Problem solving is something we naturally encounter all day every day and as adults we take for granted the process we go through for every decision we make. By offering a variety of problem solving activities we can help guide children through that process so that it becomes as natural for them as it is to us. A very basic way to problem solve is to have a model to copy and the materials to copy it, but no verbal instructions. Students need to figure out that the materials match the picture and what they need to do with them to replicate it. 
We had 3 different sets of Duplo cards and blocks out on a table. It was interesting for us to see which students could make that problem solving connection and we could also observe other students who dumped all of the pieces together and built their own creation (which is a whole other curriculum expectation to assess!).
The students who used the activity as a way to solve a problem came back to it more than once to try the other cards and they were proud that they could make the animal out of Duplo just like in the picture. Other students found it too challenging and gave up. This is why it is beneficial to have a variety of activities available…we want every student to be able to be successful at whatever stage they are functioning at.
After observing students interacting with our problem solving invitation, we can then pull a small group to a table and model the problem solving process for them, or we can model it for the whole class. We can follow this activity up with another one involving a picture and materials to replicate in a different way.
This was a neat little find from a thrift store with pegs and coloured beads. Designed originally as a game, it can also function as an open-ended activity, which is how we chose to use it. This invitation offered more success to our younger students because it was more basic: just colour order instead of block colour and position. Since there is a die with colours on it included, we can also observe how students may invent their own game with the materials!
Our goal is for students to internalize this problem solving process in order to implement it in other circumstances. Whether it is a Duplo figure to make or a social problem where friends are fighting, the process for solving the problem is basically the same: assess the situation, formulate a plan, and carry it out.
kgkinders 