problem solving fun worksheet

10 Best Problem-Solving Therapy Worksheets & Activities

Cognitive science tells us that we regularly face not only well-defined problems but, importantly, many that are ill defined (Eysenck & Keane, 2015).

Sometimes, we find ourselves unable to overcome our daily problems or the inevitable (though hopefully infrequent) life traumas we face.

Problem-Solving Therapy aims to reduce the incidence and impact of mental health disorders and improve wellbeing by helping clients face life’s difficulties (Dobson, 2011).

This article introduces Problem-Solving Therapy and offers techniques, activities, and worksheets that mental health professionals can use with clients.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology, including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

What is problem-solving therapy, 14 steps for problem-solving therapy, 3 best interventions and techniques, 7 activities and worksheets for your session, fascinating books on the topic, resources from positivepsychology.com, a take-home message.

Problem-Solving Therapy assumes that mental disorders arise in response to ineffective or maladaptive coping. By adopting a more realistic and optimistic view of coping, individuals can understand the role of emotions and develop actions to reduce distress and maintain mental wellbeing (Nezu & Nezu, 2009).

“Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a psychosocial intervention, generally considered to be under a cognitive-behavioral umbrella” (Nezu, Nezu, & D’Zurilla, 2013, p. ix). It aims to encourage the client to cope better with day-to-day problems and traumatic events and reduce their impact on mental and physical wellbeing.

Clinical research, counseling, and health psychology have shown PST to be highly effective in clients of all ages, ranging from children to the elderly, across multiple clinical settings, including schizophrenia, stress, and anxiety disorders (Dobson, 2011).

Can it help with depression?

PST appears particularly helpful in treating clients with depression. A recent analysis of 30 studies found that PST was an effective treatment with a similar degree of success as other successful therapies targeting depression (Cuijpers, Wit, Kleiboer, Karyotaki, & Ebert, 2020).

Other studies confirm the value of PST and its effectiveness at treating depression in multiple age groups and its capacity to combine with other therapies, including drug treatments (Dobson, 2011).

The major concepts

Effective coping varies depending on the situation, and treatment typically focuses on improving the environment and reducing emotional distress (Dobson, 2011).

PST is based on two overlapping models:

Social problem-solving model

This model focuses on solving the problem “as it occurs in the natural social environment,” combined with a general coping strategy and a method of self-control (Dobson, 2011, p. 198).

The model includes three central concepts:

• Social problem-solving
• The problem
• The solution

The model is a “self-directed cognitive-behavioral process by which an individual, couple, or group attempts to identify or discover effective solutions for specific problems encountered in everyday living” (Dobson, 2011, p. 199).

Relational problem-solving model

The theory of PST is underpinned by a relational problem-solving model, whereby stress is viewed in terms of the relationships between three factors:

• Stressful life events
• Emotional distress and wellbeing
• Problem-solving coping

Therefore, when a significant adverse life event occurs, it may require “sweeping readjustments in a person’s life” (Dobson, 2011, p. 202).

• Enhance positive problem orientation
• Decrease negative orientation
• Foster ability to apply rational problem-solving skills
• Reduce the tendency to avoid problem-solving
• Minimize the tendency to be careless and impulsive

D’Zurilla’s and Nezu’s model includes (modified from Dobson, 2011):

• Initial structuring Establish a positive therapeutic relationship that encourages optimism and explains the PST approach.
• Assessment Formally and informally assess areas of stress in the client’s life and their problem-solving strengths and weaknesses.
• Obstacles to effective problem-solving Explore typically human challenges to problem-solving, such as multitasking and the negative impact of stress. Introduce tools that can help, such as making lists, visualization, and breaking complex problems down.
• Problem orientation – fostering self-efficacy Introduce the importance of a positive problem orientation, adopting tools, such as visualization, to promote self-efficacy.
• Problem orientation – recognizing problems Help clients recognize issues as they occur and use problem checklists to ‘normalize’ the experience.
• Problem orientation – seeing problems as challenges Encourage clients to break free of harmful and restricted ways of thinking while learning how to argue from another point of view.
• Problem orientation – use and control emotions Help clients understand the role of emotions in problem-solving, including using feelings to inform the process and managing disruptive emotions (such as cognitive reframing and relaxation exercises).
• Problem orientation – stop and think Teach clients how to reduce impulsive and avoidance tendencies (visualizing a stop sign or traffic light).
• Problem definition and formulation Encourage an understanding of the nature of problems and set realistic goals and objectives.
• Generation of alternatives Work with clients to help them recognize the wide range of potential solutions to each problem (for example, brainstorming).
• Decision-making Encourage better decision-making through an improved understanding of the consequences of decisions and the value and likelihood of different outcomes.
• Solution implementation and verification Foster the client’s ability to carry out a solution plan, monitor its outcome, evaluate its effectiveness, and use self-reinforcement to increase the chance of success.
• Guided practice Encourage the application of problem-solving skills across multiple domains and future stressful problems.
• Rapid problem-solving Teach clients how to apply problem-solving questions and guidelines quickly in any given situation.

Success in PST depends on the effectiveness of its implementation; using the right approach is crucial (Dobson, 2011).

Problem-solving therapy – Baycrest

The following interventions and techniques are helpful when implementing more effective problem-solving approaches in client’s lives.

First, it is essential to consider if PST is the best approach for the client, based on the problems they present.

Is PPT appropriate?

It is vital to consider whether PST is appropriate for the client’s situation. Therapists new to the approach may require additional guidance (Nezu et al., 2013).

Therapists should consider the following questions before beginning PST with a client (modified from Nezu et al., 2013):

• Has PST proven effective in the past for the problem? For example, research has shown success with depression, generalized anxiety, back pain, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, and supporting caregivers (Nezu et al., 2013).
• Is PST acceptable to the client?
• Is the individual experiencing a significant mental or physical health problem?

All affirmative answers suggest that PST would be a helpful technique to apply in this instance.

Five problem-solving steps

The following five steps are valuable when working with clients to help them cope with and manage their environment (modified from Dobson, 2011).

Ask the client to consider the following points (forming the acronym ADAPT) when confronted by a problem:

• Attitude Aim to adopt a positive, optimistic attitude to the problem and problem-solving process.
• Define Obtain all required facts and details of potential obstacles to define the problem.
• Alternatives Identify various alternative solutions and actions to overcome the obstacle and achieve the problem-solving goal.
• Predict Predict each alternative’s positive and negative outcomes and choose the one most likely to achieve the goal and maximize the benefits.
• Try out Once selected, try out the solution and monitor its effectiveness while engaging in self-reinforcement.

If the client is not satisfied with their solution, they can return to step ‘A’ and find a more appropriate solution.

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Exercises (PDF)

Enhance wellbeing with these free, science-based exercises that draw on the latest insights from positive psychology.

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Tools Pack (PDF)

By filling out your name and email address below.

Positive self-statements

When dealing with clients facing negative self-beliefs, it can be helpful for them to use positive self-statements.

Use the following (or add new) self-statements to replace harmful, negative thinking (modified from Dobson, 2011):

• I can solve this problem; I’ve tackled similar ones before.
• I can cope with this.
• I just need to take a breath and relax.
• Once I start, it will be easier.
• It’s okay to look out for myself.
• I can get help if needed.
• Other people feel the same way I do.
• I’ll take one piece of the problem at a time.
• I can keep my fears in check.
• I don’t need to please everyone.

5 Worksheets and workbooks

Problem-solving self-monitoring form.

Answering the questions in the Problem-Solving Self-Monitoring Form provides the therapist with necessary information regarding the client’s overall and specific problem-solving approaches and reactions (Dobson, 2011).

Ask the client to complete the following:

• Describe the problem you are facing.
• What is your goal?
• What have you tried so far to solve the problem?
• What was the outcome?

Reactions to Stress

It can be helpful for the client to recognize their own experiences of stress. Do they react angrily, withdraw, or give up (Dobson, 2011)?

The Reactions to Stress worksheet can be given to the client as homework to capture stressful events and their reactions. By recording how they felt, behaved, and thought, they can recognize repeating patterns.

What Are Your Unique Triggers?

Helping clients capture triggers for their stressful reactions can encourage emotional regulation.

When clients can identify triggers that may lead to a negative response, they can stop the experience or slow down their emotional reaction (Dobson, 2011).

The What Are Your Unique Triggers ? worksheet helps the client identify their triggers (e.g., conflict, relationships, physical environment, etc.).

Problem-Solving worksheet

Imagining an existing or potential problem and working through how to resolve it can be a powerful exercise for the client.

Use the Problem-Solving worksheet to state a problem and goal and consider the obstacles in the way. Then explore options for achieving the goal, along with their pros and cons, to assess the best action plan.

Getting the Facts

Clients can become better equipped to tackle problems and choose the right course of action by recognizing facts versus assumptions and gathering all the necessary information (Dobson, 2011).

Use the Getting the Facts worksheet to answer the following questions clearly and unambiguously:

• Who is involved?
• What did or did not happen, and how did it bother you?
• Where did it happen?
• When did it happen?
• Why did it happen?
• How did you respond?

2 Helpful Group Activities

While therapists can use the worksheets above in group situations, the following two interventions work particularly well with more than one person.

Generating Alternative Solutions and Better Decision-Making

A group setting can provide an ideal opportunity to share a problem and identify potential solutions arising from multiple perspectives.

Use the Generating Alternative Solutions and Better Decision-Making worksheet and ask the client to explain the situation or problem to the group and the obstacles in the way.

Once the approaches are captured and reviewed, the individual can share their decision-making process with the group if they want further feedback.

Visualization

Visualization can be performed with individuals or in a group setting to help clients solve problems in multiple ways, including (Dobson, 2011):

• Clarifying the problem by looking at it from multiple perspectives
• Rehearsing a solution in the mind to improve and get more practice
• Visualizing a ‘safe place’ for relaxation, slowing down, and stress management

Guided imagery is particularly valuable for encouraging the group to take a ‘mental vacation’ and let go of stress.

Ask the group to begin with slow, deep breathing that fills the entire diaphragm. Then ask them to visualize a favorite scene (real or imagined) that makes them feel relaxed, perhaps beside a gently flowing river, a summer meadow, or at the beach.

The more the senses are engaged, the more real the experience. Ask the group to think about what they can hear, see, touch, smell, and even taste.

Encourage them to experience the situation as fully as possible, immersing themselves and enjoying their place of safety.

Such feelings of relaxation may be able to help clients fall asleep, relieve stress, and become more ready to solve problems.

We have included three of our favorite books on the subject of Problem-Solving Therapy below.

1. Problem-Solving Therapy: A Treatment Manual – Arthur Nezu, Christine Maguth Nezu, and Thomas D’Zurilla

This is an incredibly valuable book for anyone wishing to understand the principles and practice behind PST.

Written by the co-developers of PST, the manual provides powerful toolkits to overcome cognitive overload, emotional dysregulation, and the barriers to practical problem-solving.

Find the book on Amazon .

2. Emotion-Centered Problem-Solving Therapy: Treatment Guidelines – Arthur Nezu and Christine Maguth Nezu

Another, more recent, book from the creators of PST, this text includes important advances in neuroscience underpinning the role of emotion in behavioral treatment.

Along with clinical examples, the book also includes crucial toolkits that form part of a stepped model for the application of PST.

3. Handbook of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies – Keith Dobson and David Dozois

This is the fourth edition of a hugely popular guide to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies and includes a valuable and insightful section on Problem-Solving Therapy.

This is an important book for students and more experienced therapists wishing to form a high-level and in-depth understanding of the tools and techniques available to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists.

For even more tools to help strengthen your clients’ problem-solving skills, check out the following free worksheets from our blog.

• Case Formulation Worksheet This worksheet presents a four-step framework to help therapists and their clients come to a shared understanding of the client’s presenting problem.
• Understanding Your Default Problem-Solving Approach This worksheet poses a series of questions helping clients reflect on their typical cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to problems.
• Social Problem Solving: Step by Step This worksheet presents a streamlined template to help clients define a problem, generate possible courses of action, and evaluate the effectiveness of an implemented solution.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others enhance their wellbeing, check out this signature collection of 17 validated positive psychology tools for practitioners. Use them to help others flourish and thrive.

17 Top-Rated Positive Psychology Exercises for Practitioners

Expand your arsenal and impact with these 17 Positive Psychology Exercises [PDF] , scientifically designed to promote human flourishing, meaning, and wellbeing.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

While we are born problem-solvers, facing an incredibly diverse set of challenges daily, we sometimes need support.

Problem-Solving Therapy aims to reduce stress and associated mental health disorders and improve wellbeing by improving our ability to cope. PST is valuable in diverse clinical settings, ranging from depression to schizophrenia, with research suggesting it as a highly effective treatment for teaching coping strategies and reducing emotional distress.

Many PST techniques are available to help improve clients’ positive outlook on obstacles while reducing avoidance of problem situations and the tendency to be careless and impulsive.

The PST model typically assesses the client’s strengths, weaknesses, and coping strategies when facing problems before encouraging a healthy experience of and relationship with problem-solving.

Why not use this article to explore the theory behind PST and try out some of our powerful tools and interventions with your clients to help them with their decision-making, coping, and problem-solving?

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

• Cuijpers, P., Wit, L., Kleiboer, A., Karyotaki, E., & Ebert, D. (2020). Problem-solving therapy for adult depression: An updated meta-analysis. European P sychiatry ,  48 (1), 27–37.
• Dobson, K. S. (2011). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
• Dobson, K. S., & Dozois, D. J. A. (2021). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies  (4th ed.). Guilford Press.
• Eysenck, M. W., & Keane, M. T. (2015). Cognitive psychology: A student’s handbook . Psychology Press.
• Nezu, A. M., & Nezu, C. M. (2009). Problem-solving therapy DVD . Retrieved September 13, 2021, from https://www.apa.org/pubs/videos/4310852
• Nezu, A. M., & Nezu, C. M. (2018). Emotion-centered problem-solving therapy: Treatment guidelines. Springer.
• Nezu, A. M., Nezu, C. M., & D’Zurilla, T. J. (2013). Problem-solving therapy: A treatment manual . Springer.

Share this article:

Article feedback

What our readers think.

Thanks for your information given, it was helpful for me something new I learned

Let us know your thoughts Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related articles

The Empty Chair Technique: How It Can Help Your Clients

Resolving ‘unfinished business’ is often an essential part of counseling. If left unresolved, it can contribute to depression, anxiety, and mental ill-health while damaging existing [...]

29 Best Group Therapy Activities for Supporting Adults

As humans, we are social creatures with personal histories based on the various groups that make up our lives. Childhood begins with a family of [...]

47 Free Therapy Resources to Help Kick-Start Your New Practice

Setting up a private practice in psychotherapy brings several challenges, including a considerable investment of time and money. You can reduce risks early on by [...]

Read other articles by their category

• Body & Brain (49)
• Coaching & Application (57)
• Compassion (26)
• Counseling (51)
• Emotional Intelligence (24)
• Gratitude (18)
• Grief & Bereavement (21)
• Happiness & SWB (40)
• Meaning & Values (26)
• Meditation (20)
• Mindfulness (45)
• Motivation & Goals (45)
• Optimism & Mindset (34)
• Positive CBT (28)
• Positive Communication (20)
• Positive Education (47)
• Positive Emotions (32)
• Positive Leadership (18)
• Positive Parenting (4)
• Positive Psychology (33)
• Positive Workplace (37)
• Productivity (16)
• Relationships (46)
• Resilience & Coping (36)
• Self Awareness (21)
• Self Esteem (37)
• Strengths & Virtues (31)
• Stress & Burnout Prevention (34)
• Theory & Books (46)
• Therapy Exercises (37)
• Types of Therapy (64)

17 Fun Problem Solving Activities for Kids

There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.

