Problem-Solving Skills

Overview

Year Group: Year 7
Class Size: 10 students
Duration: 45 minutes
Unit: Navigating Life's Challenges (Lesson 3 of 6)
National Curriculum Focus: PSHE Education - Health and Wellbeing; Relationships and Living in the Wider World
Key Themes: Problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, self-awareness

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National Curriculum Links

According to the PSHE Association Programmes of Study for Key Stage 3, this lesson addresses:

• Health and Wellbeing:

  • H6.2 - Strategies to manage personal challenges such as problem-solving and seeking help.
  • H6.3 - Developing decision-making and problem-solving skills in increasingly complex situations.

• Relationships:

  • R6.1 - Collaborative approaches to dealing with challenges in relationships and social situations.

• Living in the Wider World:

  • L6.3 - Taking responsibility for one’s own learning and wellbeing by developing independent problem solving.

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Learning Objectives

Level	Objective
Secure	I can outline the step-by-step process to solve a problem.
Developing	I can apply the problem-solving process to a given scenario.
Emerging	I can identify a personal problem I face.

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Resources

• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed group scenarios (hypothetical everyday problems suited for Year 7)
• Problem-solving worksheets (outlining step-by-step method)
• Large paper and coloured pens for group work
• Timer
• Reflection journals or exercise books

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Lesson Outline

1. Starter Activity (5 mins)

Goal: Activate prior knowledge and engage the class.

• Begin by asking students to briefly share a time when they faced a small everyday problem (e.g., forgetting homework, disagreement with a friend).
• Discuss: What usually helps you solve this problem?
• Write key words on the board (e.g., talk, think, ask, decide).

Assessment: Observe participation and willingness to share, note initial understanding of problem-solving.

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2. Teaching Input: Introducing the Problem-Solving Steps (10 mins)

• Present a clear, easy-to-remember 5-step problem-solving process:

  1. Identify the problem
  2. Think of solutions
  3. Weigh the options
  4. Choose the best solution
  5. Review the outcome

• Use a simple, relatable example (e.g., you forget your homework and want to fix it).

• Write each step visibly on the board and encourage students to ask questions.

• Provide each student with a worksheet summarising the steps with prompts.

National Curriculum Link: Reinforces H6.2 and H6.3 - strategies and decision-making.

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3. Group Activity: Scenario Problem-Solving (20 mins)

• Divide the class into pairs/groups of 2-3 (depending on dynamics).

• Hand out different hypothetical scenarios such as:

  • Conflict with a classmate over a group project
  • Managing stress before a test
  • Deciding how to balance homework and leisure time
  • Dealing with peer pressure around social media use

• Task: Using the 5-step problem-solving method, groups must:

  • Identify the problem clearly
  • Brainstorm possible solutions
  • Evaluate options and select the best course of action
  • Present their solution to the class (2 minutes per group) using the large paper and coloured pens to visually represent ideas.

Differentiation:

• Secure: Focus on outlining all 5 steps clearly in their presentation.
• Developing: Apply problem-solving steps explicitly.
• Emerging: Support from peers to help identify the problem and at least one solution.

Assessment: Teacher circulates to support thinking and gauges understanding through questioning.

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4. Plenary and Reflection (5 mins)

• After presentations, ask reflective questions:

  • “What step did you find easiest to do?”
  • “Which step was hardest?”
  • “How can you use this process in real life?”

• Ask each student to write in their reflection journal:

  • “One problem I face and how I could use these steps to solve it.”

Assessment: Collect reflections or review in next lesson to assess individual emerging-secure levels.

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Differentiation and Inclusion

• Provide scaffolded worksheets with sentence starters for students needing support.
• Use mixed-ability groupings to encourage peer mentoring.
• Allow additional thinking time for students who require it.
• Ensure scenarios are diverse and relatable for all backgrounds.

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Assessment for Learning

• Continuous formative assessment through observation during group work.
• Questioning targeted at different abilities: prompting emerging students to identify problems and encouraging secure students to explain and justify their choices.
• Reflection journals collected to review individual understanding.

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Extension/Homework

• Ask students to keep a "Problem-Solving Diary" over the next week, where they record one problem they encounter, the steps they attempted, and the outcome.

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Cross-Curricular Links

• English: Presenting ideas clearly during group presentations.
• Citizenship: Understanding and resolving challenges through negotiation and collaboration.
• Maths: Logical thinking and weighing options parallels problem-solving in maths.

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Teacher Tips

• Use real emotional tone when discussing scenarios to engage empathy and critical thinking.
• Encourage students to see mistakes or less successful solutions as valuable learning points ("review the outcome").
• Use non-verbal cues and praise to ensure quieter students are encouraged to participate.

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This lesson plan ensures Year 7 students gain practical problem-solving skills with a clear link to the National Curriculum, promoting resilience, collaborative skills, and independent thinking key for their personal development.