Skills Building: What Do You Do With A Problem?

Instructions

1. Have students sit at tables, facing the teacher.
2. Explain the activity of finding creative solutions to problems.
3. Show a sample envelope labeled “Teacher’s Problem.”
4. Pass out supplies to students (white square paper, pencil, glue and gold colored paper).
5. Walk students step-by-step through how to create their envelope.
6. How to make an envelope
   
   – Fold the paper in half both ways by bringing the opposite corners to one another, then unfold.
   – Fold 2 corners to the middle crease
   – Fold the bottom corner up a little more than halfway
   – Fold the bottom corner down
   – Glue the bottom flap to the side flaps
   – Fold the top corner point down to finish the envelope
   
   
7. With the envelope complete, have students think about problems that might seem big or difficult to solve.
8. Give each student a small piece of paper and divide them into groups of 2-3.
9. Have groups work together to brainstorm solutions to their problems and write them on the paper. Younger students can illustrate their problems if they have trouble writing.
10. Have students put their solutions in their envelope.
11. Come back together as a group.