As a child, I would spend hours putting together puzzles… whether it was 3-D puzzles or figuring out a crossword. I also loved it when teachers would give the class an open-ended question and we had to work in groups to figure out the answer in our own way.

Even something as simple as playing checkers with my brothers gave me the chance to use strategy as a way to win the game. I honestly believe that it’s so important for kids to solve problems at a young age, as it helps them think critically and outside the box.

Table of Contents

So, Why Is It Important To Teach Kids Problem Solving?

I think these kinds of activities are so important for kids to do because it helps them learn how to think analytically and solve problems on their own. It's a great way to get kids to use their imaginations and be creative.

Rote memorization simply does not have the same effect. This type of learning is great for learning facts like historical dates, but it’s not going to help kids figure out how events in history happened and the results.

We take these problem-solving skills into college, the workforce, and travel . My ability to problem solve since childhood has certainly got me through many sticky situations while in a new city or country.

Additionally, problem-solving helps children learn how to find creative solutions to challenges they may face both in and out of the classroom . These activities can also be fun and used in cohesion with school or playtime.

17 Fun Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

1. marble mazes.

This activity was selected because it requires them to think spatially. Spatial learning will benefit kids when they start driving, riding a bike, playing sports,etc.

To do this activity in its simplest form, you will need a piece of paper, a pencil, and some marbles. First, draw a maze on a piece of paper using a pencil.

Make sure to create a start and finish point. Then, place the marbles at the start of the maze. The goal is to get the marbles from the start to the finish by tilting the paper and using gravity to guide the marbles through the maze.

Another example of a marble maze can involve using toilet paper rolls taped together to create a three-dimensional maze. The larger the maze, the harder you can make it.

Check Price on Amazon!

If you are not into the DIY method, you can always buy a toy maze on Amazon. A good 48 piece puzzle is the Melissa & Doug Underwater Ocean Floor puzzle.

2. The Tower Challenge

Building a tower gives kids the chance to think about gravity, structure, and balance.

To do this activity, you will need some building materials like legos, blocks, or even toilet paper rolls. The challenge is to see how high they can stack the materials without the tower toppling over.

This can be done individually or in teams. An activity like this is good for younger kids and is the building block to learning about harder topics like engineering.

3. The Egg Drop Challenge

The egg drop challenge helps kids learn how to engineer a solution that prevents something from breaking. It requires them to think critically about which materials will best protect something fragile like an egg when dropped from a height.

To do this activity, you will need some eggs and various materials such as straws, cotton balls, bubble wrap, etc. The goal is to construct a device that will protect an egg from breaking upon impact.

This can be done individually or in teams . Teams can even have a competition for the best egg drop device.

As children begin handling, shopping for, and cooking their own food, activities like this will help them understand how to handle breakable items like bottles, eggs, delicate fruit,.etc. Ideally, this is best for age groups 8 and up.

4. The Penny Drop Challenge

This activity was selected because it requires kids to think about physics and how different materials affect sound.

To do this activity, you will need a penny ( or another coin), a cup, and various materials such as paper towels, cotton balls, etc.

The goal is to drop the penny into the cup without making any noise. Begin by placing different materials into the cup and then drop the penny into it. The children should also drop the penny from different heights into the same material to see if/how the impact from a higher drop affects sound.

Group kids into teams or let them try it on their own.

Kids should make note of what type of sounds are made when the penny hits different materials. This is a great activity for kids who are interested in science and physics.

5. The Balloon Race Challenge

This activity was selected because it helps kids learn about aerodynamics and Bernoulli’s principle . It also requires them to think creatively about how to design a balloon-powered vehicle.

To do this activity, you will need balloons, straws, masking tape, and markers. The goal is to design a balloon-powered vehicle that can travel a distance of at least 10 feet. Kids can begin this activity by sketching out their designs on paper.

After they have a basic design, they can begin building their vehicle from various materials. Then kids can explain why they think the balloon traveled or did not travel as far as it did.

6. The Marshmallow Challenge

Marshmallows are not only delicious, but they are also soft and malleable. So kids can have fun using it for some construction projects.

This activity was selected because it requires kids to think creatively about how to build a structure using limited materials. It also helps them learn about engineering and work as a team.

To do this activity, you will need marshmallows and spaghetti noodles. The goal is to build the tallest free-standing structure possible using only marshmallows and spaghetti noodles. If you don't have spaghetti noodles, use something similar like pretzel sticks.

You may even want to establish certain rules like each team can only use a certain number of marshmallows or noodles. A time limit can also make it more fun and challenging.

For more fun activities, check out our post on problem solving exercises for team building .

7. The Balloon Pop Challenge

If you remember your childhood, you probably remember popping balloons for fun at times. But this activity is different because it requires kids to use strategy and critical thinking.

This activity was selected because it helps kids learn about patterns and problem-solving. It is also a lot of fun for kids who like popping balloons. The goal is to create a device that will allow them to pop a balloon without using their hands.

To do this activity, you will need balloons and various materials such as straws, string, paper clips, etc.

8. Picture Pieces Puzzle Game

As mentioned earlier, puzzles are a great pastime – especially in childhood. Kids must think critically about how to put the pieces together to create a certain picture. It also helps them learn about shapes, colors, and other concepts.

You can take a medium to large picture and cut it into pieces. If you have younger kids, you may want to make the pieces larger. However, if you have kids closer to the 8-11 age range, you should be able to provide a challenge and make the pieces smaller.

9. Copy the Block Model

For this challenge, you can build a model out of blocks for the kids to copy. Put kids into groups and make sure each group has the same number of blocks you used for your model.

Make your model block as simple or complex as needed for your child's age group.

Set a time limit and make sure each group starts at the same time.

10. Team Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is great for kids because they have to search for items and use investigative skills. It is also a lot of fun and can be done both indoors and outdoors .

To do this activity, you will need to create a list of items for the kids to find. The items can be anything from common household items to things you would find outside.

These types of activities can also revolve around a theme like a holiday, movie, or book. For example, if the kids are fans of “Harry Potter” you can make a list of items to find that are related to the movie.

11. Obstacle Course

This activity requires kids to think creatively about how to get from one point to another while maneuvering around obstacles. If you have outdoor space, this can be done with common objects such as hula hoops, cones, etc.

If you don't have access to an outdoor space, you can use common household items to create an indoor obstacle course. For example, you can use chairs, blankets, pillows, etc.

Begin by setting up the course and then timing each child as they complete it. You can also have them race against each other to make it more fun.

Obstacle courses are also great because kids get to be physically active while they are thinking critically.

12. Reading Storybooks

There are many great benefits for kids that read storybooks.  One of the excellent benefits is the ability to problem-solve.  When they read the stories in the books, they see scenarios that cause them to be attached to the various characters they read about. 

So, when they encounter a real-life problem, it is often productive to ask a child how their favorite character would solve that problem.  Your kids can also be encouraged to come up with various options and possible outcomes for some of the situations they may encounter. 

This not only helps kids solve various problems but become more independent as well. 

13. Ask Them Open-Ended Questions

A good way to improve a child's ability to think critically and creatively and improve their ability to solve problems is by asking open-ended questions.  It also helps them to develop healthy personalities .

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.  In addition, the solution requires more than a simple “yes” or “no” answer.  Furthermore, it allows kids to put some extra thought into their responses. 

Here are some examples of open-ended questions you may want to ask. 

• What did this experience teach you?
• Was this easy?  What was easy about it?
• What this difficult?  What is complicated about it?
• What may happen next in this situation?
• How did you come to this solution?
• What, if anything, would you do differently next time?
• What can we do to make things more fun next time?

14. Build Various Structures with Toys

Whether wooden blocks, LEGO blocks, or engineering blocks… giving your kid blocks to build whatever their minds can dream up is fun.  In addition, it requires them to think about how they will make a structure, put the pieces together, and creatively ensure the building's function and design. 

You may also want to challenge them to build something more complicated and watch them use their brain power to make it happen. 

15. Acting Out Skits

Impromptu activities like acting out skits help kids identify problems, develop solutions, and execute them.  This process works with multiple kids being divided into teams. 

First, you will want to write down different situations, such as resolving a disagreement between siblings or dealing with bullying on the playground on a piece of paper.  Second, you will fold the paper and place it in a hat or bowl.  

Third, each team will pick a scenario out of the hat.  Finally, you can give the kids a few minutes to discuss their solution and act out. 

16. Solving Moral Dilemmas   

In this simple game, you will help your kids solve simple dilemmas they may find themselves in.  You could write down a situation your child may find themselves in and help them learn the moral way to solve the problem.   

For instance, “The cashier gave them an additional $5 change back on my purchase.  What should they do?”  Another scenario could be, “I saw my friend cheating on a test.  Should I tell on them or let it go?”  A third one could be, “I caught my friends stealing some gum from the store.  What should I do?” 

After writing down the dilemmas and placing them in a bowl, get each child to select one and read it aloud.  Finally, you will help them devise morally correct solutions to the moral dilemma. 

17. Animal Pairing Game  

This is a fun and creative game to help your kids with focus, critical thinking, and team building skills .  In addition, this activity requires an even number of players to participate (4, 6, 8, etc.) 

Before starting the game, you will want to write the names of different animals twice, each on a separate slip of paper.  Then pass out the slips of paper to each individual or team member, instructing them not to share with anyone the name of the animal they received. 

Then the children will perform activities the animals might do without talking or making sounds.  Some of these activities might include:

• The way the animal cleans or grooms itself
• The way the animal sleeps
• The way the animal fights
• The way the animal eats or drinks
• The way the animal walks or runs

The goal is for each child to successfully pair up with the other child who has selected the same animal.

How Problem Solving in Childhood Helps in Adulthood

Children are not born with problem-solving skills. It is something that needs to be learned and developed over time .

From babies who learn how to communicate their needs to toddlers who figure out how to get what they want, to children who are starting to understand the consequences of their actions – problem-solving is a process that begins in childhood and continues into adulthood.

Some of the benefits of teaching problem-solving skills to children include:

• Improved critical thinking skills
• Better decision-making skills
• Enhanced creativity
• Improved communication and collaboration skills
• Increased confidence

There are many ways to teach problem-solving skills to children. The activities mentioned above are just a few examples. It is important to find activities that are appropriate for the age and abilities of the child.

With practice, children will develop these skills and be better prepared to face challenges in both childhood and adulthood.

Final Thoughts About Fun Problem Solving Activities For Kids

These are just a few ideas to get you started on teaching your child crucial problem solving skills. Perhaps they’ve inspired to come with some of your own, or seek out others? The important thing is to make sure the activity is age-appropriate and challenging enough to engage the kids.

Problem-solving skills are important for kids to learn because they can be applied to various situations in life. These skills also promote critical thinking, which is an important life skill.

There are many other problem-solving activities for kids out there. In time, you’ll find the ones that work best for your child.  And be sure not to forget about your own needs and self-improvement, both of which will make you a better parent and mentor. Here are some useful activities for adults to get your started.

Finally, if you want to level up your parenting skills, then check out this resource that will show you how to get your kids to listen WITHOUT yelling, nagging, or losing control .

Problem-Solving Skills Worksheets for Kids

• Printable worksheets
• Educational videos
• Learning games

422 filtered results

• Extra Challenge
• Kindergarten
• ABC Coloring Pages
• Tracing Lines and Curves
• Tracing Letters
• Cursive A Worksheets
• Cursive B Worksheets
• Cursive C Worksheets
• Cursive D Worksheets
• Cursive E Worksheets
• Cursive F Worksheets
• Cursive G Worksheets
• Cursive H Worksheets
• Lowercase/Small Letters
• Uppercase Letters
• Alphabetizing
• Missing Letters
• Alphabet Coloring Pages
• Letter Sounds
• Beginning Sounds
• Middle Sounds
• Ending Sounds
• Consonant Digraphs
• Double Consonants
• Beginning Consonants
• Initial and Final Consonant Blends
• Long Vowels
• Short Vowels
• Vowel Blends
• Long And Short Vowel
• Vowel Diphthongs
• Missing Vowels
• Two Vowels Together
• Middle Vowel
• Vowel Digraphs
• Silent Vowels
• Vowels and Consonants
• Two Letter Phonics
• Three Letter Words Phonics
• Phonics Coloring Pages
• Elementary Phonics
• Numbers 0–10
• Numbers 11–20
• Numbers up to 100
• Comparing Numbers
• Tracing Numbers
• Place Value
• Skip Counting
• Addition Facts
• Adding with Busy Bugs
• Adding in the Sea
• Adding on the Farm
• Adding in the Forest
• Adding at the Zoo
• Adding up to 50 Without Regrouping
• Adding up to 50 with Regrouping
• Adding up to 50 Misc
• Adding up to 100 Without Regrouping
• Adding up to 100 with Regrouping
• Adding up to 100 Misc
• Adding 2-digit Numbers
• Adding up to 1000 Without Regrouping
• Adding up to 1000 with Regrouping
• Adding up to 1000 Misc
• Subtraction
• Measurement
• Basic Times Tables up to 12
• Advanced Times Tables up to 12
• Mixed Times Tables
• Area and Perimeter
• Fractions of Shapes
• Tracing Shapes
• Math Coloring Pages
• Addition and Subtraction Word Problems
• Multiplication and Division Word Problems
• Two-step Word Problems
• Length and Mass Word Problems
• Area and Perimeter Word Problems
• Time Word Problems
• Graph Word Problems
• Money Word Problems
• Capitalization
• Cursive Numbers
• Cursive Letters
• Tracing Words
• Punctuation
• 3 Little Pigs
• 4th of July
• International Chess Day
• St. Patrick's Day
• Color by Numbers
• Back to school
• Vocabulary Coloring Pages
• Cultures and Holidays Coloring Pages
• Weather and Seasons Coloring Pages
• Feelings and Emotions
• Fairy Tale Coloring Pages
• Nursery Rhymes Coloring Pages
• Reading Non-Fiction
• Reading Fiction
• Rhyming Words
• Sight Words
• Word Scramble
• Building Vocabulary Coloring Pages
• Itsy Bitsy Spider
• 5 Little Monkeys
• Twinkle Little Star
• Governance and Civics
• Life Science
• Our Body and Health
• The 5 Senses
• Physical Science
• Our Planet and Environment
• Problem Solving
• Plants and Animals
• Cursive Writing  
• Connect the Dots
• Fairy Tales
• Black history
• Dinosaurs Day
• Thanksgiving
• Addition & Subtraction
• Multiplication
• Building Vocabulary
• Maze Puzzles
• Connecting the Dots
• Problem-Solving Skills

The Lion and the Mouse Worksheet

Healthy Food Maze Printable

Notation of Moves Writing it Down Worksheet

Pirate Math Printable

Shared Food Worksheet

Lowercase Letters Maze Worksheet

Desert Maze Worksheet

Division Worksheet

Solving Problems: Number Lines Worksheet

Snowy Day Maze Printable

Rocket Math Worksheet

Adding up to 1000 with Regrouping: Page 9

Adding up to 1000: Page 38

Adding up to 50 with Regrouping: Page 40

Plural Endings Maze Worksheet

Temperature Patterns Worksheet

Adding up to 50: Page 61

Circus Math Printable

Counting and Comparing: Assessment 1 Worksheet

Adding up to 100: Page 28

Air Balloon Math Worksheet

The Crow and the Pitcher Worksheet

Force and Interactions: Review 2 Worksheet

Construction Zone Addition Worksheet

Question/answer, how to test a grade 2 student’s problem-solving skills skills.

To test a Grade 2 student's problem-solving skills, present them with age-appropriate puzzles or challenges that require logical thinking, such as simple math word problems, pattern recognition tasks, and basic puzzles (e.g., jigsaw puzzles or mazes). Ensure the tasks vary in complexity and context to assess their ability to apply problem-solving strategies across different scenarios.

