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Problem Solving Lesson SEL

solution

solve

problem

Vocab words

What are the steps for solving problems?

Essential Question:

Project and Purpose: Students will practice a process for problem solving.

Problem SolvingSocial Emotional Learning

materials

• Problem Solver Song • Pictureofacrow • The Crow and the Pitcher story • Clearpitcherfilledhalfwaywithwater. • Pebblesorsmallrocks–enoughtoputintothepitcherandbringthe waterleveluptothetop. • Aposteroftheproblem-solvingprocess: • Thinkabouttheproblemandputitintowords. • Thinkaboutallkindsofwaystosolvetheproblem. • Tryoneoftheideasandseeifitworks!

Room Set up: Chairs,tablesanddeskspushedbacktocreateanopenspace to move and interact.

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Problem Solving Lesson SEL

IntroductionTeachtheProblemSolverSong:

Problem Solver Song (tuneofTwinkle,TwinkleLittleStar)

Problems,problems! Thinkdon’tpout.

Ideas solve problems; try one out.

Ifitworks,thenhurray!

Ifitdoesn’t,tryanewway.

Problems,problems! Thinkdon’tpout.

Ideas solve problems; try one out.

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Notes:

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Problem Solving Lesson SEL

Direct Instruction (I do)1. Holdupapictureofacrow.Askstudentstodescribewhattheysee.

2. Explainthatthereisastoryaboutacrowthathasaproblem.

3. Holduppitcher,filledhalf-waywithwater.Explainthatthecrowcan’tgethisbeakinthepitcherfarenoughtodrink.Hisbeakistooshort.Hehasaproblemthatneedstobesolved.Hesitsdownonthegroundwhichiscoveredwithpebbles.

4. TakeoutyourposteroftheProblem-Solving Process.

5. Talkwithstudentsaboutwhenyouwanttosolveaproblem,youthinkcarefullyandtrythings:

a. Ithinkabouttheproblemandputitintowords:Whatistheproblem?Haveotherpeopletriedtosolvethisproblem?WhatsuppliesdoIhave?HowmuchtimetoIhavetodothis?

b. Ithinkaboutallkindsofwaystosolvetheproblem.IfI’mluckyenoughtohavefriendsaround,Iaskmyfriendstohelpme.

c. Itryoneofmyideasandseeifitworks!

6. Usetheprocesswiththestudentstocreatesolutionsforthecrow.

a. Askstudentstoputthecrow’sproblemintotheirownwords.

b. Askforideastohelpthecrowsolvehisproblem.

c. Whichideashouldthecrowtry?Tryittoseeifitworks.

7. ReadthestoryreadThe Crow and the Pitcher and compare/contrast to student ideas.

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Problem Solving Lesson SEL

Guided Exploration (We do) 1. Tellstudentsthatyouhaveanotherproblemforthemtosolve.Youhave

abigknotthatneedstobeuntangled.Youwantthestudentstousetheprocess to solve your problem.

2. Askforsixvolunteerstostandinasmallcircle.Tellstudentstoreachacrossthecirclewithyourrighthandandgrabthehandofoneperson,thenuseyourlefthandtotakeanotherperson’shand.Youmustbeholdingthehandsof2differentpeople.

3. ProblemsolvetogetheranduntangleWITHOUTlettinggoofhands.

4. Youhavesuccesswhenyouarestandinginacircleagain.

Note: some people might be facing out and other may be facing in.

5. Encouragethegrouptousetheproblem-solvingstepstountangletheknotwithoutlettinggoofhands.Narratewhatthegroupdoestosolvetheproblem.

6. Askthegroupquestions:

a. Howdidyousolvetheproblemtogether?

b. Whatproblemsolvingmethodsweresuccessful?

c. Whatdidyousaytoeachother?

d. Howdidyoucommunicate?-words,eyecontact,feelings?

e. Whatwouldyouchange?

f. Stopandthink-Whatyoucandotoimproveyourspeedandsuccess?

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Problem Solving Lesson SEL

Independent Practice (You do)1. Teacherexplainsthateveryonewillbeinanewgrouptosolvethissame

problem independently.

2. Teacherdividestheclassintonewgroups(kindergartengroupsofsix;firstandsecondgradegroupsof8-10)whowillsolvethesameproblemindependently.

3. EachgroupwilldotheKnotgameoneatatime,withtheclassobservingandtheteachernarrating/coaching.

4. Repeatseveraltimes,checkinginwiththegroupseachtimetoreflectontheirproblemsolvingsuccessandfailures.

Conclusion/Reflection1. Leadareflectiondiscussion.Questions:

a. Howdidyoudowithyourproblemsolvingtogether?

b. Whathappenedthatworked?

c. Whenyouhadchallenges,whatdidyoulearntohelpyousolvetheproblemthenexttime?

d. Whatstepsdoweneedtotaketosolveproblems?

2. SingtheProblem Solver Song one more time.

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Problem Solving Lesson SEL

ExtensionSuggestedAesopFableforadditionaldiscussion:The Mice in Council. Thisstoryexploresproblemsolvingthatdoesn’tworkandwillcreateanopportunitytodiscusshowthemicecouldsolvetheirproblemsuccessfully.

• http://fablesofaesop.com/belling-the-cat.html

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Notes:

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Problem Solving Lesson SEL

Vocab words

Vocabulary Definitions

problem (n)

• Definition:aquestionraisedforinquiry,consideration,orsolution.Apropositioninmathematicsorphysicsstatingsomethingtobedone.Difficultyinunderstandingoraccepting.

• Context:Sarahhadabigproblemwhenthebeadsfellonthefloor.

solution (n)

• Definition: an action or process of solving a problem; an answer to a problem.

• Context:ThesolutiontoSarah’sproblemwastoaskforhelp.

solve (v)

• Definition:tofindasolution,anexplanationoranswerfor.

• Context:TheclasshelpedSarahsolveherproblemwhentheyallhelpedcleanupthebeadsoffthefloor.

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Problem Solving Lesson SEL

Problems,problems! Thinkdon’tpout,

Ideas solve problems; try one out.

Ifitworks,thenhurray!

Ifitdoesn’t,tryanewway.

Problems,problems! Thinkdon’tpout,

Ideas solve problems; try one out.

Problem Solver Song

Problem Solver Song

(sungtothetuneofTwinkle,TwinkleLittleStar)

Problem Solving Lesson SEL

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Problem Solving Lesson SEL

The Crow and the PitcherOnedayaverythirstyCrowsawapitcherthatwashalffullofclear,coolwater.TheCrowtriedtotakeadrink,buthisbeakwasn’tlongenoughtoreachthewaterhalfwaydown.TheCrowtriedandtriedandwasabouttogiveupwhenhetookamomenttothink.Helookedaroundandhadanideaforawaytosolvetheproblem.Hefoundsomelittlepebblesandonebyone,begandroppingthemintothepitcher.Witheachpebble,thewaterrosehigherandhigheruntilfinallytheproblemwassolved:thewaterwashighenoughtoreachthetopofthepitcher.AndthenthehappyCrowdrankthewater!

Moral: Problemsolvingbeginswiththinking.

Source:www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/american_crow_8.jpg

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Problem Solving Lesson SEL

Thinkabouttheproblemand put it into words.1.

Thinkaboutallkindsofwaystosolvetheproblem.

Tryoneoftheideasandseeifitworks!

2.

3.

The Problem- Solving Process

The Problem- Solving Process

Problem Solving Lesson SEL