Problem Solving
You are walking into school. You drop your backpack in a puddle and your notebooks get wet.
How might you feel?
What can you do if this happens to you? (THINK: Who might you tell?)
You might feel upset, worried, or stressed.
You can tell your teacher what happened when you get to your classroom.
Ben practiced spelling words all week for his test. On Friday morning, he felt nervous when he sat at his desk. During the test, he forgot how to spell one word. He took a deep breath and kept going. After school, he found out he only missed that one word.
Why did Ben feel nervous?
What did Ben do when he forgot a word?
How did Ben do on the test?
What does this story show about Ben?
He felt nervous because of his test.
When he forgot a word, he took a deep breathe and kept going.
Ben only got one question wrong.
This story shows Ben studied and worked hard to do well on his test.
When Sam told a funny joke at the start of group, it helped break the ice and everyone started talking.
What does "break the ice" mean?
Start a conversation, make people feel comfortable, make friends.
Liam carried his backpack to school on a rainy day. He tripped on a puddle, and his backpack fell over. Some of his notebooks got wet. He picked them up and wiped them off. Liam felt relieved when nothing was ruined.
What happened to Liam’s backpack?
How did Liam fix the problem?
He felt relieved. What does this mean?
Liam's backpack fell over, and his notebooks got wet.
Liam fixed the problem by picking up the notebooks and wiping them off.
Relieved means he was happy that nothing was ruined. He isn't worried anymore.
“Break a leg at your piano recital!” said Mom before Emma went on stage.
What does "break a leg" mean?
Good luck (often said before a performance)
You get to school and realize your forgot your boots. You need your boots to go outside for recess.
What is the problem?
What is a solution to this problem?
Problem: You don't have your boots for recess.
Solution: Tell your teacher your forgot your boots. Your teacher will help you get boots. She can call home and your boots can be dropped off, or search for an extra pair.
Kayla brought her favorite book to read during free time. When she opened her backpack, she could not find it. She remembered taking it out on the bus that morning. After lunch, the bus driver came to her classroom with the book. Kayla smiled and said thank you.
Where did Kayla last remember having her book?
Who returned the book to her?
Why did Kayla smile?
Put these events in order: (a) The driver brought the book, (b) Kayla checked her backpack, (c) She read on the bus.
She last remembered having it on the bus.
The bus driver returned the book to her.
Kayla smiled because she got her book back.
c,b,a
Ava stayed home from school because she was feeling under the weather. Her stomach was hurting and she needed rest.
What does "under the weather" mean?
Feeling sick/not feeling well
Daniel finished his math homework the night before. In the morning, he put it in his backpack. When he got to school, he realized it wasn’t there. He searched his desk, his locker, and his bag. Daniel felt nervous because he didn’t want to get in trouble. He told his teacher what happened. The teacher gave him extra time to search. He found it at the bottom of his backpack. When he handed it in he felt relieved.
Where did Daniel look for his homework?
How did the teacher help him?
How did he feel at the end of the story? Why?
He looked for his homework in his backpack first.
Then, he looked in his desk, locker, and bag.
At the end, he felt relieved because he found and handed in his homework.
Sam put his red hat on the bench while he played basketball. When he finished, the hat was gone. He saw it later on top of the slide.
Who lost the hat?
What color was the hat?
Where did Sam find the hat?
Sam lost the hat.
The hat was red.
He found the hat on top of the slide.
You walk outside in the morning and the bus already passed your house.
What is the problem?
What should you do?
Problem: You missed the bus.
Solution: Go inside, tell an adult.
DON'T walk to school without telling a parent?
Sophie and her brother were building a puzzle on the floor. They both reached for the same piece at the same time. The puzzle pieces spilled across the carpet. They looked at each other and started laughing. Then they worked together to pick up the pieces.
Why did the puzzle pieces spill?
How did Sophie and her brother react?
What did they do after laughing?
What does this story show about how they handled the situation?
The pieces spilled because they both reached for the same piece at the same time.
They reacted by laughing.
After laughing, they worked together to pick up the pieces.
This story showed that instead of getting upset, Sophie and her brother laughed and helped each other fix the problem.
The new video game system cost an arm and a leg, so Jay had to save his money.
What does "cost an arm and a leg" mean?
THINK: Why do you need to save money?