Why is the Problem-Solving Skills skill important for Grade 2 students?

Problem-solving skills are crucial for Grade 2 students as they help in developing critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to navigate challenges. These skills enable students to approach tasks and obstacles in a structured manner, fostering independence and confidence. Early development of these skills lays a strong foundation for academic success and real-world problem-solving in their futures.

How does the mastery of the Problem-Solving Skills skill affect a student's performance at an early age?

The mastery of problem-solving skills at an early age significantly enhances a student's performance by improving their ability to analyze situations, think critically, make decisions, and overcome obstacles. This foundational skill not only boosts academic success but also fosters independence, creativity, and resilience, preparing them for complex future challenges in both their educational journey and life experiences.

Related Articles

Related Worksheet

You'll be able to manage the favorite spreadsheets list.

You’ll be able to hide/mark the accomplished tasks.

• School / District Account
• Family Account
• 2 PDF worksheets per day
• Interactive worksheets
• Targeted ads
• KidsAcademy ads

$ 2.99 / month

• Printable and interactive worksheets
• Learning videos
• Ad-free browsing

$9.99 / month

• 7000+ online learning activities
• Curriculum created by education experts!

Cancel anytime

• My Storyboards

Problem Solving Worksheets

Customize problem solving worksheets.

What is Problem Solving?

It is the cognitive process of identifying, analyzing, and finding solutions to challenges or issues. It involves using logical and creative thinking to address obstacles that occur, make decisions, and achieve goals. Consider the five problem-solving steps: identifying the problem, generating possible solutions, evaluating options, selecting the best solution, and implementing it. Understanding the steps is crucial for navigating complex challenges with clarity and efficiency.

What are Problem Solving Worksheets?

These worksheets are structured in such a way that encourages solution-based thinking. Engaging in interactive problem-solving activities can help develop critical thinking skills and creative approaches to overcoming obstacles. While these skills are used in a variety of aspects of life, our worksheets focus on problem solving in mathematics. Printable worksheets provide practice for any child who is learning to master new skills they are taught in class. They are perfect for any level, and can be applied to any type of mathematical problem or unit of study.

Why are They Important and How are They Best Used?

They are great for ensuring that students practice what they have yet to master, since they can be customized by the teacher to meet the class and individual needs. They can be used to practice all kinds of word problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and so much more.

In a world where challenges are inevitable, the ability to tackle problems effectively is a valuable skill that can be applied across all subjects and age groups. Problem-solving skills are the generator of success. They empower individuals to navigate complex situations, identify triggers, and develop plans to overcome obstacles. From the classroom to the boardroom, these skills are in high demand.

Tailoring Problem-Solving Worksheets for Different Subjects

Mathematics.

Math problem-solving worksheets can be a playground for nurturing critical thinking. Through word problem worksheets, students not only practice calculations but also apply math concepts to real-world scenarios.

Scientific problem-solving worksheets ignite curiosity. They prompt students to hypothesize, design experiments, collect data, and draw conclusions, fostering a scientific mindset.

Language Arts

Language skills and critical thinking intertwine in language arts problem-solving worksheets. Analyzing literature, engaging in creative writing prompts, and correcting grammar offer a holistic approach.

Social Studies

History comes to life through problem-solving worksheets. Encourage students to ponder over historical dilemmas and global challenges, nurturing their ability to think beyond the surface.

Math Worksheet Activity Ideas

• "Math Detective" Challenge: Create a set of worksheets featuring a fictional mystery storyline. Each worksheet presents a clue that requires students to solve a math problem to unveil the next piece of the puzzle. This engaging activity encourages critical and sequential thinking.
• "Math Menu" Project: Design a menu-style worksheet with various math problems categorized by difficulty levels. Allow students to choose a certain number of problems from each category to complete, giving them autonomy and catering to their individual skill levels.
• "Design Your Dream House" Activity: Provide a worksheet that guides students through designing their dream house layout. They need to calculate room dimensions, total area, and even budget constraints. This hands-on activity integrates math into real-life scenarios.
• "Math Art Gallery" Exhibition: Assign each student a famous artwork and create a worksheet that involves geometric calculations related to the art's dimensions and shapes. Students can then present their findings in a "Math Art Gallery" exhibition.
• "Math in the News" Analysis: Collect recent news articles that involve math-related concepts, such as statistics, percentages, or data analysis. Provide worksheets that require students to analyze the math behind the news and discuss its implications.
• "Budgeting for Vacation" Project: Design a project-based worksheet where students plan a vacation, considering expenses like transportation, accommodations, and activities. They must budget and calculate costs while staying within a specified budget.
• "Math Around the World" Exploration: Create a worksheet that presents math problems related to different countries' cultures, currencies, and measurements. Students solve problems like converting currencies or calculating time zone differences.
• "Mathopoly" Board Game: Design a problem-solving board game where players move through spaces by solving math problems. This interactive approach adds an element of fun while reinforcing math skills.
• "Math Olympiad Simulation" Practice: Prepare a set of challenging math problems similar to those in Math Olympiad competitions. Have students work on these problems individually or in teams to sharpen their skills.
• "Math Interview" Project: Assign each student a famous mathematician or scientist and provide a worksheet that guides them to research and create interview-style questions. This encourages exploration of math history and its relevance.
• "Math Escape Room" Challenge: Develop a series of interconnected math problems that lead students through a virtual "escape room." They must solve each problem correctly to advance to the next step and eventually "escape."
• "Data Analysis Report" Assignment: Provide students with a dataset related to a topic of interest, such as sports statistics or environmental data. They must analyze the data, create graphs, and present their findings in a structured report.
• "Math and Music Fusion" Project: Combine math with music by providing a worksheet that explores concepts like rhythm, frequency, and ratios in music. Students can calculate beats per minute, analyze musical patterns, and even compose their own melodies.
• "Math Recipe Creation" Challenge: Ask students to create a new recipe by adjusting ingredient quantities based on serving sizes. They must calculate ratios, proportions, and conversions to ensure the recipe's success.

Designing Effective Problem-Solving Worksheets

Creating successful problem-solving worksheets involves careful planning. Here are some ideas to consider:

• Define the Learning Objective: Clarify the specific mathematical concept you want to reinforce with the worksheet. Outline the steps involved and determine how this worksheet will contribute to improving their skills.
• Select a Problem Type: Choose a math problem type that aligns with the learning objective. It could involve algebraic equations, geometry calculations, or even practical scenarios related to everyday life.
• Structure the Steps: Break down the problem-solving process into logical steps. Ensure that each step reflects the problem solving steps you want students to follow, such as understanding the problem, planning, solving, and verifying.
• Incorporate Interactive Elements: Integrate interactive elements like multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blanks, or even drawing areas to encourage problem solving exercises within the worksheet.
• Utilize Graphic Organizers: Introduce a visual problem solving graphic organizer to help students map out their thinking. This can include spaces for writing down given information, variables, and equations.
• Provide a Problem Solving Template: Offer a structured template that guides students through the problem-solving process. Include prompts and placeholders for each step to provide clear direction.
• Encourage Exploration: Inspire students to explore different types of techniques to arrive at solutions. Encourage them to think critically and try various strategies before settling on an approach.

By incorporating these elements, you can create a comprehensive problem solving worksheet for kids that not only teaches mathematical concepts but also equips them with transferable skills. Whether you're focusing on basic arithmetic or more advanced mathematical principles, this approach ensures an engaging and educational experience for young learners.

More Storyboardthat Resources and Free Printables

• Multiplication Worksheets
• Subtraction Worksheets
• Game Worksheets
• Task Card Maker

How to Make a Problem Solving Worksheet

Choose one of the premade templates.

We have lots of templates to choose from. Take a look at our example for inspiration!

Click on “Copy Template”

Once you do this, you will be directed to the storyboard creator.

Give Your Worksheet a Name!

Be sure to call it something related to the topic so that you can easily find it in the future.

Edit Your Worksheet

This is where you will include directions, specific images, and make any aesthetic changes that you would like. The options are endless!

Click "Save and Exit"

When you are finished, click this button in the lower right hand corner to exit your storyboard.

From here you can print, download as a PDF, attach it to an assignment and use it digitally, and more!

Happy Creating!

Frequently Asked Questions About Problem Solving Worksheets

How can math problem-solving worksheets show students how to improve problem-solving skills.

They provide structured exercises that guide students through real-world scenarios. By actively engaging in these worksheets and activities, children can practice the problem solving process, enhancing their critical thinking and logical reasoning abilities.

What strategies can I use to teach problem-solving skills using math worksheets?

Incorporate helpful math problem solving worksheets for kids into your lessons. Support and encourage students to work through the problem-solving steps: understanding the problem, devising strategies, making calculations, and verifying their solutions. Provide examples, guidance, and feedback to nurture their problem-solving skills.

How can I ensure that students grasp the problem-solving process effectively?

Provide clear instructions in your math problem-solving worksheets that guide students through each step of the process. Offer examples and encourage them to discuss their approaches. By nurturing a supportive and collaborative environment, you can help both younger kids and older kids build confidence in their problem solving skills.

What are specific examples of how to teach problem-solving skills in math using pre-answered solution worksheets?

Teaching problem-solving skills in math using pre-answered solution worksheets can be exemplified through scenarios like quadratic equations. Present the class with a quadratic equation and a pre-answered solution that breaks down the steps of factoring or using the quadratic formula. This guides them to understand the process, identify key components, and apply appropriate methods. Similarly, for geometry, offer a challenging problem involving angles or area calculations, along with a pre-answered solution that demonstrates the application of relevant geometric principles. As students work through the problem and compare their reasoning with the pre-answered solution, they grasp problem-solving strategies, logical sequences, and the importance of meticulous calculations. In both cases, these worksheets instill confidence, reinforce systematic approaches, and enhance students' problem-solving skills while navigating mathematical complexities.

Try 1 Month For

30 Day Money Back Guarantee New Customers Only Full Price After Introductory Offer

Learn more about our Department, School, and District packages

• Thousands of images
• Custom layouts, scenes, characters
• And so much more!!

Create a Storyboard

All Formats

Resource types, all resource types.

• Rating Count
• Price (Ascending)
• Price (Descending)
• Most Recent

Free problem solving worksheets

Multiplication Word Problems - Arrays - Equal Groups - Multiplication Worksheet

• Google Apps™
• Internet Activities

Presidents' Day Early Finisher Activities - Crack the Code | Word Search | Maze

FREEBIE PREWRITING WORKBOOK 10 pages ! Color & trace the pre-writing lines!

Addition and Subtraction Word Problems - Regrouping - 2 and 3 Digit Numbers

What Pushes Your Buttons: Anger Triggers

FREE Giving COMPLIMENTS BOOKMARKS Affirmations Coloring Pages to Build Character

Finding Slope and Y-Intercept from a Table

• Easel Activity

FREE Early Finishers and Gifted Math Challenges-Printables

Multiplication with Equal Groups and Arrays Worksheets - Math Riddles

SPOT your Emotions

Social Problem Solving Worksheets {Free!}

Open Number Line Strategy Freebie

Anti-Bullying Activities for the Classroom FREE

Zones of Regulation Problem Solving and Think Sheets

• Publisher files

Engineering Design Process Worksheets for all STEM Challenges -Printed & Digital

* FREEBIE*The Weather Is...What Can I Wear? Clothing Activity for Special Needs

STEM Activities Desert Survival STEAM Challenge for Elementary Kids FREE

FREE Following Instructions Trick Task | Directions | Listening | Life Skills

Free Project-Based Math Activity | Area & Perimeter | Math PBL Activities

Free Leap Day Logic Puzzles

3rd Grade Morning Work - FREE Sample

Daily Practice Workbook | Executive Functioning {FREEBIE}

Addition and Subtraction Word Problems in Spanish - Problemas de suma y resta

Multiplication Word Problems with Standard Algorithm and Area Model

• We're hiring
• Help & FAQ
• Privacy policy
• Student privacy
• Terms of service
• Tell us what you think

• MATH VIDEOS
• MATH WORKSHEETS
• MOBILE GAMES
• CHEAT SHEET

Search by Grade

• Kindergarten
• Coloring Pages
• Fractions, Percentages and Decimals
• Measurement
• Most Popular
• Multiplication
• Probability
• Problem Solving
• Shapes and Geometry
• Subtraction
• Time and Money
• Word Search

• Math Videos
• Math Worksheets
• Math Cheat Sheet

Problem Solving Games, Videos and Worksheets

Log-in from the menu to join our email list

welcome to solving fun

Creative puzzling for everyone.

We create puzzles, activities, and games focused on perseverance and creative problem solving. Solving Fun was created by an educator and a game designer with the belief that joyful challenges lead to engaged learning. Our passion is making solving FUN!

Upcoming Hunts

What is a puzzle hunt.

Scavenger Hunt + Puzzles 

Collaborate with friends and family to solve puzzles.

Filled with a variety of wordplay, logic, math, reasoning, and creative thinking. 

Find clues by solving puzzles.

Clues lead to locations (in person or virtual).

Put together clues and solve a meta puzzle for final answer(s).

Puzzle hunts are a fun way to bring your community together and get off screens. Looking to bring a hunt to your area? We love creating custom hunts for groups of any size. Just email us!

BRING A PUZZLE HUNT TO YOUR COMMUNITY

"Your puzzles are always the right blend of tricky, but not impossible for our family. Thank you for making a product that the whole family can enjoy together. Well done!

"Solving Fun is exactly what the name implies, a fun way to learn and or teach problem solving skills across a myriad of subjects: math, science, reading comprehension, history, and more. It makes learning and applying that learning FUN!

“This was one of the best activities our family has participated in. I am eternally grateful for City of Palo Alto and Solving Fun for helping us get our two teenage daughters off screens and outside. We solved the puzzles together and we biked to the parks to find the clues together. Thanks for giving us a very enjoyable month of family weekend activities. I am quite sad that it came to an end and will look forward to next year's edition!”

Download this monthly Pal Printable on our FREE Resources page. Get a new page each month. Want more? Download Pal Printable pages in our shop where you can find printable pages of previous puzzles starting at $1.

• Virtual Experiences
• In-Person Experiences
• Hybrid Experiences
• Social Calendar [New]
• Experience FAQ
• Features & Benefits
• How Pricing Works
• Client Testimonials
• Happiness Guarantee
• Blog Articles
• Video Library
• View Experiences

Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults

Here is our list of the best problem solving games, activities and exercises for adults.

Problem solving games are activities that require players to use critical thinking skills to solve puzzles. Example activities include escape rooms, Sudoku, and murder mysteries. The purpose of these exercises is to sharpen reasoning and decision-making skills in group settings and to do team building with employees.

These activities are a subset of remote team games , found in problem solving books , and are similar to team puzzles , team building brain teasers and team riddles .

This article contains:

• team building problem solving activities for employees
• free problem solving games for adults
• virtual problem solving activities for students
• group problem solving activities
• problem solving team builders

Here we go!

List of problem solving games & activities

From word and number puzzles to role-playing games, here is a list of inexpensive and free problem solving team builders that help groups practice the art of critical thinking and compromise.

1. Espionage! (Team Favorite)

For an exciting game of social deduction, check out Espionage! This thrilling experience will put your team’s wits and instincts to the test.

Espionage! offers the following:

• a 90-minute session led by an experienced host
• undercover teams of agents and spies
• challenging puzzles, tasks, and maneuvers
• team conversations to help uncover secret identities

The best part is we will bring all the necessary game materials to your preferred location. If you are interested in boosting communication and critical-thinking skills within your team, then consider Espionage!

