Lesson Plan
Problem Size-Up!
Students will learn to identify and categorize problems as small, medium, or large based on their impact and potential solutions, improving their problem-solving skills and emotional awareness.
Understanding the 'size' of a problem helps students choose appropriate strategies for solving it, manage their reactions, and build resilience. This skill is vital for navigating everyday challenges effectively.
Audience
6th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, examples, and a sorting activity.
Materials
Problem Size-Up! Slide Deck, Problem Warm-Up! Warm Up, What's the Size? Worksheet, What's the Size? Answer Key Answer Key, and Whiteboard or Projector
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Problem Size-Up! Slide Deck and familiarize yourself with the content.
- Print copies of the What's the Size? Worksheet for each student.
- Prepare the whiteboard or projector for the warm-up and discussion.
- Review the What's the Size? Answer Key.
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Begin with the Problem Warm-Up! activity.
- Display the warm-up prompt on the board: "Think of a small problem you solved recently. What was it? How did you solve it?"
- Ask students to share their responses briefly. (Slide 2)
- Introduce the lesson objective: "Today, we're going to learn how to figure out how big a problem really is, which can help us solve them better!"
Step 2
Defining Problem Sizes
10 minutes
- Use the Problem Size-Up! Slide Deck to guide the discussion.
- Small Problems: Discuss characteristics (easy to solve, minimal impact, often resolved quickly). Provide examples like forgetting a pencil or a minor disagreement. (Slide 3)
- Medium Problems: Discuss characteristics (require more effort, might involve others, impact lasts longer). Provide examples like a friendship misunderstanding or a challenging homework assignment. (Slide 4)
- Large Problems: Discuss characteristics (significant impact, require adult help, affect many people, long-term consequences). Provide examples like a family emergency or a serious conflict. (Slide 5)
- Emphasize that what is 'small' for one person might be 'medium' for another, and context matters.
Step 3
Guided Practice: Sorting Problems
10 minutes
- Distribute the What's the Size? Worksheet.
- Explain that students will categorize different scenarios into small, medium, or large problems.
- Go through the first problem together as a class, discussing why it fits into a particular category. (Slide 6)
- Allow students to work independently or in pairs on the remaining problems.
- Circulate to provide support and answer questions.
Step 4
Share and Discuss
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Ask volunteers to share their categorizations and reasoning for a few of the worksheet problems.
- Facilitate a brief discussion on how categorizing problems can help them respond more effectively.
- Conclude by reinforcing the main idea: recognizing problem size helps us calm down and think clearly about solutions. (Slide 7)
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Slide Deck
Problem Size-Up!
How big is your problem?
Let's figure out the size of our challenges so we can tackle them better!
Welcome students and introduce the engaging topic of understanding problem sizes. Use a friendly and encouraging tone. Explain that this skill helps them deal with everyday challenges.
Warm-Up: Small Problem, Big Solution?
Think of a small problem you solved recently.
- What was it?
- How did you solve it?
Display the warm-up question. Give students a minute to think or jot down their thoughts. Encourage a few students to share their 'small' problem and how they solved it. This helps activate prior knowledge.
Tiny Troubles: Small Problems
Small Problems:
- Easy to solve (usually by yourself)
- Quickly resolved (a few minutes)
- Little to no lasting impact
Examples:
- Forgetting a pencil
- A minor spill
- Someone accidentally bumps into you
Introduce 'small problems'. Provide clear examples. Encourage students to think of their own examples. Emphasize that these are usually quick fixes and don't cause much stress.
Moderate Muddles: Medium Problems
Medium Problems:
- Require more effort or thought
- Might involve talking to others
- Impact lasts a bit longer (hours to a day)
Examples:
- A disagreement with a friend
- A challenging homework assignment
- Losing a non-essential item
Move on to 'medium problems'. Explain they require more thought and might involve others. Give relevant examples. Discuss how the impact is a bit larger and lasts longer.
Gigantic Glitches: Large Problems
Large Problems:
- Significant and lasting impact
- Often need adult help to solve
- Can affect many people
Examples:
- A family emergency
- Serious bullying
- Feeling overwhelmed and unsure what to do next
Finally, 'large problems'. Stress that these are serious and often need adult help. Give age-appropriate examples without being overly alarming. Highlight the significant and lasting impact.
Your Turn! What's the Size?
Now it's your turn!
Use your What's the Size? Worksheet to categorize different problems.
Think about:
- How much effort does it take to solve?
- Who is involved?
- How long will the impact last?
- Do I need adult help?
