For the Teachers
$1 Math
Captivate your class by having them find the value of their names, different zoo animals, musical instruments, etc.,with a mental math instructional activity. Using the coding formula listed, children learn to fluently estimate...
Overcoming Obstacles
Defining Problems Big and Small
Problems come in all shapes and sizes, but the first step in solving a problem is to identify just what the problem is. Through a series of games and activities, middle schoolers learn first to identify a problem, decide on a solution,...
Overcoming Obstacles
Finding Solutions
Middle schoolers apply all they have learned in the Problem Solving module by participating in a contest to see which group can build the tallest tower using only sheets of paper and masking tape.
Overcoming Obstacles
Considering Pros and Cons
Middle schoolers continue to study the problem solving process by identifying the pros and cons of different options they listed on their "How Could I Do This" activity sheet from the previous lesson. After weighing the options, they...
Overcoming Obstacles
Identifying Options
"What should I do?" "How should I do it?" Middle Schoolers learn that answering these two questions is the key to solving problems. They begin with the first two steps of the Decision Making Process (gathering information and identifying...
Workforce Solutions
Workplace Ethics
An activity that focuses on workplace ethical dilemmas asks groups how to respond to a series of scenarios. First, the class brainstorms a list of ethics that apply to employers, then a second one that applies to employees. Using their...
Workforce Solutions
Workplace Personalities
Being able to get along with a variety of personalities in the workplace is a key job skill. To gain insight into the importance of this skill, class members take on roles of various personality types and work in groups to try to build a...
Workforce Solutions
Networking BINGO
A Networking BINGO game asks participants to find scholars who share a variety of the same interests and characteristics. Categories include everything from shoe size, to biggest fear, to intended college major.
Workforce Solutions
The Negotiations of Interviewing
Sometimes the interview process includes negotiating for what you want. Here's an activity that guides job seekers to achieve The Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA). Participants take on the role of job seekers and...
Workforce Solutions
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (of Applications)
Creating a complete and professional-looking job application is an essential part of the employment process. Class members review sample applications for an entry-level position to determine who should be interviewed for the job.
Workforce Solutions
Customized Resumes
Resumes are key to the job search process. Class members examine sample job postings and critique sample resumes to understand how to craft a strong resume.
Workforce Solutions
Reality Check
Talk about a reality check! High schoolers complete a lifestyle survey indicating their preference for housing, entertainment, etc., and then calculate the salary required to support those choices. Finally, they research the types of...
Workforce Solutions
Evaluating Your Brand
After completing an evaluation worksheet that asks learners to rate their skills honestly, individuals create an action plan that includes specific steps to improve in these areas.
Workforce Solutions
Discover Your Interests
For many high schoolers, what they want to be when they grow up can be very intimidating. Here's an activity that gets them thinking about their interests and how they might connect these interests to future jobs. After watching a short...
Workforce Solutions
Human Knot
Employability skills are difficult to measure but are essential in the workplace. Introduce high schoolers to employability skills with the Human Knot activity. Groups of six grab hands to form a human knot and untangle themselves. The...
101 Questions
Boat in the River
Ever feel like you're headed up the down escalator? Don't let your pupils get stuck in that rut! Practice writing equations to solve a problem using an engaging lesson. A video presents information that allows learners to determine how...
Curriculum Corner
Menu Math
Getting a meal, side dish, drink, and dessert can be delicious—but it can be expensive too! Practice addition and subtraction with money in a lesson that focuses on a sample menu, complete with task cards and word problems.
Education World
Pumpkin Puzzler
Light the Halloween festivities with an exercise that connects math, physical science, and language arts. After watching a demonstration of a burning candle, learners use division, multiplication, or algebra to determine how many boxes...
Curated OER
Candy Machine
Using the concept of a candy vending machine, young mathematicians explore the sugar ratios found in different types of candy. Using the provided information, class members calculate and compare different ratios in...
Curated OER
Performance-Based Assessment Practice Test (Grade 6 Math)
Keep track of your sixth graders' mastery of the Common Core math standards with this practice assessment. Taking a different approach than most standardized tests, this resource includes not only multiple choice questions, but also...
Macmillan Education
Critical Thinking
Encourage learners to think deeply about the information they read or hear. Through a series of life skills worksheets, your pupils will consider the need for objectivity, identifying missing information, and problem solving.
Maths Challenge
Maths challenge.net: Problem Solving Database
Need some challenging problem-solving work for your students in the following areas: Discrete, Geometry, Numbers, and Code Breaking? This is the place for an enormous database of problems aimed at high school age students. They are...
Other
Harvard Business School: The Path to Critical Thinking by Stever Robbins
An article written by Stever Robbins discussing how to become a critical thinker. This is written from a business perspective but the ideas can easily be applied to education.
Other
Ndt: Problem Solving Skills
NDT Education stresses the importance of problem solving skills. Problem solving steps and strategies are provided.