Learn more about Espionage!

2. Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh (Hosted)

You can turn your team into skilled detectives with Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh! In this captivating mystery, participants will locate the stolen artwork, The Bedroom .

Key features of this experience include:

• a 90-minute adventure led by a world-class host
• detailed puzzles, clues, and mysteries to unravel
• trails of evidence and hidden secrets
• group discussions to find the art

Additionally, you can include a cocktail kit to spice up your event. Through Art Heist, you will enhance your team’s ingenuity and problem-solving skills!

Learn more about Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh .

Get our free team building toolbox

• icebreaker games
• bingo cards

3. War of the Wizards (Popular)

With War of the Wizards, teams roleplay as minions of powerful wizards to vanquish forces of evil. Participants will play thrilling games and go on a quest to restore harmony to the realm!

War of the Wizards offers the following:

• a 90-minute journey guided by a distinguished host
• immersive storytelling that transports players into a magical realm
• engaging activities like world-building, role-playing games, and storytelling
• opportunities for forming alliances, facing challenges, and going on quests

Through the power of imagination and teamwork, your team can overcome tasks and participate in an epic fantasy battle. To improve communication and bonds, include War of the Wizards in your agenda!

Learn more about War of the Wizards .

Sudoku is one of the most popular free problem solving games for adults. The objective of this game is to fill each box of a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and letter contains each number from one to nine. The puzzle makes a great team challenge. To play Sudoku on Zoom, screen share the game board. Then, turn on the annotation features. Using the add text functions, participants can fill in the numbers on the grid.

We made a starter puzzle you can use in your next meeting or virtual team bonding session:

Here are more online Sudoku puzzles .

5. Crossword puzzles

Crossword puzzles are word games that ask players to fill in words based on clues. Words interconnect, and players must think critically about the surrounding words to select the right phrase for the space.

You can use an online crossword puzzle maker to create a custom puzzle. Here are a few themes you may want to consider:

• teammates’ tastes and interests
• company knowledge and history
• industry terms and trends

Or, create a miscellaneous puzzle just for fun.

We made a sample puzzle you can use for your game:

To complete puzzles during online meetings, you can use the share screen function and add text through annotations.

Or, subscribers can play the New York Times’ daily crossword puzzle virtually . Dictionary.com also offers a free daily online crossword puzzle .

Check out more vocabulary games .

6. Online Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are timed games that get groups working together to solve puzzles. Traditionally, players enter a locked room and must complete all puzzles in an hour or two to unlock the door. However, groups can also play escape rooms online.

Digital escape rooms typically come in one of two forms: in a Zoom room and led by a host, or in a choose-your-own adventure format via Google Forms or websites. To play escape rooms virtually, enter a video meeting and follow the prompts, or screen share the Google Form and work out the puzzles together.

Check out our full list of online escape rooms .

7. Murder Mysteries

Murder Mysteries are story-based games that ask players to take on the roles of suspects or detectives while trying to identify a killer. These games often involve reading lines from a script, searching for clues, and occasionally solving puzzles to get hints.

These games make participants pay attention to conversations, analyze other characters’ behavior, and search for hidden meaning in the script. Players must use their powers of observation and logic to unravel the mystery.

Check out our list of Zoom murder mystery games .

8. Treasure Hunts

Treasure hunts are scavenger hunts with intention. While virtual scavenger hunts often ask players to collect random items, treasure hunts require participants to locate clues that lead to other prompts and hints. The game typically ends with players finding a treasure or solving a mystery, sometimes both.

The treasure hunt can have a specific theme such as secret agent missions or a hunt for pirate treasure, or you can run a more general hunt. Teammates can either compete simultaneously via Zoom call, or can play the hunt on an app individually and compete to beat each other’s scores.

Check out our list of treasure hunt apps .

9. Poem or story challenge

Most team building problem solving activities for employees revolve around science, math, and logic. Poem/story challenges rely on writing skills and are sure to appeal to the language lovers on your team.

Each player receives a limited word bank to use to create a story or poem. Then, players have a few minutes to craft their pieces. Afterward, everyone reads out or screen shares their creations.

Here are a few word challenge activities you can do remotely:

• Found poems or stories : Participants make poems or stories out of words they find by visiting websites, searching emails, glancing out the window, or taking a walk or drive around the neighborhood.
• Random word generators : Teammates use a random word generator to populate a word bank, and must use each word in the poem or story.
• Poetry magnets : Group members make poems using poetry magnets. You can send poetry magnet sets to employees and assemble the verses on a cookie pan during a Zoom call. Or, teammates can play with poetry magnets online .
• Page poems: Participants receive one page of a book or magazine, and must make a poem or story by blocking out other words so only the chosen text remains visible. This activity is part storytelling, part art, since story crafters can illustrate the pages as part of the design.
• Ransom note stories or poems : Players cut out letters from magazines and must form new words to make poems and stories. Or, players can receive a mix of random letters, form words, and run the text through a ransom note generator .

These activities are suitable for teams and individual players.

10. Moral challenge

Some problems are ethical rather than factual. Moral judgment plays just as important a role in the decision-making process as technical prowess. Players can flex their moral problem-solving skills by tackling ethical dilemmas or social puzzles.

Here are some social problem solving games online:

• Moral machine
• Scruples – the game of moral dilemmas
• Morality play

To play these games, either download the apps, or pull up the website and then screen share the prompts. These games are best played when discussed as a group, because the more belief systems and opinions, the harder an issue is to resolve. These exercises provide practice for real-life conflict resolution.

You can find similar challenges on our list of online personality tests .

11. Frostbite

Frostbite is a group game that hones team leaders’ communication skills while sharpening teammates’ listening and cooperation skills. The premise behind the game is that a group of explorers gets caught in a snowstorm and must build a shelter. Frostbite has paralyzed the leaders’ hands and snow-blinded the rest of the team. The leader must give the team instructions to build a tent that can resist arctic winds.

To play Frostbite, each teammate wears a blindfold. Then, the leader gives directions. Once the structures are complete, players turn on a fan to test whether tents can withstand the wind.

Frostbite is usually an in-person game, however you can also play virtually. In the remote version of the game, teammates construct tents out of cards and tape, while the leader surveys the scene on screen.

This exercise demonstrates the challenges of leading remotely, as teams need to operate with minimal oversight or supervisor observation. Therefore, instructions need to be clear and direct to be effective.

Check out more team building games .

12. Virtual Hackathons

Hackathons are events where participants have a set amount of time to design and pitch a new product or solution. This type of event originated in the programming world and is often used to create new apps, however you can apply the game to any industry or school subject.

Virtual hackathons are online versions of the event. Teams enter the competition, then work with each other via virtual meeting software or remote work communication platforms to design the solution. At the end of the competition, teams pitch ideas to a panel of judges and a winner is decided.

To run a virtual hackathon, first announce the theme of the event and collect sign-ups. So that no teams work ahead, hint at the general idea of the issue, and only explain the precise problem when the event begins. Then, give teams anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete the project.

Discover more virtual hackathon ideas .

13. Improv games

Improv games are excellent problem solving activities. These exercises force participants to think and respond quickly to keep scenes moving in a logical and entertaining way.

Here are some good problem solving improv games:

Banned words : Performers cannot say certain words. Scene partners will conceive of situations that encourage the actors to use those words, and the actors must find alternatives, such as using synonyms or taking the scene in a new direction.

Scenes from a chat : Audience gives a suggestion for a scene, and players act the scene out. Though it’s a fictional and often ridiculous scenario, actors must react to the situation and solve the problem in order for the scene to end.

Miracle cure : Miracle cure is a quick-moving exercise that follows a simple format. One player declares, “I have a problem.” Another player responds, “I have a….[random object.]” The first player then replies, “great! I can use the [random object] to….” and describes how they will solve the problem.

Check out more problem-solving improv games .

14. Spaghetti Tower

The spaghetti tower is a classic team building game. Participants gather uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows, and must construct the tallest freestanding tower.

During the in-person version, players must construct one tall freestanding tower. However, for the virtual version of the game, players construct individual towers. You can send groups to breakout rooms for the build, then reconvene in the main room for judging. Teams are judged on three main factors: number of towers, height, and uniformity.

This version of the game not only tests the structural integrity of the tower, but also consistency and quality control. This exercise teaches teams to align and collaborate remotely, and produce a consistent product even when far apart.

15. What Would You Do?

What Would You Do? is a simple situational game that challenges participants to react to different circumstances. To play this game, read prompts one by one, and then ask participants to respond with gameplans. You can use the polling or raise hand feature to vote for the best option.

Here are some problem solving scenarios for adults or kids to use in the game:

• Zombies attack and you have to find a place to hide.
• You are at the zoo and the animals escape. Which one do you try to corral back into the pen first?
• After waiting in line for hours, someone cuts in front of you last minute. The person appears to be visually and hearing impaired, and doesn’t notice your protests. An official announces that due to diminishing supply, this individual will be the last in line to be served.
• You are eating a meal with important clients and/or your partner’s parents, and you want to impress. The individuals make you a dish that does not fit within your dietary restrictions, but you do not speak the same language and cannot explain why you do not want to eat.
• An imposter has infiltrated the organization, who looks, speaks, and behaves exactly like you. How do you convince your peers that you are the original?

For similar dilemmas, check out this list of Would You Rather? questions.

16. Desert Island Survival

Desert Island Survival is a game that challenges players to prioritize. The premise is that players have been stranded on an island, and must decide what order to perform survival steps.

Here are the possible actions:

• Set up shelter
• Explore the island
• Try to signal for help
• Make weapons for self-defense
• Build a raft to escape the island
• Start a fire
• Choose a group leader
• Search for other survivors

All group members must agree on the order of the steps. Players should explain the reasoning for the order of each step while ranking the actions.

Another version of the game involves players receiving a list of 15 to 20 items, and selecting five or so to bring to the island. You can also vary the location of the game, substituting remote islands for destinations like outer space or the distant past.

17. Choose Your Own Adventure

Choose Your Own Adventure stories enable readers to determine the outcome of the story by making decisions. Each action has a consequence that takes the tale in a different direction. Participants can try to guess how the story may unfold by talking through the different choices. When completing the activity in a group setting, the majority of the team must agree on an action before moving forward in the story.

There are a few ways to facilitate these activities online:

• Play an online role playing video game
• Watch an interactive movie like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
• Read from a Choose Your Own Adventure book on Zoom
• Click through a Choose Your Own Adventure platform
• Create your own story using a Google Form

Whichever way you choose to do the exercise, you can use the screen share feature in your virtual meeting software so that listeners can more easily follow along.

18. MacGyver

MacGyver is a show where the hero escapes sticky situations by improvising tools out of unlikely materials. For example, in one episode the hero makes a telescope out of a newspaper, magnifying lens, and a watch crystal.

To play MacGyver, you can either list three to five objects participants can use, or challenge players to use items that are within arms reach.

Simply state a desired end result, such as “a way to open a locked door,” or “a getaway vehicle,” and then ask teams to explain what they will build and how they will build it. To make the activity more collaborative, you can give teams five or ten minutes in breakout rooms to strategize and design a prototype.

19. Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a roleplaying game where players pretend to be magical figures and creatures. One player serves as the dungeon master, who guides the game, while the other players pick characters and make decisions to move the story forward. Upon choosing a course of action, players roll a twenty-sided die to determine whether or not the plan succeeds. The game is story-based, the possibilities are nearly limitless, and truly creative problem solving options arise. Also, since gameplay is mostly verbal, Dungeons & Dragons is an easy activity to do over Zoom.

Here are the basic rules for Dungeons & Dragons .

20. Pandemic

Pandemic is a game that pits players against the forces of nature in a race to contain and control disease outbreaks. At the beginning of the game, each player receives a role such as containment specialist or operations expert. Participants must carry out the duties of their roles by choosing appropriate actions. Pandemic is a great game for groups because each team member has a clear part to play, and players must collaborate and work together instead of competing against each other.

To play the game online, you can use a Pandemic game app , or talk through the exercise while one attendee moves and displays pieces on the board.

Note: The subject of this game might hit too close to home for some players, considering recent history. You can find games with similar mechanics that deal with different subject matter, such as Forbidden Island.

Check out more team building board games .

21. Model UN

Model UN is one of the best virtual problem solving activities for students. This exercise casts participants in the role of international diplomats who must negotiate to solve realistic problems. Each player assumes the role of a country ambassador and must form alliances and propose solutions to solve crises.

Here are some sample Model UN scenarios:

• Human rights violation by powerful country
• Food shortage
• Disease epidemic
• Technology privacy violations
• Civil war branching into surrounding countries
• Natural disasters

Depending on the size of the group, participants either take on the part of an entire government of a country, or play a certain role within the government. To carry out the activity on Zoom, players can take turns giving speeches, message other countries privately via the chat, meet in breakout rooms to form alliances or have more intimate discussions, and use the polling feature to vote on propositions.

If politics does not resonate with your group, then you can alter the exercise by applying the same activity structure to a different theme, such as the Justice League, movie characters, business board members, or reality TV stars.

The main purpose of the exercise is to research, talk through problems, and compromise. As long as these elements are present, then the specifics of the setup do not matter.

There are many types of problem solving activities for adults. You can do online problem solving games, which require a different skill set than in-person problem solving. For instance, communication must be much clearer and more abundant when group members are far apart and unable to demonstrate or pick up physical cues.

Though many problem solving games include props and in-person elements, there are many games you can play together online. These exercises work well as educational tools as well as team bonding accelerators. Upon completion, participants are likely to feel a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence. These games are also great practice for real life conflict resolution, creative thinking and team building.

Next check out this list of connection games , this collection of crime-solving games , and this post with conflict resolution games .

We also have a list of the best decision making books and a list of team building problems for work .

Book wildly fun team building events with expert hosts

FAQ: Problem solving activities

Here are common answers to questions about group problem solving activities.

What are problem solving games?

Problem solving games are challenges that ask players to think critically and use logic to overcome issues or answer riddles. Examples include sudoku, murder mysteries, and spaghetti towers. These games are also known as “problem solving exercises”, “problem and solution games” and “group problem solving activities.”

What are the best problem solving games for groups?

The best problem solving games for groups include online escape rooms, moral challenges, and improv games.

What are some good problem solving team building activities for students?

Some good problem solving activities for students include crossword puzzles, choose your own adventure stories, and model UN.

How do you play problem solving games online?

The best way to play problem solving games online is to join a video call meeting to talk through the issue. Using the screen sharing and digital whiteboard features helps participants visualize the problem more clearly. Breakout rooms give teams the chance to discuss the issue more intimately.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Team building content expert. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

We lead wildly fun experiences for teams with 1,000,000+ players to date.

