10

Case 10 of 20 ยท Problem Solving

Puzzlebeginnerโญ 30 XP๐Ÿš€ Mars Colony 2089

Real World Problem: Reduce Plastic Waste

๐Ÿ”ŽCase Brief #10

You read something online about applied problem solving but you're not sure if it's true.

๐ŸŽฏ Your mission

Find the pattern.

โšก The twist

Break the problem in half before you pick.

What You'll Learn

๐Ÿ’ช Your school uses too many plastic bottles. Using the problem-solving steps, come up with a plan to reduce plastic waste. To use this skill, follow these steps: First, understand the problem. Read it again if you need to. What is it really asking? Next, think about what you know. Have you seen something like this before? What worked last time? Then, come up with ideas. Try to think of at least TWO possible answers before picking one. The first idea isn't always the best! Finally, check your work. Does your answer make sense? Can you explain WHY you chose it? If you can explain your thinking, you really understand it. Remember: smart thinkers aren't people who never make mistakes โ€” they're people who LEARN from mistakes!

Key Concept: Applied problem solving

๐ŸŽญ

Think About This

You read something online about applied problem solving but you're not sure if it's true. What steps would you take to check?

Thinking Steps

๐Ÿ”

๐Ÿ” Understand

Read carefully. What is the question about applied problem solving really asking?

๐Ÿงช

๐Ÿ“‹ Gather Info

What facts and clues do you have? List what you know.

๐Ÿงช

๐Ÿ’ก Think of Options

Come up with at least 2 possible answers. Don't pick the first one yet!

๐ŸŽฏ

โœ… Choose & Explain

Pick the best option. Say: 'I chose this because...'

๐Ÿชž

๐Ÿชž Reflect

Was your reasoning solid? What would you do differently next time?

Key Points

1

Understand applied problem solving

2

Apply problem solving to daily life

3

Practice this skill through puzzles

Key Vocabulary

Strategy

A plan for solving something

Troubleshoot

Finding what went wrong and fixing it

Decomposition

Breaking a big problem into smaller parts

๐ŸŒ

Why This Matters in Real Life

Every invention in history started with someone solving a problem. The wheel, electricity, the internet โ€” all solutions to problems people faced.

Talk About It

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

  • 1How could you use applied problem solving outside of school this week?
  • 2What would happen if everyone was really good at this skill?
  • 3What question do you still have? Write it down and try to find the answer.

Solve the Case

Case 1

1 of 3

What is the main idea of applied problem solving?

๐Ÿ†

Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Ask a grown-up about a problem they solved this week.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐Ÿ‘ง

For the dinner table

โ€œWhat was the hardest problem you solved this week โ€” and how?โ€

๐ŸŽฏ

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Real World Problem: Reduce Plastic Waste โ€” Problem Solving | 3rd Grade Critical Thinking | LittleActivity | LittleActivity