Olivia Park Elementary School

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Problem Solving

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Also Try
  1. Assessment Information
  2. Creative Writing
  3. Lesson Plans and Projects under Math
  4. Multidisciplinary
Discussions
  1. The Regional Alliance Hub for Mathematics and Science Reform
Games
  1. Peg Game (MathFactCafe.com)
      Provides a peg board and the goal is to jump pegs until only one is left. 8-01
Lesson Plans
  1. Applications of Science - Grade 9 (British Columbia Ministry of Education)
      Provides a lesson plan for the 9th grade level. The materials are called an Integrated Resource Package. 2-01
  2. Conflict Resolution Skills (StarkNet)
      Provides exercises to improve conflict resolution skills. Has activities identified with Language Arts, Social Science and Science, but actually the work is appropriate across subjects.
  3. Critical Thinking Strategies (Foundation for Critical Thinking)
      Contains a description of 35 dimensions of critical thinking. 3-00
  4. Problem Solving (Awesome Library)
      Problem Solving lesson plans are in "Multidisciplinary" in the "Lessons and Curricula" of the Awesome Library.
  5. Problem Solving Lessons (PBS TeacherSource)
      Provides seven lessons, by topic. 3-01
  6. Questioning - Tools for Questioning (From Now On)
      The Questioning Toolkit provides different kinds of questions, along with tools to answer those questions. It includes Essential Questions, Subsidiary Questions, Hypothetical Questions, Telling Questions, Planning Questions, Organizing Questions, Probing Questions, Sorting and Sifting Questions, Clarification Questions, Strategic Questions, Elaborating Questions, Unanswerable Questions, Inventive Questions, Provocative Questions, Irrelevant Questions, Divergent Questions, and Irreverent Questions. 5-01
  7. Self Development (Kent State University)
      Provides lessons for students for different types of self development. 7-00
  8. Self-Esteem and Problem Solving (Kent State)
      Provides lessons on self-esteem and problem solving. An Anglo-American perspective. 9-99
  9. Tactics that Encourage Active Learning (Foundation for Critical Thinking)
      Provides 11 tactics to encourage active learning. 3-00
Lists
  1. Association for Experiential Education 3-00
Materials
  1. -Problem Solving - Graphic Organizers Home Page (Freeman) star
      Provides a variety of resources for exploring graphic organizers.
  2. Problem Solving - Decision Making Grids (From Now On)
      Provides examples of tables or grids that can be used to enhance decision making.
Papers
  1. Brain Storming to Enhance Creativity (Cave)
      "The whole idea of brainstorming is that other people's remarks would act to stimulate your own ideas in a sort of chain reaction of ideas." 3-01
  2. Creative Thinking 1 (Mining Co. - Walker)
      Provides two dozen annotated articles on fostering creative thinking.
  3. Creative Thinking 2 (Mining Co. - Walker)
      Provides almost two dozen annotated articles on the nature of creative thinking.
  4. Creative Thinking Assessment (Mining Co. - Walker)
      Provides six annotated articles on assessing creative thinking.
  5. Creativity Basics (Cave) 3-01
  6. Critical Thinking - Definition (Foundation for Critical Thinking)
      Provides a framework for defining and assessing critical thinking. 3-00
  7. Critical Thinking - Resources (Foundation for Critical Thinking)
      Provides a list of papers for the study of critical thinking. 3-00
  8. Critical Thinking - Three Categories of Questions (Foundation for Critical Thinking)
      Discusses the three types of questions involved in critical thinking, factual, opinion, and reasoned judgment. 3-00
  9. Critical Thinking About Advertising (Rudasill)
  10. Critical Thinking About Web Sources (Michigan State University - Link)
      Provides criteria for students to use in judging Web sources of information. 2-00
  11. Examples of Problem Solving (Sure Math)
      Provides examples in several fields, including physics, math, and chemistry. 12-01
  12. Experimental Designs (ERIC Digests - Gribbons and Herman)
      Summarizes true and quasi-experimental designs used in research studies. 5-01
  13. Helping Students Assess Their Thinking (CCT) 3-00
  14. Intelligence - How CIA Agents Work (CIA)
      Provides the problem solving steps used by agents of the CIA to conduct intelligence work (spy).