4.96 / 5.0 rating on

50,225 Google Reviews

• Home   |  
• About   |  
• Contact Us   |  
• Privacy   |  
• Newsletter   |  
• Shop   |  
• 🔍 Search Site
• Easter Color By Number Sheets
• Printable Easter Dot to Dot
• Easter Worksheets for kids
• Kindergarten
• All Generated Sheets
• Place Value Generated Sheets
• Addition Generated Sheets
• Subtraction Generated Sheets
• Multiplication Generated Sheets
• Division Generated Sheets
• Money Generated Sheets
• Negative Numbers Generated Sheets
• Fraction Generated Sheets
• Place Value Zones
• Number Bonds
• Addition & Subtraction
• Times Tables
• Fraction & Percent Zones
• All Calculators
• Fraction Calculators
• Percent calculators
• Area & Volume Calculators
• Age Calculator
• Height Calculator
• Roman Numeral Calculator
• Coloring Pages
• Fun Math Sheets
• Math Puzzles
• Mental Math Sheets
• Online Times Tables
• Online Addition & Subtraction
• Math Grab Packs
• All Math Quizzes
• 1st Grade Quizzes
• 2nd Grade Quizzes
• 3rd Grade Quizzes
• 4th Grade Quizzes
• 5th Grade Quizzes
• 6th Grade Math Quizzes
• Place Value
• Rounding Numbers
• Comparing Numbers
• Number Lines
• Prime Numbers
• Negative Numbers
• Roman Numerals
• Subtraction
• Add & Subtract
• Multiplication
• Fraction Worksheets
• Learning Fractions
• Fraction Printables
• Percent Worksheets & Help
• All Geometry
• 2d Shapes Worksheets
• 3d Shapes Worksheets
• Shape Properties
• Geometry Cheat Sheets
• Printable Shapes
• Coordinates
• Measurement
• Math Conversion
• Statistics Worksheets
• Bar Graph Worksheets
• Venn Diagrams
• All Word Problems
• Finding all possibilities
• Logic Problems
• Ratio Word Problems
• All UK Maths Sheets
• Year 1 Maths Worksheets
• Year 2 Maths Worksheets
• Year 3 Maths Worksheets
• Year 4 Maths Worksheets
• Year 5 Maths Worksheets
• Year 6 Maths Worksheets
• All AU Maths Sheets
• Kindergarten Maths Australia
• Year 1 Maths Australia
• Year 2 Maths Australia
• Year 3 Maths Australia
• Year 4 Maths Australia
• Year 5 Maths Australia
• Meet the Sallies
• Certificates

Fun Math Worksheets Hub Page

Welcome to the Math Salamanders' Fun Math Worksheets.

There are lots of fun things you can do with math, from doing math coloring sheets to solving puzzles and playing games!

Here you will find a range of different math coloring sheets, math puzzle worksheets and other fun math activities to help you learn to apply your math facts to solve a range of puzzles and problems.

For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript.

Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser .

• This page contains links to other Math webpages where you will find a range of activities and resources.
• If you can't find what you are looking for, try searching the site using the Google search box at the top of each page.

Fun Math Worksheets

Looking for some interesting and fun worksheets to try?

Looking for some fun math challenges to solve?

Look no further! The pages you need are below!

Here is our selection of fun math worksheets from kindergarten to 5th grade.

Each worksheet comes complete with instructions and answers where applicable.

Included in this page are links to a range of math activities from 1st grade to 5th grade.

Fun Math Puzzles

One way to test understanding and challenge learning is to use math puzzles. The puzzles below will test children's learning in a different sort of context, developing problem solving and thinking skills along the way.

If children can apply their knowledge to solve puzzles, then they have really understood the concepts.

Using puzzles is also a much more fun way of exploring the world of math!

• Math Puzzles Printable
• Math Tricks

Using Math tricks can engage and stimulate students in a way which worksheets often cannot.

On this page are a selection of number tricks, geometry tricks and other tricks that you can use to amaze your class, or give your child something to show off to his or her friends.

All the tricks come in a printer friendly format so that you can print them out and use them later.

Fun Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication & Division Sheets

Fun addition & subtraction worksheets.

Here is a selection of fun addition worksheets for your child to enjoy.

You will find a range of addition sheets from coloring sheets to code-breaking sheets to help your child learn their adding facts.

Using these fun math worksheets will help to develop and consolidate your child's addition and subtraction fact recall.

• Addition Subtraction to 10 Coloring Sheets
• First Grade Addition and Subtraction to 12

Fun Multiplication & Division Worksheets

Here is our selection of fun multiplication worksheets up to 10x10.

You will find a range of different multiplication and division sheets from coloring sheets to code-breaking sheets to help your child learn their times table facts.

Using these fun math worksheets will support your child with learning their multiplication table and corresponding division facts.

• Multiplication to 5x5 sheets
• Fun Multiplication Worksheets to 10x10
• Printable Times Tables - 2 Times Table sheets
• Printable Times Tables - 3 Times Table sheets
• Times Tables for kids - 4 Times Table sheets
• Times Table Math - 5 Times Table sheets
• Times Table Worksheets - 6 Times Tables
• Free Times Table - 7 Times Table sheets
• Learning Times Tables - 8 Times Table
• Maths Times Tables - 9 Times Table
• Practice Times Tables 10 Times Table
• 11 Times Tables Worksheets
• 12 Times Tables Worksheets

Other Fun Math Activities

• Fun Calculator Activities

Here you will find a range of fun calculator activities to help your child get to grips and understand a range of mathematical concepts.

Calculators tend to be an underused and undervalued resource when teaching children about maths. The activities below will help children explore and understand mathematical concepts and enrich the learning for your child.

Fun Math Riddles

Here you will find a range of fun math riddles that will entertain and occupy your child.

Each riddle is a mathematical problem that will hopefully prove both stimulating and interesting. Using riddles is a really good way to explore mathematical ideas and concepts in a fun way!

There are riddle pages available for both numbers and geometry.

Using these riddles will help your child to:

• develop their understanding of place value and geometry;
• develop their understanding of mathematical language;
• solve problems and use their reasoning skills.
• Place Value Riddles
• Geometry Worksheets (Riddles)

Magic Square Puzzles to solve

We have a range of magic square puzzles for kids to solve, suitable from 1st grade and upwards.

Most of the sheets involve finding the missing numbers to create a magic square.

Our magic square sheets include:

• Addition and subtraction of integers;
• Addition and subtraction of fractions;
• Using negative numbers;
• Using decimals.
• Magic Square Worksheets

Seasonal Math Puzzles and Challenges

We have created quite a few different fun math worksheets with a seasonal theme for events such as Halloween, Easter and Christmas.

There are a range of fun puzzles, challenges and wordsearch activities to do.

• Fun Halloween Math Worksheets - Puzzles & Challenges
• Christmas Maths Worksheets (Easy)
• Christmas Math Worksheets (Intermediate)
• Christmas Math Challenges (Harder)

How to Print or Save these sheets 🖶

Need help with printing or saving? Follow these 3 steps to get your worksheets printed perfectly!

• How to Print support

Subscribe to Math Salamanders News

Sign up for our newsletter and get free math support delivered to your inbox each month. Free seasonal math grab pack included.

• Newsletter Signup

Return from Fun Math Worksheets to Math Salamanders Home Page

Math-Salamanders.com

The Math Salamanders hope you enjoy using these free printable Math worksheets and all our other Math games and resources.

We welcome any comments about our site or worksheets on the Facebook comments box at the bottom of every page.

New! Comments

TOP OF PAGE

© 2010-2024 Math Salamanders Limited. All Rights Reserved.

• Privacy Policy
• Copyright Policy

How it works

For Business

Join Mind Tools

Article • 0 min read

Team Building Exercises – Problem Solving and Decision Making

Fun ways to turn problems into opportunities.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Whether there's a complex project looming or your team members just want to get better at dealing with day-to-day issues, your people can achieve much more when they solve problems and make decisions together.

By developing their problem-solving skills, you can improve their ability to get to the bottom of complex situations. And by refining their decision-making skills, you can help them work together maturely, use different thinking styles, and commit collectively to decisions.

In this article, we'll look at three team-building exercises that you can use to improve problem solving and decision making in a new or established team.

Exercises to Build Decision-Making and Problem-Solving Skills

Use the following exercises to help your team members solve problems and make decisions together more effectively.

Exercise 1: Lost at Sea*

In this activity, participants must pretend that they've been shipwrecked and are stranded in a lifeboat. Each team has a box of matches, and a number of items that they've salvaged from the sinking ship. Members must agree which items are most important for their survival.

Download and print our team-building exercises worksheet to help you with this exercise.

This activity builds problem-solving skills as team members analyze information, negotiate and cooperate with one another. It also encourages them to listen and to think about the way they make decisions.

What You'll Need

• Up to five people in each group.
• A large, private room.
• A "lost at sea" ranking chart for each team member. This should comprise six columns. The first simply lists each item (see below). The second is empty so that each team member can rank the items. The third is for group rankings. The fourth is for the "correct" rankings, which are revealed at the end of the exercise. And the fifth and sixth are for the team to enter the difference between their individual and correct score, and the team and correct rankings, respectively.
• The items to be ranked are: a mosquito net, a can of petrol, a water container, a shaving mirror, a sextant, emergency rations, a sea chart, a floating seat or cushion, a rope, some chocolate bars, a waterproof sheet, a fishing rod, shark repellent, a bottle of rum, and a VHF radio. These can be listed in the ranking chart or displayed on a whiteboard, or both.
• The experience can be made more fun by having some lost-at-sea props in the room.

Flexible, but normally between 25 and 40 minutes.

Instructions

• Divide participants into their teams, and provide everyone with a ranking sheet.
• Ask team members to take 10 minutes on their own to rank the items in order of importance. They should do this in the second column of their sheet.
• Give the teams a further 10 minutes to confer and decide on their group rankings. Once agreed, they should list them in the third column of their sheets.
• Ask each group to compare their individual rankings with their collective ones, and consider why any scores differ. Did anyone change their mind about their own rankings during the team discussions? How much were people influenced by the group conversation?
• Now read out the "correct" order, collated by the experts at the US Coast Guard (from most to least important): - Shaving mirror. (One of your most powerful tools, because you can use it to signal your location by reflecting the sun.) - Can of petrol. (Again, potentially vital for signaling as petrol floats on water and can be lit by your matches.) - Water container. (Essential for collecting water to restore your lost fluids.) -Emergency rations. (Valuable for basic food intake.) - Plastic sheet. (Could be used for shelter, or to collect rainwater.) -Chocolate bars. (A handy food supply.) - Fishing rod. (Potentially useful, but there is no guarantee that you're able to catch fish. Could also feasibly double as a tent pole.) - Rope. (Handy for tying equipment together, but not necessarily vital for survival.) - Floating seat or cushion. (Useful as a life preserver.) - Shark repellent. (Potentially important when in the water.) - Bottle of rum. (Could be useful as an antiseptic for treating injuries, but will only dehydrate you if you drink it.) - Radio. (Chances are that you're out of range of any signal, anyway.) - Sea chart. (Worthless without navigational equipment.) - Mosquito net. (Assuming that you've been shipwrecked in the Atlantic, where there are no mosquitoes, this is pretty much useless.) - Sextant. (Impractical without relevant tables or a chronometer.)

Advice for the Facilitator

The ideal scenario is for teams to arrive at a consensus decision where everyone's opinion is heard. However, that doesn't always happen naturally: assertive people tend to get the most attention. Less forthright team members can often feel intimidated and don't always speak up, particularly when their ideas are different from the popular view. Where discussions are one-sided, draw quieter people in so that everyone is involved, but explain why you're doing this, so that people learn from it.

You can use the Stepladder Technique when team discussion is unbalanced. Here, ask each team member to think about the problem individually and, one at a time, introduce new ideas to an appointed group leader – without knowing what ideas have already been discussed. After the first two people present their ideas, they discuss them together. Then the leader adds a third person, who presents his or her ideas before hearing the previous input. This cycle of presentation and discussion continues until the whole team has had a chance to voice their opinions.

After everyone has finished the exercise, invite your teams to evaluate the process to draw out their experiences. For example, ask them what the main differences between individual, team and official rankings were, and why. This will provoke discussion about how teams arrive at decisions, which will make people think about the skills they must use in future team scenarios, such as listening , negotiating and decision-making skills, as well as creativity skills for thinking "outside the box."

A common issue that arises in team decision making is groupthink . This can happen when a group places a desire for mutual harmony above a desire to reach the right decision, which prevents people from fully exploring alternative solutions.

If there are frequent unanimous decisions in any of your exercises, groupthink may be an issue. Suggest that teams investigate new ways to encourage members to discuss their views, or to share them anonymously.

Exercise 2: The Great Egg Drop*

In this classic (though sometimes messy!) game, teams must work together to build a container to protect an egg, which is dropped from a height. Before the egg drop, groups must deliver presentations on their solutions, how they arrived at them, and why they believe they will succeed.

This fun game develops problem-solving and decision-making skills. Team members have to choose the best course of action through negotiation and creative thinking.

• Ideally at least six people in each team.
• Raw eggs – one for each group, plus some reserves in case of accidents!
• Materials for creating the packaging, such as cardboard, tape, elastic bands, plastic bottles, plastic bags, straws, and scissors.
• Aprons to protect clothes, paper towels for cleaning up, and paper table cloths, if necessary.
• Somewhere – ideally outside – that you can drop the eggs from. (If there is nowhere appropriate, you could use a step ladder or equivalent.)
• Around 15 to 30 minutes to create the packages.
• Approximately 15 minutes to prepare a one-minute presentation.
• Enough time for the presentations and feedback (this will depend on the number of teams).
• Time to demonstrate the egg "flight."
• Put people into teams, and ask each to build a package that can protect an egg dropped from a specified height (say, two-and-a-half meters) with the provided materials.
• Each team must agree on a nominated speaker, or speakers, for their presentation.
• Once all teams have presented, they must drop their eggs, assess whether the eggs have survived intact, and discuss what they have learned.

When teams are making their decisions, the more good options they consider, the more effective their final decision is likely to be. Encourage your groups to look at the situation from different angles, so that they make the best decision possible. If people are struggling, get them to brainstorm – this is probably the most popular method of generating ideas within a team.

Ask the teams to explore how they arrived at their decisions, to get them thinking about how to improve this process in the future. You can ask them questions such as:

• Did the groups take a vote, or were members swayed by one dominant individual?
• How did the teams decide to divide up responsibilities? Was it based on people's expertise or experience?
• Did everyone do the job they volunteered for?
• Was there a person who assumed the role of "leader"?
• How did team members create and deliver the presentation, and was this an individual or group effort?

Exercise 3: Create Your Own*

In this exercise, teams must create their own, brand new, problem-solving activity.

This game encourages participants to think about the problem-solving process. It builds skills such as creativity, negotiation and decision making, as well as communication and time management. After the activity, teams should be better equipped to work together, and to think on their feet.

• Ideally four or five people in each team.
• Paper, pens and flip charts.

Around one hour.

• As the participants arrive, you announce that, rather than spending an hour on a problem-solving team-building activity, they must design an original one of their own.
• Divide participants into teams and tell them that they have to create a new problem-solving team-building activity that will work well in their organization. The activity must not be one that they have already participated in or heard of.
• After an hour, each team must present their new activity to everyone else, and outline its key benefits.

There are four basic steps in problem solving : defining the problem, generating solutions, evaluating and selecting solutions, and implementing solutions. Help your team to think creatively at each stage by getting them to consider a wide range of options. If ideas run dry, introduce an alternative brainstorming technique, such as brainwriting . This allows your people to develop one others' ideas, while everyone has an equal chance to contribute.

After the presentations, encourage teams to discuss the different decision-making processes they followed. You might ask them how they communicated and managed their time . Another question could be about how they kept their discussion focused. And to round up, you might ask them whether they would have changed their approach after hearing the other teams' presentations.

Successful decision making and problem solving are at the heart of all effective teams. While teams are ultimately led by their managers, the most effective ones foster these skills at all levels.

The exercises in this article show how you can encourage teams to develop their creative thinking, leadership , and communication skills , while building group cooperation and consensus.

* Original source unknown. Please let us know if you know the original source.

You've accessed 1 of your 2 free resources.

Get unlimited access

Discover more content

Pdca (plan do check act).

Continually Improving, in a Methodical Way

The Plan-Do-Check-Act Process

How to Minimize Risk

Add comment

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment!

Team Management

Learn the key aspects of managing a team, from building and developing your team, to working with different types of teams, and troubleshooting common problems.

Sign-up to our newsletter

Subscribing to the Mind Tools newsletter will keep you up-to-date with our latest updates and newest resources.

