Real World Problem: Reduce Plastic Waste

What You'll Learn

🧠 Your school uses too many plastic bottles. Using the problem-solving steps, come up with a plan to reduce plastic waste. Here's how to do it: 1. Look carefully at the problem. What do you see? 2. Think about what you already know. Does this remind you of something? 3. Try an answer! It's totally okay to be wrong — that's how we learn. 4. Check: did it work? If not, try something else! You're building your thinking muscles. The more you practice, the stronger they get!

Key Concept: Applied problem solving

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Think About This

🎒 You're at school and something happens that involves applied problem solving. Your teacher asks the class to think about it. What do you notice? What questions pop into your head?

Thinking Steps

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👀 What Do I See?

Look at the problem about applied problem solving. What do you notice?

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🤔 What Do I Know?

What do you already know that could help? Have you seen something like this before?

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💡 What's My Idea?

Think of an answer. Can you think of a second one too?

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⭐ What Did I Learn?

Check your answer. Was it right? What did you figure out? Tell someone!

Key Points

Understand applied problem solving

Apply problem solving to daily life

Practice this skill through puzzles

Key Vocabulary

Solution

An answer to a problem

Step

One part of solving a problem

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Why This Matters in Real Life

Engineers at NASA solve problems to send rockets to space. Chefs solve problems to make delicious food. You solve problems every single day!

Talk About It

Discuss these questions with a friend, parent, or classmate.

1Can you explain applied problem solving to a friend using your own words?
2What was the most interesting thing you learned today?
3Draw a picture of what you learned and show it to someone!

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

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What is the main idea of applied problem solving?