  15. Introduction to the Scientific Method (Schombert)
      Provides an introduction to science and the processes known as the scientific method. High school and introductory college level.
  16. Memory Techniques and Mnemonics
  17. Mind Mapping (Cave)
      Mind maps help organize information in an associative fashion to enhance memory and understanding. 3-01
  18. Mind Mapping (James Cook University) 9-01
  19. Multiple Intelligences (Family Education Network)
  20. Pseudo Critical Thinking (Foundation for Critical Thinking) 3-00
  21. Research - How to Research an Architectural Structure (New York Public Library)
  22. Research - Interior Design (New York Public Library)
  23. Research - Obituaries (New York Public Library)
  24. Research - Steps for Writing a Research Paper (IPL - Schwartz)
      Provides a step by step approach for developing a research. 1-00
  25. Research Paper Assistance (Infonautics)
  26. Scientific Method (University of Arizona)
  27. Solar Heater - Invention and Design (Cross Talk)
      Provides a case study in the invention and marketing of a product.
  28. Steps in Solving Problems (Sure Math)
      Provides a half dozen papers to help improve your problem solving processes. 12-01
  29. Teaching Strategies for Math Skills Rubrics (NWREL)
      Provides strategies for promoting critical math skills, including conceptual understanding, strategies and reasoning, computation and execution, insights, and communication. A scoring guide or rubric is provided to support the Mathematics Problem-Solving Model. 1-01
  30. Testing - Critical Thinking Rubric (California Academic Press)
      Provides a rubric for assessing critical thinking skills.
  31. Testing - Math Skills Rubrics (NWREL)
      Provides rubrics for assessing critical math skills, including conceptual understanding, strategies and reasoning, computation and execution, insights, and communication. The scoring guide is supports the Mathematics Problem-Solving Model. 1-01
  32. Universal Standards for Critical Thinking (Elder and Paul) 3-00
  33. Using Mnemonics to Learn More Effectively
  34. Valuable Intellectual Traits (CCT) 3-00
  35. Why Students - and Some Teachers - Do Not Reason Well (Foundation for Critical Thinking) 3-00
Projects
  1. Colors and Math (Mega Mathematics)
      Provides problems in math that use colors as a method of discovery. 12-01
  2. Conflict Management Skills (Stanford)
      Provides extensive exercises to help adolescents learn conflict management skills.
  3. Critical Thinking Lessons and Activities (Foundation for Critical Thinking)
      Provides lessons by grade level that strengthen critical thinking. Provides an original lesson and then a lesson remodelled using a critical thinking focus. (See the Remodelled Lesson Plans that are listed by grade level.) 3-00
  4. Discussion Skills (Stanford)
      Provides extensive exercises to help adolescents learn conflict management skills.
  5. Educational Card Games (San Diego State University - Ed Tech)
      Cardboard Cognition's games provide dozens of problem solving games.
  6. Experiments Related to Sleep (University of Virginia)
      Provides opportunities for online experiments related to sleep. 1-00
  7. Exploration of Open Problems in Math (Mathmania)
  8. Genetics Projects to Promote Scientific Inquiry Skills (Genetic Science Learning Center)
      Provides three thematic challenges, with resource materials, to help students gain inquiry skills. 5-00
  9. Graph Theory in Math (Mega Mathematics)
      Provides problems in math that use graphs as a method of discovery. "In the branch of mathematics called Graph Theory, a graph bears no relation to the graphs that chart data, such as the progress of the stock market or the growing population of the planet. Graph paper is not particularly useful for drawing the graphs of Graph Theory. In Graph Theory, a graph is a collection of dots that may or may not be connected to each other by lines." 12-01
  10. How Can I Do Inquiry Science? (SLN)
  11. Infinity - Paradoxes (Mega Mathematics - Casey)
      Through the story of "Hotel Infinity," Casey explains some of the paradoxes of infinity. Students make illustrations of what they hear. 12-01
  12. Infinity and Finite State Machines (Mega Mathematics)
      Provides problems in math that use "an imaginary machine that is used to study and design systems that recognize and identify patterns" as a method of discovery. 12-01
  13. Inquiry Resources for Science Projects (SLN)
  14. Introduction to 21st Century Problem Solving
  15. Invention and Design
      Provides case studies in the invention and marketing of some specific products.