Subscribe now

Business Skills

Personal Development

Leadership and Management

Member Extras

Most Popular

Newest Releases

SWOT Analysis

How to Build a Strong Culture in a Distributed Team

Mind Tools Store

About Mind Tools Content

Discover something new today

Top tips for delegating.

Delegate work to your team members effectively with these top tips

Ten Dos and Don'ts of Change Conversations

Tips for tackling discussions about change

How Emotionally Intelligent Are You?

Boosting Your People Skills

Self-Assessment

What's Your Leadership Style?

Learn About the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Way You Like to Lead

Recommended for you

Understanding beliefs and bias in decision-making.

Our Beliefs Shape Us This Article Looks at Our They Help and Hinder Us In Life

Business Operations and Process Management

Strategy Tools

Customer Service

Business Ethics and Values

Handling Information and Data

Project Management

Knowledge Management

Self-Development and Goal Setting

Time Management

Presentation Skills

Learning Skills

Career Skills

Communication Skills

Negotiation, Persuasion and Influence

Working With Others

Difficult Conversations

Creativity Tools

Self-Management

Work-Life Balance

Stress Management and Wellbeing

Coaching and Mentoring

Change Management

Managing Conflict

Delegation and Empowerment

Performance Management

Leadership Skills

Developing Your Team

Talent Management

Problem Solving

Decision Making

Member Podcast

• Administrator
• Teacher How To's
• How It works
• All Worksheets
• Math Worksheets
• ELA Worksheets

Multi-step Word Problems Worksheets for Kids

Browse interactive multi-step word problems worksheets for kids online and make your child's practice sessions fun and exciting. These multi-step word problems worksheets engage children's cognitive processes and help enhance their creativity and memory retention skills. Get started now to make learning interesting for your child!

CONTENT TYPE

• Lesson Plans
• Math (5,964)
• Number Sense (1,078)
• Number Recognition (450)
• Number Recognition Within 3 (73)
• Number Recognition Within 5 (52)
• Number Recognition Within 10 (115)
• Number Recognition Within 20 (210)
• Number Sequence (34)
• Number Sequence Within 3 (1)
• Number Sequence Within 5 (1)
• Number Sequence Within 10 (10)
• Number Sequence Within 20 (10)
• Number Sequence Within 50 (1)
• Number Sequence Within 100 (1)
• Number Sequence Within 120 (1)
• Backward Sequence from 20 (10)
• Counting (215)
• Counting Objects Within 3 (10)
• Counting Objects Within 5 (23)
• Counting Objects Within 10 (37)
• Counting Objects Within 20 (10)
• Writing Numbers (450)
• Writing Numbers Within 3 (70)
• Writing Numbers Within 5 (60)
• Writing Numbers Within 10 (120)
• Writing Numbers Within 20 (200)
• Number Representation (82)
• Represent Numbers Using Place Value Blocks (10)
• Compare and Order Numbers (141)
• Compare Numbers (121)
• Compare Numbers within 10 (29)
• Compare Objects within 10 (10)
• Compare Without Visual Support (10)
• Compare Numbers within 20 (31)
• Compare Numbers Using Place Value Blocks (10)
• Compare Numbers Without Visual Support (10)
• Compare Numbers within 100 (40)
• Use Place Value Blocks to Compare Numbers (10)
• Compare Two 2-Digit Numbers (10)
• Compare 3-Digit Numbers (10)
• Compare Multi-Digit Numbers (10)
• Order Numbers (21)
• Order 3-Digit Numbers (10)
• Order Multi-Digit Numbers (11)
• Skip Counting (13)
• Skip Count by 2 (1)
• Skip Count by 5 (1)
• Skip Count by 10 (10)
• Skip Count by 100 (1)
• Even and Odd Numbers (24)
• Place Value (213)
• Read and Write Numbers (84)
• Numbers up to 10 (50)
• Numbers up to 100 (10)
• Place Value Chart (13)
• 3-Digit Numbers on Place Value Chart (12)
• Round Numbers (31)
• Round Numbers to the Nearest 10 (10)
• Round Numbers to the Nearest 100 (10)
• Addition (990)
• Embedded Numbers (10)
• Addition Sentences (54)
• Addition Sentence within 5 (15)
• Addition Sentence within 10 (39)
• Add with Pictures (33)
• Add with Pictures within 5 (22)
• Add with Pictures within 10 (11)
• Model Addition (235)
• Addition Properties (10)
• Commutative Property of Addition (10)
• Add Using Models (10)
• Addition Strategies (358)
• Addition Strategies within 10 (232)
• Count All to Add (11)
• Count All to add within 10 (11)
• Count On to Add Strategy (25)
• Add using number line (10)
• Compose and Decompose Numbers (195)
• Number Bonds (180)
• Addition Strategies within 20 (71)
• Anchor 5 and 10 (12)
• Count On Strategy (14)
• Add with 10 (10)
• Make 10 Strategy (12)
• Doubles and Near Doubles Strategy to Add (16)
• Doubles Facts (10)
• Add Three Whole Numbers (11)
• Addition Strategies within 100 (31)
• Add using multiples of 10 (19)
• Addition Strategies within 1000 (25)
• Add using multiples of 100 (18)
• Addition Facts (154)
• Fluently Add within 5 (16)
• Fluently Add within 10 (45)
• Fluently Add within 20 (100)
• Equal Expressions (30)
• Addition Without Regrouping (171)
• Add within 100 without Regrouping (61)
• Add 2-digit number to 1-digit (12)
• Add 2-digit number to 2-digit (48)
• Add within 1000 without Regrouping (82)
• Add 10 to 3-digit numbers (10)
• Add 100 to 3-digit numbers (11)
• Add 3-digit number to 1-digit (10)
• Add 3-digit number to 2-digit (18)
• Add two 3-digit numbers (38)
• Add within 10000 without Regrouping (28)
• Addition With Regrouping (107)
• Add within 100 with Regrouping (41)
• Regroup and add 2-digit number to 1-digit (12)
• Regroup and add 2-digit numbers (12)
• Add within 1000 with Regrouping (38)
• Regroup ones and add (10)
• Regroup ones and tens and add (10)
• Add within 10000 with Regrouping (28)
• Multi-digit Addition (98)
• Addition within 100000 (48)
• Addition within 1000000 (48)
• Subtraction (705)
• Subtraction Sentences (42)
• Subtraction Sentences within 5 (14)
• Subtraction Sentences within 10 (27)
• Subtract with Pictures (36)
• Subtract with Pictures within 5 (25)
• Subtract with Pictures within 10 (11)
• Model Subtraction (49)
• Subtract using Models (10)
• Subtraction Strategies (134)
• Subtraction Strategies within 10 (21)
• Count Back Strategy within 10 (20)
• Subtraction Strategies within 20 (62)
• Count Back Strategy within 20 (34)
• Subtract using number line (10)
• Relate Addition and Subtraction within 20 (10)
• Doubles and Near Doubles Strategy to Subtract (1)
• Subtract from 10 Strategy (10)
• Subtraction Strategies within 100 (33)
• Subtract using multiples of 10 (20)
• Subtraction Strategies within 1000 (18)
• Subtract using multiples of 100 (11)
• Subtraction Facts (146)
• Fluently Subtract within 5 (17)
• Fluently Subtract within 10 (44)
• Fluently Subtract within 20 (96)
• Equal Expressions in Subtraction (28)
• Subtraction Without Regrouping (156)
• Subtract within 100 without Regrouping (63)
• Subtract Multiples of 10 (14)
• Subtract within 1000 without Regrouping (65)
• Subtract within 10000 without Regrouping (28)
• Subtraction With Regrouping (98)
• Subtract within 100 with Regrouping (41)
• Subtract within 1000 with Regrouping (29)
• Subtract across Zeros (1)
• Subtract within 10000 with Regrouping (28)
• Multi-digit Subtraction (98)
• Subtraction within 100000 (48)
• Subtraction within 1000000 (48)
• Multiplication (471)
• Arrays (12)
• Equal Groups (14)
• Multiplication Sentences (46)
• Repeated Addition to Multiply (10)
• Multiplication on Number Line (1)
• Multi-digit Multiplication (123)
• Multiply 2-digit by 1-digit Numbers (26)
• Multiply 2-digit by 2-digit numbers (43)
• Multiply 3-digit by 1-digit Numbers (11)
• Multiply 3-digit by 2-digit numbers (21)
• Multiply 4-digit by 1-digit Numbers (10)
• Multiplication Properties (93)
• Associative Property (10)
• Commutative Property (10)
• Distributive Property (58)
• Multiply by 0 and 1 (10)
• Estimate Products (10)
• Multiply by multiples of 10 (23)
• Times Tables (121)
• Multiplication Facts (108)
• Multiplication Facts of 2 (10)
• Multiplication Facts of 3 (10)
• Multiplication Facts of 4 (10)
• Multiplication Facts of 5 (10)
• Multiplication Facts of 6 (10)
• Multiplication Facts of 7 (10)
• Multiplication Facts of 8 (10)
• Multiplication Facts of 9 (10)
• Multiplication Facts of 10 (12)
• Multiply by 11 (10)
• Multiply by 12 (10)
• Division (274)
• Division Facts (95)
• Division Facts of 2 (10)
• Division Facts of 3 (12)
• Division Facts of 4 (12)
• Division Facts of 5 (10)
• Division Facts of 6 (13)
• Division Facts of 7 (10)
• Division Facts of 8 (11)
• Division Facts of 9 (10)
• Division Facts of 10 (11)
• Divide on a Number Line (10)
• Long Division (79)
• Divide 2-digit by 1-digit Numbers (10)
• Divide 3-digit by 1-digit Numbers (10)
• Divide 4-digit by 1-digit Numbers (10)
• Divide Multiples of 10 or 100 (12)
• Estimate Quotients (26)
• Fractions (436)
• Identify Fractions (26)
• Identify fractions using models (10)
• Identify fractions on the number line (11)
• Represent Fractions (44)
• Represent fractions on the number line (10)
• Mark fractions on the number line (10)
• Represent fractions using models (10)
• Represent fractions using real-word objects (10)
• Represent Mixed Numbers (10)
• Represent mixed numbers using models (10)
• Compare Fractions (40)
• Compare fractions using visual models (10)
• Compare fractions using number lines (10)
• Compare fractions without visual models (10)
• Benchmark Fractions (10)
• Order Fractions (20)
• Order fractions using visual models (10)
• Order fractions without visual models (10)
• Equivalent Fractions (33)
• Equivalent fractions using models (10)
• Equivalent fractions using number lines (10)
• Equivalent fractions without visual models (15)
• Identify equivalent fractions (10)
• Convert Fractions (20)
• Fractions as Mixed Numbers (10)
• Mixed Numbers as Fractions (10)
• Fractions Operations (238)
• Add and Subtract Fractions (72)
• Add Fractions (41)
• Represent Fraction Addition (9)
• Add fractions using models (12)
• Add like fractions (12)
• Add unlike fractions (10)
• Estimate fraction sums (10)
• Subtract Fractions (29)
• Represent Fraction Subtraction (9)
• Subtract fractions using models (9)
• Subtract like fractions (12)
• Subtract unlike fractions (10)
• Add and Subtract mixed numbers (67)
• Add mixed numbers (33)
• Add mixed numbers using models (10)
• Add a mixed number to a fraction (12)
• Add two mixed numbers (11)
• Subtract mixed numbers (34)
• Subtract mixed numbers using models (10)
• Subtract a fraction from a mixed number (14)
• Subtract two mixed numbers (10)
• Multiply Fractions (96)
• Multiply fractions by whole numbers (14)
• Multiply fractions by whole numbers without models (10)
• Multiply two fractions (20)
• Multiply fractions using models (10)
• Multiply fractions without models (10)
• Multiply mixed numbers (32)
• Multiply mixed numbers by whole numbers (10)
• Multiply mixed numbers by fractions (10)
• Multiply two mixed numbers (10)
• Fraction multiplication as scaling (10)
• Divide fractions (2)
• Divide fractions by whole numbers (1)
• Divide fractions by whole numbers without models (1)
• Divide whole numbers by fractions (1)
• Divide whole numbers by fractions without models (1)
• Decimals (1,579)
• Represent Decimals (20)
• Represent Decimals Using Models (10)
• Represent Decimals on Number Lines (10)
• Read and Write Decimals (31)
• Decimals Expanded Form (20)
• Compose Decimals (10)
• Decompose Decimals (10)
• Decimals Standard Form (11)
• Decimals Word Form (10)
• Decimal Place Value (14)
• Digits at the given decimal place (10)
• Place values of digits in decimals (10)
• Compare and Order Decimals (43)
• Compare decimals (31)
• Compare decimals using models (20)
• Compare using decimal grids (10)
• Compare using decimal number lines (10)
• Compare decimals using place value (10)
• Order decimals (12)
• Order decimals using place value (10)
• Round Decimals (30)
• Round decimals to the nearest whole (12)
• Round decimals to the nearest tenths (10)
• Round decimals to the nearest hundredths (10)
• Equivalent Decimals (10)
• Decimal Operations (1,420)
• Add Decimals (693)
• Add tenths and hundredths (360)
• Add decimals without regrouping (194)
• Add decimals with regrouping (188)
• Subtract Decimals (699)
• Subtract decimals without regrouping (194)
• Subtract decimals with regrouping (184)
• Multiply Decimals (224)
• Multiply decimals by powers of 10 (83)
• Multiply decimals by whole numbers (128)
• Multiply decimals by decimals (72)
• Divide Decimals (147)
• Divide decimals by powers of 10 (20)
• Divide decimals by whole numbers (41)
• Divide whole numbers by decimals (45)
• Divide decimals by decimals (41)
• Geometry (164)
• Parallel lines (2)
• Right angle (1)
• Identify right angles in 2D shapes (1)
• Measure angles (2)
• Positional Words (10)
• Sides and Corners (12)
• Corners (11)
• Shapes (108)
• 2d Shapes (86)
• Identify Quadrilaterals (13)
• Trapezoids (10)
• Identify triangles (12)
• Identify polygons (10)
• Line of symmetry in 2D shapes (1)
• Attributes of 2D shapes (13)
• Sort 2D shapes (10)
• Hierarchy of 2D shapes (1)
• Partition 2D Shapes (16)
• Partition into equal parts (16)
• Halves, Thirds, and Fourths (10)
• 3d Shapes (10)
• Flat and Solid Shapes (12)
• Match 3D Shapes (10)
• 3D Shapes in real life (10)
• Coordinate Planes (21)
• Identify Points on the Coordinate Plane (10)
• Plot on the Coordinate Plane (11)
• Measurement (107)
• Capacity (10)
• Comparing Measurements (30)
• Compare Weights (10)
• Compare Lengths (10)
• Compare Heights (10)
• Conversion of Measurement Units (10)
• Data Handling (27)
• Organize and Interpret Data (16)
• Organize data in bar graphs (1)
• Organize data in line plots (1)
• Organize data in picture graphs (1)
• Interpret data in bar graphs (1)
• Interpret data in line plots (1)
• Interpret data in picture graphs (1)
• Sort Objects (6)
• Length (15)
• Measure Lengths (13)
• Measure Lengths using the ruler (11)
• Estimate Lengths (1)
• Area of Shapes (4)
• Area of 2D Shapes (3)
• Area as Additive (1)
• Perimeter (6)
• Perimeter of Shapes (6)
• Perimeter of Regular Shapes (3)
• Perimeter of Rectangles (1)
• Perimeter of Irregular Shapes (2)
• Volume of Rectangular Prisms (3)
• Volume using unit cubes (1)
• Volume using the formula (1)
• Volume using iteration (1)
• AM and PM (10)
• Analog Clock (30)
• Hour hand (12)
• Set time (10)
• Digital Clock (9)
• Elapsed Time (1)
• Time in Half Hours (15)
• Time in Hours (13)
• Time in Quarter Hours (12)
• Time to the Nearest 5 Minutes (10)
• Time to the Nearest Minute (1)
• Identify Coins (10)
• Value of the Coins (10)
• Make Amounts (10)
• Counting Money (53)
• Compare Money (11)
• Count Money with Coins (15)
• Penny, Nickel, and Dime (10)
• Operations With Money (2)
• Multiply and Divide Money (1)
• Algebra (111)
• Patterns (21)
• Number Patterns (21)
• Extend Number Patterns (10)
• Generate Number Patterns (10)
• Relationship Between Patterns (10)
• Numerical Expressions (32)
• Interpret Numerical Expressions (10)
• Evaluate Numerical Expressions (21)
• Evaluate Exponents (10)
• Order of Operations (10)
• Factors and Multiples (44)
• Factors (30)
• Multiples (14)
• Prime and Composite Numbers (10)
• Word Problems (639)
• Addition and Subtraction Word Problems (350)
• Addition Word Problems (141)
• Addition Word Problems within 10 (23)
• Addition Word Problems within 20 (23)
• Addition Word Problems within 100 (29)
• Add to Compare Word Problems (10)
• Addition Word Problems within 1000 (18)
• Decimal Addition Word Problems (24)
• Subtraction Word Problems (98)
• Subtraction Word Problems within 10 (14)
• Subtraction Word Problems within 20 (14)
• Subtraction Word Problems within 100 (19)
• Subtract to Compare Word Problems (10)
• Subtraction Word Problems within 1000 (9)
• Decimal Subtraction Word Problems (25)
• Multiplication and Division Word Problems (173)
• Multiplication Word Problems (100)
• Decimal Multiplication Word Problems (28)
• Division Word Problems (70)
• Decimal Division Word Problems (6)
• Fraction Word Problems (31)
• Multi-step Word Problems (81)
• ELA (5,414)
• Reading (2,997)
• Phonics (2,751)
• Bossy R (12)
• Words with AR (7)
• Words with ER (5)
• Words with IR (5)
• Words with OR (4)
• Words with UR (5)
• Diphthongs (24)
• Words with OI (11)
• Words with OU (11)
• Words with OW (11)
• Words with OY (11)
• Ending Consonant Blends (68)
• CK Blend (2)
• LF Blend (10)
• LK Blend (11)
• LT Blend (10)
• MP Blend (9)
• ND Blend (10)
• NK Blend (11)
• SK Blend (9)
• ST Blend (9)
• NG Blend (3)
• Beginning Consonant Blends (80)
• L Blend Words (28)
• BL Blend (9)
• CL Blend (10)
• FL Blend (8)
• GL Blend (7)
• PL Blend (8)
• SL Blend (7)
• R Blend Words (27)
• CR Blend (9)
• FR Blend (9)
• GR Blend (8)
• PR Blend (10)
• TR Blend (9)
• SPL Blend (9)
• SQU Blend (8)
• STR Blend (8)
• Alphabet (366)
• Letter A (14)
• Letter B (18)
• Letter C (13)
• Letter D (19)
• Letter E (13)
• Letter F (14)
• Letter G (19)
• Letter H (15)
• Letter I (17)
• Letter J (17)
• Letter K (13)
• Letter L (13)
• Letter M (14)
• Letter N (16)
• Letter O (13)
• Letter P (20)
• Letter Q (18)
• Letter R (13)
• Letter S (13)
• Letter T (14)
• Letter U (13)
• Letter V (13)
• Letter W (13)
• Letter X (13)
• Letter Y (13)
• Letter Z (13)
• Letter Sequence (10)
• Letter Sounds (338)
• Letter Sound A (16)
• Letter Sound B (16)
• Letter Sound C (16)
• Letter Sound D (17)
• Letter Sound E (15)
• Letter Sound F (16)
• Letter Sound G (17)
• Letter Sound H (17)
• Letter Sound I (14)
• Letter Sound J (14)
• Letter Sound K (16)
• Letter Sound L (15)
• Letter Sound M (16)
• Letter Sound N (12)
• Letter Sound O (15)
• Letter Sound P (16)
• Letter Sound Q (12)
• Letter Sound R (16)
• Letter Sound S (16)
• Letter Sound T (16)
• Letter Sound U (12)
• Letter Sound V (13)
• Letter Sound W (15)
• Letter Sound X (11)
• Letter Sound Y (14)
• Letter Sound Z (12)
• Beginning and Ending Sounds (25)
• Letter Recognition (150)
• Matching Lowercase and Uppercase Letters (150)
• Vowels (163)
• Long Vowel Sounds (53)
• Long A Vowel Sound (13)
• Long E Vowel Sound (10)
• Long I Vowel Sound (11)
• Long O Vowel Sound (9)
• Long U Vowel Sound (12)
• Magic - E (25)
• Magic E Words with Long Vowel A (9)
• Magic E Words with Long Vowel E (6)
• Magic E Words with Long Vowel I (9)
• Magic E Words with Long Vowel O (8)
• Magic E Words with Long Vowel U (8)
• Short Vowel Sounds (70)
• Short A Vowel Sound (18)
• Short E Vowel Sound (12)
• Short I Vowel Sound (18)
• Short O Vowel Sound (11)
• Short U Vowel Sound (11)
• Vowel Teams (34)
• Words with AI and AY (10)
• Words with EA and EE (11)
• Words with IE and Y (8)
• Words with OA and OW (10)
• Words with OO (9)
• Words with UE and UI (8)
• Blending (368)
• CCVC Words (45)
• CCVCC Words (36)
• CVC Words (182)
• CVCC Words (122)
• Consonant Digraphs (31)
• Digraph CH (14)
• Digraph CK (5)
• Digraph NG (5)
• Digraph PH (9)
• Digraph SH (15)
• Digraph TH (15)
• Digraph WH (15)
• Double Consonants (35)
• FF Words (10)
• LL Words (14)
• SS Words (12)
• ZZ Words (9)
• Rhyming Words (113)
• Trigraphs (19)
• Trigraph DGE (9)
• Trigraph IGH (7)
• Trigraph SHR (8)
• Trigraph TCH (7)
• Trigraph THR (7)
• Sight Words (968)
• Syllables (8)
• Hard and Soft Sounds of C and G (2)
• Segmenting Phonemes (1)
• Adding Deleting and Substituting Phonemes (6)
• Silent Letter Words (11)
• Reading Skills (232)
• Cause and Effect (15)
• Inference (13)
• Identify the Main Idea (27)
• Prediction (8)
• Sequencing (15)
• Story Elements (20)
• Authors Purpose (9)
• Compare and Contrast (14)
• Ask and Answer Questions (6)
• Central Message (4)
• Point of View (12)
• Sensory Words (3)
• Comprehension (21)
• Character Analysis (16)
• Text Structure (9)
• Fact or Opinion (2)
• Reality and Fantasy (6)
• Using Illustrations (15)
• Using Text Features (8)
• Context Clues (13)
• Evaluating Authors Argument and Evidence (6)
• Communication Skills (14)
• Listening Skills (3)
• Speaking Skills (11)
• Writing (1,652)
• Handwriting (1,528)
• Letter Tracing (232)
• Letter Tracing A (27)
• Letter Tracing B (28)
• Letter Tracing C (27)
• Letter Tracing D (27)
• Letter Tracing E (27)
• Letter Tracing F (28)
• Letter Tracing G (27)
• Letter Tracing H (28)
• Letter Tracing I (27)
• Letter Tracing J (27)
• Letter Tracing K (27)
• Letter Tracing L (27)
• Letter Tracing M (28)
• Letter Tracing N (27)
• Letter Tracing O (27)
• Letter Tracing P (27)
• Letter Tracing Q (27)
• Letter Tracing R (27)
• Letter Tracing S (27)
• Letter Tracing T (27)
• Letter Tracing U (27)
• Letter Tracing V (27)
• Letter Tracing W (27)
• Letter Tracing X (27)
• Letter Tracing Y (27)
• Letter Tracing Z (27)
• Word Tracing (300)
• Sentence Writing (254)
• Cursive Writing (742)
• Cursive Letter A (4)
• Cursive Letter B (4)
• Cursive Letter C (4)
• Cursive Letter D (4)
• Cursive Letter E (4)
• Cursive Letter F (4)
• Cursive Letter G (4)
• Cursive Letter H (4)
• Cursive Letter I (4)
• Cursive Letter J (4)
• Cursive Letter K (4)
• Cursive Letter L (4)
• Cursive Letter M (4)
• Cursive Letter N (4)
• Cursive Letter O (4)
• Cursive Letter P (4)
• Cursive Letter Q (4)
• Cursive Letter R (4)
• Cursive Letter S (4)
• Cursive Letter T (4)
• Cursive Letter U (4)
• Cursive Letter V (4)
• Cursive Letter W (4)
• Cursive Letter X (4)
• Cursive Letter Y (4)
• Cursive Letter Z (4)
• Creative Writing (124)
• Grammar (392)
• Adverbs and Adjectives (71)
• Nouns and Pronouns (135)
• Pronouns (25)
• Parts of Speech (12)
• Prepositions and Conjunctions (36)
• Conjunctions (6)
• Prepositions (13)
• Punctuation (23)
• Sentences (27)
• Verbs and Tenses (100)
• Determiners (2)
• Article A An The (2)
• Spelling (29)
• Common Misspellings (10)
• Unscramble (16)
• Vocabulary (307)
• Abbreviations and Contractions (11)
• Affixes (17)
• Inflectional Endings (2)
• Commonly Confused Words (28)
• Compound Words (10)
• Figures of Speech (14)
• Similes and Metaphors (6)
• Alliteration (2)
• Synonyms and Antonyms (23)
• Word Puzzles (81)
• Shades of Meaning (4)
• Sorting Words into Categories (21)
• Making Connections in Reading (6)
• Flashcards (45)
• Vocabulary Flashcards (1)
• Phonics Flashcards (42)
• Grammar Flashcards (2)

