: Evaluation Checklist
- Instructions: After presenting a problem scenario and its selected solution, ask students to use an evaluation checklist to determine if the solution worked.
- Task: Students discuss in pairs whether the solution was effective and suggest improvements if needed.
- Discussion: Emphasize the importance of reflecting on the outcome and learning from the experience.
Conclusion (10 minutes)
Review the Steps: Summarize the five problem-solving steps and reiterate their importance. Use the printable problem-solving steps chart as a visual aid.
Q&A Session: Encourage students to ask questions or share their experiences related to problem-solving.
Best Practices for Teaching Problem Solving Steps
- Repetition: Reinforce the five steps regularly through various activities and real-life scenarios.
- Visual Aids: Use charts and diagrams to visually represent the steps.
- Role-Playing: Incorporate role-playing activities to provide hands-on practice.
- Positive Reinforcement: Praise students for their efforts and successes in problem-solving.
Everyday Speech has many no-prep problem solving activities to try including video lessons, web games, and interactive activities such as this one! Students can drag each step into the correct order, while listening and seeing visuals on screen! Make learning fun and engaging by allowing students hands on interaction.
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Sample Video
Students learn best from watching real students their own age model skills. Try out this sample video lesson. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 14 days here!
Related Blog Posts:
Lesson Plan: Solving a Problem
Teaching Problem-Solving Skills: Identifying Big & Small Problems
