Problem Solving Skills Worksheet: Five Steps

Critical thinking lesson 19: Problem-solving steps · Set 21 · 40 questions

Thinking tip (Five calm steps): The steps in order: understand the problem → think of ideas → choose the best idea → try it out → check if it worked. Helps: staying calm, breaking it into parts, asking for help, drawing a diagram, trying again. Gets in the way: panicking, giving up at once, blaming others, repeating the same try, guessing wildly.

1. 1.🔁 Your fix did not work. What next? (a) blame the tools (b) try another idea (c) give up (d) hide it
2. 2.🛠️ Which problem-solving step is this: try it out? (a) step 2 (b) step 3 (c) step 4 (d) step 5
3. 3.True or false: “panicking” helps you solve a problem. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🛠️ Does this help solve a problem, or get in the way: repeating the same try? (a) helps solve it (b) gets in the way
5. 5.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) giving up at once (b) guessing wildly (c) repeating the same try (d) staying calm
6. 6.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) guessing wildly (b) ignoring the problem (c) drawing a diagram (d) blaming others
7. 7.Which of these gets in the way of solving? (a) drawing a diagram (b) staying calm (c) giving up at once (d) trying again
8. 8.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) repeating the same try (b) blaming others (c) giving up at once (d) breaking it into parts
9. 9.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) asking for help (b) breaking it into parts (c) ignoring the problem (d) trying again
10. 10.🛠️ Which problem-solving step is this: think of ideas? (a) step 5 (b) step 1 (c) step 4 (d) step 2
11. 11.🛠️ Does this help solve a problem, or get in the way: trying again? (a) gets in the way (b) helps solve it
12. 12.🛠️ Which problem-solving step is this: put the plan to work? (a) step 2 (b) step 1 (c) step 4 (d) step 3
13. 13.🛠️ Does this help solve a problem, or get in the way: making a list? (a) helps solve it (b) gets in the way
14. 14.🛠️ Does this help solve a problem, or get in the way: blaming others? (a) gets in the way (b) helps solve it
15. 15.🛠️ When solving a problem, which comes first: understand the problem or pick one plan? (a) understand the problem (b) pick one plan
16. 16.🔍 Which is the odd one out? (a) drawing a diagram (b) making a list (c) breaking it into parts (d) panicking
17. 17.🧩 A big problem feels scary. What helps? (a) cry about it (b) wait for luck (c) split it into parts (d) ignore it
18. 18.Which of these gets in the way of solving? (a) trying again (b) making a list (c) staying calm (d) repeating the same try
19. 19.True or false: “ignoring the problem” helps you solve a problem. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.Which of these gets in the way of solving? (a) asking for help (b) staying calm (c) guessing wildly (d) drawing a diagram
21. 21.💡 Why think of more than one idea? (a) to waste time (b) to find the best one (c) to confuse people (d) no reason
22. 22.🛠️ What is the first step in solving a problem? (a) know what is wrong (b) try any idea (c) blame someone (d) give up
23. 23.🛠️ Which problem-solving step is this: check if it worked? (a) step 3 (b) step 5 (c) step 4 (d) step 1
24. 24.🛠️ Does this help solve a problem, or get in the way: giving up at once? (a) helps solve it (b) gets in the way
25. 25.🛠️ Which problem-solving step is this: understand the problem? (a) step 3 (b) step 4 (c) step 1 (d) step 5
26. 26.🛠️ When solving a problem, which comes first: list possible fixes or pick one plan? (a) list possible fixes (b) pick one plan
27. 27.🛠️ Does this help solve a problem, or get in the way: staying calm? (a) gets in the way (b) helps solve it
28. 28.🛠️ When solving a problem, which comes first: choose the best idea or think of ideas? (a) choose the best idea (b) think of ideas
29. 29.🛠️ Does this help solve a problem, or get in the way: drawing a diagram? (a) helps solve it (b) gets in the way
30. 30.🛠️ When solving a problem, which comes first: try it out or think of ideas? (a) try it out (b) think of ideas
31. 31.🛠️ Does this help solve a problem, or get in the way: asking for help? (a) gets in the way (b) helps solve it
32. 32.Which of these helps you solve a problem? (a) asking for help (b) guessing wildly (c) giving up at once (d) panicking
33. 33.🛠️ Which problem-solving step is this: say what is wrong? (a) step 1 (b) step 5 (c) step 2 (d) step 4
34. 34.True or false: “repeating the same try” helps you solve a problem. (a) False (b) True
35. 35.🛠️ Which problem-solving step is this: pick one plan? (a) step 3 (b) step 2 (c) step 5 (d) step 1
36. 36.🤝 Who can help you solve a hard problem? (a) a rumour (b) only a stranger (c) a teacher or parent (d) nobody ever
37. 37.🛠️ Which problem-solving step is this: see if it helped? (a) step 3 (b) step 1 (c) step 5 (d) step 2
38. 38.🛠️ When solving a problem, which comes first: pick one plan or try it out? (a) pick one plan (b) try it out
39. 39.True or false: “making a list” helps you solve a problem. (a) True (b) False
40. 40.🚲 Your cycle chain keeps slipping off. What is a good first step? (a) stop cycling (b) kick the cycle (c) buy a new cycle (d) look at what is wrong

Free critical thinking lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/critical-thinking-for-kids