Explain the worksheet activity. Model the first problem with the class, discussing the reasoning for its categorization. This ensures students understand the task before working independently.
Why Does Size Matter?
Knowing the size of a problem helps us:
- Choose the right solution
- Manage our feelings
- Know when to ask for help
Remember: You've got this!
Conclude the lesson by reviewing the importance of problem sizing. Reiterate that this skill empowers them to choose the right strategies and ask for help when needed. Ask for a quick share out from the worksheet.
Warm Up
Problem Warm-Up!
Think about a small problem you faced recently. It could be something at home, at school, or with friends.
- What was the problem?
- How did you solve it?
- Did you need help from anyone, or did you solve it on your own?
Worksheet
What's the Size? Worksheet
Instructions: Read each scenario below. Decide if the problem is Small, Medium, or Large. Write your answer and explain your reasoning.
Scenario 1: Missing Lunch Money
You realize you left your lunch money at home. You have a snack from home, but you were really looking forward to buying pizza today.
Problem Size:
Reasoning:
Scenario 2: Friend Misunderstanding
Your best friend seems upset with you, but you don't know why. They're giving you the silent treatment.
Problem Size:
Reasoning:
Scenario 3: Broken Family Heirloom
You accidentally broke a valuable family vase that has been passed down for generations. Your parents are very upset.
Problem Size:
Reasoning:
Scenario 4: Pop Quiz Surprise
Your teacher announces a pop quiz in a subject you feel unprepared for. It counts for a small part of your grade.
Problem Size:
Reasoning:
Scenario 5: School Project Partner Conflict
You and your partner for a big school project can't agree on how to do the work. The deadline is approaching, and you're worried about your grade.
Problem Size:
Reasoning:
Answer Key
What's the Size? Answer Key
Instructions: Review the suggested answers and reasoning for each scenario. Remember that some reasoning may vary slightly, but the core idea of problem size should remain consistent.
Scenario 1: Missing Lunch Money
Problem Size: Small
Reasoning:
- Impact: Low. You have a snack, so you won't go hungry. Missing pizza is disappointing but not a crisis.
- Solution: Simple. You can eat your snack, ask a friend to share, or wait until you get home. It's a temporary inconvenience.
- Help Needed: Unlikely, you can usually manage this yourself.
Scenario 2: Friend Misunderstanding
Problem Size: Medium
Reasoning:
- Impact: Moderate. A strained friendship can cause emotional distress and affect social interactions. The impact lasts longer than a small problem.
- Solution: Requires effort and communication. You need to talk to your friend, listen to their feelings, and potentially apologize or explain your side.
- Help Needed: Possibly. You might need advice from another friend, a trusted adult, or a teacher on how to approach the conversation.
Scenario 3: Broken Family Heirloom
Problem Size: Large
Reasoning:
- Impact: High and lasting. A valuable heirloom often holds sentimental value. Breaking it can cause significant upset to family members and can't be easily replaced. There might be financial implications.
- Solution: Complex. Requires honesty, apologies, and potentially discussions about repair or compensation. It might take time to heal the upset.
- Help Needed: Definitely. You would need to involve your parents or other trusted adults to help navigate the situation, explain what happened, and deal with the consequences.
Scenario 4: Pop Quiz Surprise
Problem Size: Small to Medium (leaning Small)
Reasoning:
- Impact: Low to Moderate. It's a pop quiz, suggesting it's not a major exam. It counts for a small part of the grade, so one bad score won't devastate your overall grade. It might cause temporary stress.
- Solution: Immediate action. You can do your best on the quiz, and afterwards, plan to review the material more thoroughly. Studying for future quizzes is the long-term solution.
- Help Needed: Unlikely for the quiz itself, but if you consistently feel unprepared, you might need to ask your teacher or a classmate for extra help with the subject.
Scenario 5: School Project Partner Conflict
Problem Size: Medium
Reasoning:
- Impact: Moderate to High. A big project means your grade could be significantly affected. The conflict can cause stress and impact your relationship with your partner. The deadline adds pressure.
- Solution: Requires negotiation, compromise, and possibly mediation. You and your partner need to talk, or you might need to involve the teacher to help resolve the disagreement.
- Help Needed: Likely. If you can't resolve it yourselves, a teacher or another adult would need to step in to help facilitate a solution.
Cool Down
Problem Size Cool Down
- Why is it helpful to think about the size of a problem?
- What is one thing you learned today that will help you when you face a problem?
- Imagine you spilled a tiny bit of water on your desk. What size problem is this? How would you handle it?