It is expensive
Lily and her grandmother decided to bake cookies after school. Lily measured the flour, sugar, and chocolate chips. Her grandmother stirred the batter and helped her put it on the cookie sheets. The cookies smelled sweet as they baked in the oven. Lily set the timer and waited patiently. When the cookies were done, they decorated them with sprinkles. Lily tasted one and said it was delicious.
What did Lily do while baking?
How did Lily probably feel after tasting the cookies? Why
While baking, Lily measured the flour, sugar, and chocolate chips.
She probably felt happy/proud because the cookies they made tasted delicious.
Keep your eyes peeled for the mailman, your package might arrive today!
What does "keep your eyes peeled" mean?
Be on the look out, pay attention, watch carefully
You studied for your test, but you got a lower grade than you expected. You are feeling upset.
What is the problem?
Is this a permanent problem?
What is something helpful you can do now?
What would NOT be helpful?
Problem: You got a lower grade than your expected.
No, it is not a permanent problem.
Helpful: talk to your teacher, review the test
NOT helpful: Getting angry, or not trying again
The class was lining up for recess. Jordan noticed he was standing at the very end of the line. He usually liked being near the front. For a moment, he felt annoyed. Then he reminded himself that everyone would still get outside at the same time.
Why did Jordan feel annoyed?
Did being at the end of the line change recess time?
What thought helped Jordan feel better?
Is this a big problem or a small problem?
Jordan felt annoyed because he was at the end of the line, and he usually likes to be at the front.
No, standing at the end of the line doesn't change recess time.
It helped him feel better to know recess time stays the same.
This is a small problem.
Missing the bus was a blessing in disguise because Mom got to drive me and we sang our favorite songs on the drive.
What does "blessing in disguise" mean?
**THINK: What is a blessing? What is a disguise?
Something seemed bad, but turned out to be good.
It started raining while the students were walking outside for recess. Everyone ran back inside quickly. Some kids were disappointed because they wanted to play on the playground. Mia noticed a puddle near the door. She jumped in it and laughed loudly. Her friend tried to jump in too but missed and slipped a little. They both laughed and went to find a dry game inside.
Why do you think some kids were disappointed?
What did Mia do near the door?
How did Mia’s actions affect her friend?
Some kids were disappointed because they had to move inside for recess.
Mia jumped in a puddle near the door.
Her actions affected her friend because he friend joined her. When they were both jumping, her friend slipped.
Max made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch. He put it on the counter and went to wash his hands. When he came back, the sandwich was gone! He looked under the table and behind the fridge. Finally, his little brother came out of the pantry holding the sandwich. Max laughed and said, “Next time, I will hide it better!”
Where did Max look for his sandwich?
Who took the sandwich?
Max looked under the table and behind the fridge.
His little brother took his sandwich.
You filled up your water bottle after gym class. When you are walking, your drop it on the floor. The water spills all over the floor.
What should you do next?
THINK: Should you tell someone?
What would be an UNSAFE choice?
Tell an adult. They can help you clean the mess.
DON'T leave the water on the floor; someone may slip!
Chloe’s class was having a reading contest. Each student kept track of how many pages they read. Chloe read a little every night before bed. At the end of the month, she had read more pages than she expected. She felt proud of her hard work.
1. What was the class contest about?
2. When did Chloe usually read?
3. Why did she feel proud?
4. What helped her succeed in the contest?
The contest was about reading.
Chloe usually read every night before bed.
She felt proud because she worked hard to read so many pages.
Reading a little bit every day helped her succeed.
We only go out for ice cream once in a blue moon, so it feels special.
What does "once in a blue moon? mean?
Once in awhile, or not very often.
Maya’s friends planned a surprise birthday party for her. When she walked in, everyone shouted, “Surprise!” Maya felt excited and a little shy. They played games and ate cake. One of her friends gave her a small gift. Maya opened it and smiled. She thanked all her friends for the party. She went home feeling happy and special.
How do you think Maya felt before she walked into the room?
What does this story tell us about friendship?
Maya may have wondered if her friends remembered her birthday.
They played games, ate cake, one friend gave a gift.
This story tells us that friendship is about doing good things for our friends, being there for them making them feel special.
John's pencil broke in the middle of a math test.
What is the problem?
What can he do next?
Problem: pencil broke
Next, he can raise his hand, ask to sharpen his pencil or ask for a new pencil.