Scenario Challenge Activity

Instructions: In your groups, read your assigned scenario. Work together to apply the 4-step problem-solving pathway to find the best solution. Use your My Problem-Solving Toolkit Worksheet to record your steps and decisions.

Scenario 1: The Group Project Predicament

Your history teacher has assigned a major group project worth a significant portion of your grade. You were put into a group with three other students. One student, Alex, is very enthusiastic but tends to take over and ignore others' ideas. Another student, Ben, is quiet and doesn't contribute much during meetings. The third student, Chloe, is often absent from school and hasn't responded to group messages.

The Problem: Your group project is due in two weeks, and you're worried about getting a good grade with the current team dynamics.

Scenario 2: The Digital Drama

You notice that a friend, Sam, has been posting negative and hurtful comments about another classmate, Jamie, on social media. Other students are starting to like and share these posts. You know Jamie is usually a happy person, but lately, they seem withdrawn and upset, and you suspect the online bullying is why. You also know Sam can be sensitive to criticism.

The Problem: You want to help Jamie and stop the online bullying, but you're not sure how to intervene without making things worse or losing Sam as a friend.

Scenario 3: The Community Garden Crisis

Your class decided to start a community garden in a small plot behind the school. Everyone was excited at first, but now that it's summer break, very few students are showing up to water the plants or weed the beds. The plants are starting to wilt, and some of the vegetables are overgrown. The principal expects to see a thriving garden when school resumes in the fall.

The Problem: The community garden is failing, and the plants are dying, but students aren't motivated to help maintain it during their summer break.

My Problem-Solving Toolkit: Navigating Challenges

Name: _____________________________

Group Members: ___________________________________________________

Scenario: (Briefly describe the scenario your group is working on)

Step 1: Identify the Problem

What is the main problem? Be specific! What are the key details and who is involved?

Step 2: Brainstorm Solutions

List as many possible solutions as you can think of, no matter how wild! Don't judge them yet.

Step 3: Evaluate and Choose

Pick your top 2-3 solutions from Step 2. For each, list one Pro (a positive outcome or advantage) and one Con (a negative outcome or disadvantage).

Solution A: ___________________________________________________

• Pro:
  
  
  
• Con:
  
  
  

Solution B: ___________________________________________________

• Pro:
  
  
  
• Con:
  
  
  

Solution C: ___________________________________________________

• Pro:
  
  
  
• Con:
  
  
  

Our Chosen Solution: After evaluating, which solution does your group think is the best fit? Why?

Step 4: Act and Reflect

If you were to implement your chosen solution, what would be the first step you take?

What are some potential challenges you might face when implementing this solution, and how could you overcome them?

After acting, what would you want to reflect on? How would you know if your solution was successful?

Solution Showcase Discussion Guide

Objective: To facilitate a class discussion where groups share their problem-solving processes, reflect on their choices, and learn from diverse approaches.

Time Allotment: 15 minutes

Introduction (2 minutes)

• Teacher: "Welcome back, everyone! It was great observing your discussions. Now, let's share what you've come up with and learn from each other's problem-solving journeys."

Group Presentations (8 minutes - ~2 minutes per group)

• Invite each group to briefly present their scenario and their chosen solution.
• Encourage them to highlight:
  • How they identified the core problem.
  • One or two key solutions they considered.
  • Why they chose their final solution.
  • Any challenges they faced during the process.

Guiding Questions for Teacher during presentations:

• "What was the most challenging part of applying the problem-solving pathway to your scenario?"
• "Did anyone in your group have a different preferred solution? How did you come to a consensus?"
• "What was an unexpected pro or con you discovered for a solution?"

Class Discussion & Reflection (5 minutes)

• Teacher: "Now that we've heard from each group, let's think about some broader connections."

Discussion Prompts:

• "Did any groups have similar initial problems? How did your solutions differ or align?"
• "What did you notice about the importance of identifying the problem accurately before jumping to solutions?"
• "Why is it helpful to brainstorm many solutions, even ones that seem silly at first?"
• "How can reflecting on your actions (Step 4) help you become a better problem-solver in the future?"
• "Can you think of a time outside of school when you could use this problem-solving pathway?"

Wrap-up: "Great discussion, everyone! Remember, this problem-solving pathway is a tool you can use for any challenge, big or small. Keep practicing these steps, and you'll become incredibly effective at navigating life's puzzles!"