Solve Two-Step Word Problems on Same Operation Worksheet

Make math practice a joyride by solving two-step word problems on the same operation.

Solve Two-Step Story Problems on Same Operation Worksheet

Assess your math skills by solving two-step story problems on the same operation.

Solving Mystery Problems on Same Operation Worksheet

Put your skills to the test by solving mystery problems on the same operation.

Model and Solve Mystery Problems on Same Operation Worksheet

Use this printable worksheet to model and solve mystery problems on the same operation.

Solve Two-Step Word Problems on Add & Subtract Worksheet

In this worksheet, learners will get to solve two-step word problems on addition & subtraction.

Solve Two-Step Story Problems on Add & Subtract Worksheet

Become a mathematician by solving two-step story problems on addition & subtraction.

Solving Mystery Problems on Add & Subtract Worksheet

Boost your math skills by solving mystery problems on addition & subtraction.

Model and Solve Mystery Problems on Add & Subtract Worksheet

Focus on core math skills by modeling and solving problems on addition & subtraction.

Solving Comparison Word Problems Using Bar Model Worksheet

Learners must solve comparison word problems using bar models to enhance their math skills.

Model and Solve Comparison Problems Worksheet

Learn subtraction at the speed of lightning by practicing to model and solve comparison problems.

Add and Subtract within 10: Summer Word Problems Worksheet

Summer-themed worksheet focusing on solving word problems involving addition and subtraction within 10.

Add and Subtract within 20: Summer Word Problems Worksheet

Engage with this summer-themed worksheet to practice addition and subtraction within 20 through word problems.

Add and Subtract within 10: Halloween Word Problems Worksheet

Spooky worksheet to practice adding and subtracting within 10 using Halloween-themed word problems.

Add and Subtract within 20: Halloween Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging Halloween-themed worksheet to hone students' skills in adding and subtracting within 20.

Add and Subtract within 10: Christmas Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging Christmas-themed worksheet on adding and subtracting within 10, featuring word problems.

Add and Subtract within 20: Christmas Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging Christmas-themed worksheet focused on enhancing addition and subtraction skills within 20.

Add and Subtract within 10: Shopping Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging worksheet to practice addition and subtraction within 10 using fun shopping scenarios.

Add and Subtract within 20: Shopping Word Problems Worksheet

This worksheet helps students practice addition and subtraction within 20 using a fun shopping theme.

Add and Subtract within 10: Travel Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging travel-themed worksheet to enhance students' skills in adding and subtracting within 10.

Add and Subtract within 20: Travel Word Problems Worksheet

Travel-themed worksheet for mastering addition and subtraction within 20 through word problems.

Add and Subtract within 10: Cooking Word Problems Worksheet

Whip up math skills with this cooking-themed worksheet on adding and subtracting within 10!

Add and Subtract within 20: Cooking Word Problems Worksheet

Engage in this cooking-themed worksheet that hones your skills in adding and subtracting within 20!

Add and Subtract within 10: Winter Word Problems Worksheet

Winter-themed worksheet for students to solve word problems using addition and subtraction within 10.

Add and Subtract within 20: Winter Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging winter-themed worksheet to sharpen skills in adding and subtracting within 20!

Add and Subtract within 10: Easter Word Problems Worksheet

Easter-themed worksheet for students to practice adding and subtracting numbers within 10.

Add and Subtract within 20: Easter Word Problems Worksheet

Easter-themed worksheet for students to solve addition and subtraction problems within 20.

Add and Subtract within 10: Thanksgiving Word Problems Worksheet

Thanksgiving-themed worksheet for students to practice adding and subtracting within 10.

Add and Subtract within 20: Thanksgiving Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging Thanksgiving-themed worksheet to practice addition and subtraction within 20.

Multi-Step Problems Worksheet

Assess your math skills by solving multi-step problems in this worksheet.

Multi-Step Scenarios Worksheet

Solidify your math skills by practicing multi-step scenarios.

Multi-Step Division Word Problems Worksheet

Dive into this fun-filled printable worksheet by practicing multi-step division word problems.

Compare the Scenarios Worksheet

Pack your math practice time with fun by comparing the scenarios.

Word Problems on Comparing Scenarios Worksheet

Put your skills to the test by practicing word problems on comparing scenarios.

Compare the Word Problems Worksheet

Pack your math practice time with fun by comparing word problems.

Multi-Step Word Problems on Multiplication Worksheet

Learners must solve multi-step word problems on multiplication to enhance their math skills.

Multiplication Multi-Step Word Problems Worksheet

Be on your way to become a mathematician by practicing multiplication multi-step word problems.

Sequence the Steps of Division Word Problems Worksheet

Kids must sequence the steps of division word problems in this playful worksheet.

Sequence the Steps of Multi-Step Word Problems Worksheet

Make math practice a joyride by solving to sequence the steps of multi-step word problems.

Multi-Step Division Word Problem Worksheet

Use this worksheet to solve multi-step division word problems to strengthen your math skills.

Multi-Step Word Problems on Division Worksheet

Combine math learning with adventure by solving multi-step word problems on division.

Word Problems on Addition and Subtraction Worksheet

Put your skills to the test by practicing word problems on addition and subtraction.

Add and Subtract within 100: Summer Word Problems Worksheet

Summer-themed worksheet for students to practice adding and subtracting within 100 through word problems.

Add and Subtract within 100: Halloween Word Problems Worksheet

Halloween-themed worksheet for students to practice adding and subtracting within 100 through word problems.

Add and Subtract within 100: Christmas Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging Christmas-themed worksheet to practice adding and subtracting numbers within 100.

Add and Subtract within 100: Shopping Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging worksheet for students to practice addition and subtraction within 100 using shopping-themed problems.

Add and Subtract within 100: Travel Word Problems Worksheet

Boost your math skills by solving these travel-themed addition and subtraction word problems within 100 worksheet!

