Lesson 5: Problem-Solving
This lesson focuses on understanding the steps of problem-solving and the importance of this skill in the workforce.
Objectives
- Define problem-solving.
- Learn how to use a series of steps to problem-solve.
- Understand how and when to ask for help.
Materials
- Instructor Presentation: Lesson 5 Problem Solving (Powerpoint)
- Student Workbook: Workplace Readiness Skills Workbook Lesson 5 (Powerpoint)
- Knowledge Check: Lesson 5 Pre-Check and Post-Check (PDF)
Expanding Your Knowledge
These optional activities and resources can reinforce lesson objectives in the home, engage families, or supplement classroom instruction.
Learning From Experience
Ask students to interview an adult family member or another trusted adult. Instruct students to ask the following questions:
- What is one problem you have faced in the past month?
- What did you do?
- Did you need help?
- Did it work? What would you do differently?
I'm Determined-Problem-Solving
This tool, from the I'm Determined Center, provides video case studies and profile cards to help students develop problem-solving skills.
Fix-It Stations
Give students visual task cards (pictures and words) depicting everyday challenges (e.g., a backpack with a broken zipper, tangled headphones, spilled water, a video game console missing batteries). Instruct them to use the 4 problem-solving steps to work through the challenges. This activity can be used with Page 4 (No Lunch! Problem-solving Activity) in their WRS Lesson 5 Workbook.
Additional Resources
These additional resources support the content in the Pre-ETS Toolkit and provide even more ways to help students plan for the future.
Free 71+ Problem-Solving Scenarios Plus Graphic Organizer Distance Learning
This free Teacher-Pay-Teacher resource offers graphic organizers and scenarios for practicing problem-solving skills appropriate for middle and high school students. Please note: Registration to the website is required for the free download.
Workplace Readiness Toolkit: Problem-Solving
This document offers 3 activities that can be conducted in school or at home with family members to reinforce problem-solving skills. It is one of the lessons found in the Workplace Readiness Toolkit, a publication from the VCU Center on Transition Innovations.