  16. Knots in Math (Mega Mathematics)
      Provides problems in math that use knots as a method of discovery. 12-01
  17. Logical Problem Solving Through a Play (Mega Mathematics - Casey)
      Provides logical puzzles with a play as the method of discovery of solutions. 12-01
  18. Observing (Howard Hughes Medical Institute)
      Provides an observation exercise for students, using a 1 inch square. 6-00
  19. Placement of Ice Cream Stands Puzzle (Mega Mathematics)
      Provides problems in math that use ice cream stand placements as a method of discovery. 12-01
  20. Problem Solving Activities Journal
  21. Problem Solving Activities in Chemistry
  22. Problem Solving Activities in Physics
  23. Problem Solving Process (Levine)
      Provides steps, processes and assessment for solving problems, such as determining a car to buy.
  24. Problems (Science4kids)
      Teaches science and genetics through problem solving. 1-01
  25. Puzzles - Lateral Thinking (Ottens)
  26. Puzzles and Games
  27. Research - Using Primary Sources (US Library of Congress)
      Provides activities to learn how to use primary sources, using different modalities.
  28. Rubrics - Elements of a Scoring Rubric (Chicago Board of Education)
      Provides definitions, examples, considerations, and suggestions for developing a scoring rubric. 5-01
  29. Rubrics Creator for Collaborative Works Skills (Rubistar)
      Provides printable forms and selectable content for creating rubrics to evaluate preparation and presentation. 5-01
  30. Rubrics Creator for Group Planning of a Research Project (Rubistar)
      Provides printable forms and selectable content for creating rubrics to evaluate preparation and presentation. 5-01
  31. Rubrics Creator for Making a Brochure (Rubistar)
      Provides printable forms and selectable content for creating rubrics to evaluate the making of a brochure. 5-01
  32. Rubrics Creator for Making a Game (Rubistar)
      Provides printable forms and selectable content for creating rubrics to evaluate the making of a game. 5-01
  33. Rubrics Creator for Making a Map (Rubistar)
      Provides printable forms and selectable content for creating rubrics to evaluate the making of a map. 5-01
  34. Rubrics Creator for a Research Report (Rubistar)
      Provides printable forms and selectable content for creating rubrics to evaluate preparation and presentation. 5-01
  35. Rubrics Creator for a Science Fair Experiment (Rubistar)
      Provides printable forms and selectable content for creating rubrics to evaluate preparation and presentation. 5-01
  36. Scientific Method and Consumer Product Testing (TeachNet)
      Encourages students to apply the scientific method to determining the best products to use. 5-02
Purchase Resources
  1. Collaborative Learning - Tribes (CenterSource Systems - Gibbs and Johnson)
      "Tribes is a step-by-step process to achieve specific learning goals. Students learn a set of collaborative skills so they can work well together in long-term groups (tribes)."

      "Acting out behaviors become a thing of the past whenever cruel norms are replaced by appreciation, inclusion, and respect among the diversity of students. Then it is possible and probable that all students in a school will discover their unique strengths, talents, interests and resiliency to meet inevitable life challenges well." 4-02
Standards
  1. Comprehensive Listing for Thinking and Reasoning (Putnam)
  2. Life Skills Standards (MCREL) 1-01
  3. Universal Standards for Critical Thinking (Elder and Paul) 3-00
Worksheets
  1. Deductive Reasoning Worksheets (Comp Ed - Free Worksheets)
      Provides two worksheets. 3-00
  2. Problem Solving Using Math (RHL School)
      Provides calendar riddles, using a calendar and using a table worksheets for use by teachers.