Add and Subtract within 100: Cooking Word Problems Worksheet

Cook up some fun with this worksheet, solving addition and subtraction problems within 100!

Add and Subtract within 100: Winter Word Problems Worksheet

This worksheet provides winter-themed word problems for students to practice addition and subtraction within 100.

Your one stop solution for all grade learning needs.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Additional menu

Khan Academy Blog

Free Math Worksheets — Over 100k free practice problems on Khan Academy

Looking for free math worksheets.

You’ve found something even better!

That’s because Khan Academy has over 100,000 free practice questions. And they’re even better than traditional math worksheets – more instantaneous, more interactive, and more fun!

Just choose your grade level or topic to get access to 100% free practice questions:

Kindergarten, basic geometry, pre-algebra, algebra basics, high school geometry.

• Trigonometry

Statistics and probability

High school statistics, ap®︎/college statistics, precalculus, differential calculus, integral calculus, ap®︎/college calculus ab, ap®︎/college calculus bc, multivariable calculus, differential equations, linear algebra.

• Addition and subtraction
• Place value (tens and hundreds)
• Addition and subtraction within 20
• Addition and subtraction within 100
• Addition and subtraction within 1000
• Measurement and data
• Counting and place value
• Measurement and geometry
• Place value
• Measurement, data, and geometry
• Add and subtract within 20
• Add and subtract within 100
• Add and subtract within 1,000
• Money and time
• Measurement
• Intro to multiplication
• 1-digit multiplication
• Addition, subtraction, and estimation
• Intro to division
• Understand fractions
• Equivalent fractions and comparing fractions
• More with multiplication and division
• Arithmetic patterns and problem solving
• Quadrilaterals
• Represent and interpret data
• Multiply by 1-digit numbers
• Multiply by 2-digit numbers
• Factors, multiples and patterns
• Add and subtract fractions
• Multiply fractions
• Understand decimals
• Plane figures
• Measuring angles
• Area and perimeter
• Units of measurement
• Decimal place value
• Add decimals
• Subtract decimals
• Multi-digit multiplication and division
• Divide fractions
• Multiply decimals
• Divide decimals
• Powers of ten
• Coordinate plane
• Algebraic thinking
• Converting units of measure
• Properties of shapes
• Ratios, rates, & percentages
• Arithmetic operations
• Negative numbers
• Properties of numbers
• Variables & expressions
• Equations & inequalities introduction
• Data and statistics
• Negative numbers: addition and subtraction
• Negative numbers: multiplication and division
• Fractions, decimals, & percentages
• Rates & proportional relationships
• Expressions, equations, & inequalities
• Numbers and operations
• Solving equations with one unknown
• Linear equations and functions
• Systems of equations
• Geometric transformations
• Data and modeling
• Volume and surface area
• Pythagorean theorem
• Transformations, congruence, and similarity
• Arithmetic properties
• Factors and multiples
• Reading and interpreting data
• Negative numbers and coordinate plane
• Ratios, rates, proportions
• Equations, expressions, and inequalities
• Exponents, radicals, and scientific notation
• Foundations
• Algebraic expressions
• Linear equations and inequalities
• Graphing lines and slope
• Expressions with exponents
• Quadratics and polynomials
• Equations and geometry
• Algebra foundations
• Solving equations & inequalities
• Working with units
• Linear equations & graphs
• Forms of linear equations
• Inequalities (systems & graphs)
• Absolute value & piecewise functions
• Exponents & radicals
• Exponential growth & decay
• Quadratics: Multiplying & factoring
• Quadratic functions & equations
• Irrational numbers
• Performing transformations
• Transformation properties and proofs
• Right triangles & trigonometry
• Non-right triangles & trigonometry (Advanced)
• Analytic geometry
• Conic sections
• Solid geometry
• Polynomial arithmetic
• Complex numbers
• Polynomial factorization
• Polynomial division
• Polynomial graphs
• Rational exponents and radicals
• Exponential models
• Transformations of functions
• Rational functions
• Trigonometric functions
• Non-right triangles & trigonometry
• Trigonometric equations and identities
• Analyzing categorical data
• Displaying and comparing quantitative data
• Summarizing quantitative data
• Modeling data distributions
• Exploring bivariate numerical data
• Study design
• Probability
• Counting, permutations, and combinations
• Random variables
• Sampling distributions
• Confidence intervals
• Significance tests (hypothesis testing)
• Two-sample inference for the difference between groups
• Inference for categorical data (chi-square tests)
• Advanced regression (inference and transforming)
• Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
• Scatterplots
• Data distributions
• Two-way tables
• Binomial probability
• Normal distributions
• Displaying and describing quantitative data
• Inference comparing two groups or populations
• Chi-square tests for categorical data
• More on regression
• Prepare for the 2020 AP®︎ Statistics Exam
• AP®︎ Statistics Standards mappings
• Polynomials
• Composite functions
• Probability and combinatorics
• Limits and continuity
• Derivatives: definition and basic rules
• Derivatives: chain rule and other advanced topics
• Applications of derivatives
• Analyzing functions
• Parametric equations, polar coordinates, and vector-valued functions
• Applications of integrals
• Differentiation: definition and basic derivative rules
• Differentiation: composite, implicit, and inverse functions
• Contextual applications of differentiation
• Applying derivatives to analyze functions
• Integration and accumulation of change
• Applications of integration
• AP Calculus AB solved free response questions from past exams
• AP®︎ Calculus AB Standards mappings
• Infinite sequences and series
• AP Calculus BC solved exams
• AP®︎ Calculus BC Standards mappings
• Integrals review
• Integration techniques
• Thinking about multivariable functions
• Derivatives of multivariable functions
• Applications of multivariable derivatives
• Integrating multivariable functions
• Green’s, Stokes’, and the divergence theorems
• First order differential equations
• Second order linear equations
• Laplace transform
• Vectors and spaces
• Matrix transformations
• Alternate coordinate systems (bases)

Frequently Asked Questions about Khan Academy and Math Worksheets

Why is khan academy even better than traditional math worksheets.

Khan Academy’s 100,000+ free practice questions give instant feedback, don’t need to be graded, and don’t require a printer.

What do Khan Academy’s interactive math worksheets look like?

Here’s an example:

What are teachers saying about Khan Academy’s interactive math worksheets?

“My students love Khan Academy because they can immediately learn from their mistakes, unlike traditional worksheets.”

Is Khan Academy free?

Khan Academy’s practice questions are 100% free—with no ads or subscriptions.

What do Khan Academy’s interactive math worksheets cover?

Our 100,000+ practice questions cover every math topic from arithmetic to calculus, as well as ELA, Science, Social Studies, and more.

Is Khan Academy a company?

Khan Academy is a nonprofit with a mission to provide a free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.

Want to get even more out of Khan Academy?

Then be sure to check out our teacher tools . They’ll help you assign the perfect practice for each student from our full math curriculum and track your students’ progress across the year. Plus, they’re also 100% free — with no subscriptions and no ads.

Get Khanmigo

The best way to learn and teach with AI is here. Ace the school year with our AI-powered guide, Khanmigo. 

For learners     For teachers     For parents

10 Helpful Worksheet Ideas for Primary School Math Lessons

M athematics is a fundamental subject that shapes the way children think and analyze the world. At the primary school level, laying a strong foundation is crucial. While hands-on activities, digital tools, and interactive discussions play significant roles in learning, worksheets remain an essential tool for reinforcing concepts, practicing skills, and assessing understanding. Here’s a look at some helpful worksheets for primary school math lessons.

Comparison Chart Worksheets

Comparison charts provide a visual means for primary school students to grasp relationships between numbers or concepts. They are easy to make at www.storyboardthat.com/create/comparison-chart-template , and here is how they can be used:

• Quantity Comparison: Charts might display two sets, like apples vs. bananas, prompting students to determine which set is larger.
• Attribute Comparison: These compare attributes, such as different shapes detailing their number of sides and characteristics.
• Number Line Comparisons: These help students understand number magnitude by placing numbers on a line to visualize their relative sizes.
• Venn Diagrams: Introduced in later primary grades, these diagrams help students compare and contrast two sets of items or concepts.
• Weather Charts: By comparing weather on different days, students can learn about temperature fluctuations and patterns.

Number Recognition and Counting Worksheets

For young learners, recognizing numbers and counting is the first step into the world of mathematics. Worksheets can offer:

• Number Tracing: Allows students to familiarize themselves with how each number is formed.
• Count and Circle: Images are presented, and students have to count and circle the correct number.
• Missing Numbers: Sequences with missing numbers that students must fill in to practice counting forward and backward.

Basic Arithmetic Worksheets

Once students are familiar with numbers, they can start simple arithmetic. 

• Addition and Subtraction within 10 or 20: Using visual aids like number lines, counters, or pictures can be beneficial.
• Word Problems: Simple real-life scenarios can help students relate math to their daily lives.
• Skip Counting: Worksheets focused on counting by 2s, 5s, or 10s.

Geometry and Shape Worksheets

Geometry offers a wonderful opportunity to relate math to the tangible world.

• Shape Identification: Recognizing and naming basic shapes such as squares, circles, triangles, etc.
• Comparing Shapes: Worksheets that help students identify differences and similarities between shapes.
• Pattern Recognition: Repeating shapes in patterns and asking students to determine the next shape in the sequence.

Measurement Worksheets

Measurement is another area where real-life application and math converge.

• Length and Height: Comparing two or more objects and determining which is longer or shorter.
• Weight: Lighter vs. heavier worksheets using balancing scales as visuals.
• Time: Reading clocks, days of the week, and understanding the calendar.

Data Handling Worksheets

Even at a primary level, students can start to understand basic data representation.

• Tally Marks: Using tally marks to represent data and counting them.
• Simple Bar Graphs: Interpreting and drawing bar graphs based on given data.
• Pictographs: Using pictures to represent data, which can be both fun and informative.

Place Value Worksheets

Understanding the value of each digit in a number is fundamental in primary math.

• Identifying Place Values: Recognizing units, tens, hundreds, etc., in a given number.
• Expanding Numbers: Breaking down numbers into their place value components, such as understanding 243 as 200 + 40 + 3.
• Comparing Numbers: Using greater than, less than, or equal to symbols to compare two numbers based on their place values.

Fraction Worksheets

Simple fraction concepts can be introduced at the primary level.

• Identifying Fractions: Recognizing half, quarter, third, etc., of shapes or sets.
• Comparing Fractions: Using visual aids like pie charts or shaded drawings to compare fractions.
• Simple Fraction Addition: Adding fractions with the same denominator using visual aids.

Money and Real-Life Application Worksheets

Understanding money is both practical and a great way to apply arithmetic.

• Identifying Coins and Notes: Recognizing different denominations.
• Simple Transactions: Calculating change, adding up costs, or determining if there’s enough money to buy certain items.
• Word Problems with Money: Real-life scenarios involving buying, selling, and saving.

Logic and Problem-Solving Worksheets

Even young students can hone their problem-solving skills with appropriate challenges.

• Sequences and Patterns: Predicting the next item in a sequence or recognizing a pattern.
• Logical Reasoning: Simple puzzles or riddles that require students to think critically.
• Story Problems: Reading a short story and solving a math-related problem based on the context.

Worksheets allow students to practice at their own pace, offer teachers a tool for assessment, and provide parents with a glimpse into their child’s learning progression. While digital tools and interactive activities are gaining prominence in education, the significance of worksheets remains undiminished. They are versatile and accessible and, when designed creatively, can make math engaging and fun for young learners.

The post 10 Helpful Worksheet Ideas for Primary School Math Lessons appeared first on Mom and More .

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Five things to know as the tax deadline looms

Scott Horsley

About a third of all taxpayers are expected to file their returns in the last two weeks before the April 15th deadline. Scott Olson/Getty Images hide caption

About a third of all taxpayers are expected to file their returns in the last two weeks before the April 15th deadline.

With less than a week to go before the April 15th deadline, most taxpayers can breathe easy. About two-thirds have already filed their returns. And 68% of those got refunds. The average refund so far in 2024 is $3050 — 4.8% bigger than last year. Here are five things to know about this year's tax filing season.

How to file your tax returns: 6 things you should know this year

Procrastination rate holds steady.

This year's filing season began a week later than last year's. But as of March 29 , the total number of returns filed with the IRS was roughly even with last year. The agency had received more than 90 million tax returns by the end of last month. The vast majority of people (96.7%) filed electronically — which the IRS prefers and which greatly speeds processing. Of those electronic returns, 53% were completed by tax professionals while 47% were done by do-it-yourselfers. The IRS expects to receive about 50 million more returns during the final two weeks of the filing season. (Because of state holidays, taxpayers in Massachusetts and Maine have until April 17th to file this year.)

If you need more time

If you can't get your taxes done by next week's deadline, you can always file for an extension . That buys you another six months, until October 15. Postponing the filing deadline doesn't postpone the tax bill, though. You should still go ahead and pay any taxes you think you owe now, to avoid facing penalties and interest for a late payment.

This year, colleges must choose between fast financial aid offers, or accurate ones

Some people filed for free this year using a new irs website.

A small group of people sidestepped the commercial tax prep industry and filed electronic returns directly with the government for free this year. They were part of a new, IRS pilot program called "Direct File." It's only available in 12 states , and only for people with relatively simple tax returns . The IRS estimates that about 100,000 people might experiment with the program this year. If successful, Direct File could be expanded to more states and more taxpayers in future years.

If you don't qualify for the new Direct File program, you still might be able to file your taxes for free, so long as your adjusted gross income is under $79,000. You can check out free tax-filing options at the IRS Free File website . Some of the options include a free state tax return as well.

Crafters, re-sellers, and ticket scalpers avoid a paperwork headache for now

Under the American Rescue Plan, companies like eBay, Etsy, Depop and StubHub were supposed to start sending 1099-K tax forms this year to anyone who sold or re-sold items for as little as $600 in 2023. Those sales were also to be reported to the IRS, to make sure anyone who earned a profit on them paid the appropriate income tax. After complaints that would create a paperwork nightmare for a lot of small-time sellers ("What's my cost basis for that used guitar I just sold?"), the IRS postponed enforcement of the new rule . For the 2023 tax year, the agency will stick with its old reporting threshold, which only requires 1099-Ks for people who made at least $20,000 in sales and had more than 200 transactions.

Small sellers aren't completely off the hook, though. For the current tax year (the one you'll report on next year), the IRS plans to require 1099-Ks for sales of $5000 rather than $20,000. And unless Congress changes the law before then, the $600 threshold is set to kick in the following year. None of these reporting requirements change anyone's tax liability — just the government's ability to track the sales.

Biden unveils a budget that would cut costs for families and hike taxes for the rich

Rising wages and 'bracket creep'.

Workers' incomes have generally been rising. Average wages rose 4.1% for the 12 months ending in March. Because the federal income tax is "progressive" — meaning higher incomes are subject to higher tax rates — rising incomes could push people into higher tax brackets — a phenomenon known as "bracket creep." The IRS guards against this by adjusting tax brackets upwards each year, in line with inflation. If your income rises more slowly than inflation, you could actually find yourself in a lower tax bracket.

Other provisions of the tax code are also indexed for inflation, so things like the standard deduction and the maximum contribution to tax-advantaged retirement savings typically go up every year. In periods of higher inflation, these annual increases can be significant. The standard deduction for a married couple filing jointly this year rose by $1800.

There are many different measures of inflation. The yardstick the IRS uses to index tax brackets is called " chained CPI ." It typically shows prices climbing a little more slowly than the inflation measure used to calculate things like the Social Security cost of living adjustment . In 2023, for example, Social Security benefits jumped by 8.7%, but tax brackets rose just 6.9%.

• Direct FIle
• tax deadline