Jenga Problem Solving

  1. Your friends came over to your house for a movie night. One of your friends brought another friend so there are more people than you planned for. You want to pass out the drinks but you only have five cans of soda and you need 6 for everyone to have one. What could you do?
  1. After basketball practice you go back to the locker room with your team to shower and change. When you are done dressing, you can’t find your shoes. What could you do?
  1. You have been waiting all day for lunch to come because you are starving. Finally class gets over and you get to go to lunch. Except when you go to get to your lunch, it is not there. You probably left it at home. What could you do?
  1. There is a guy in your class who is always mean to you. He always bumps you when he walks by and he calls you names. He knocks stuff out of your hands and makes you feel stupid. You don’t think you can take it anymore. What could you do?
  1. You really want to invite this new girl/guy to come to your birthday party, but you have never talked to them before. You are worried they will say no. What could you do?
  1. You rode the bus to school today and on the way in people are pointing and laughing at you. You go in the bathroom and see that you have pink gum all over the back of your pants. What could you do?
  1. You wake up and see that your alarm never went off. So you are starting your morning 15 minutes later than you planned. It is a really important day at school and you cannot be late. What could you do?
  1. You are giving a group presentation in front of class and it is your turn to talk. All of the sudden you sneeze. You cover it with your hand, but now your hand is full of stuff you sneezed out. What could you do?
  1. You are eating dinner at a fancy restaurant with your parents and their friends. You have a really messy dinner and accidentally flip a noodle into the lady’s lap. They are busy talking and don’t notice it. What could you do?
  1. You are taking a test and there is no talking allowed. You are writing your answers on the paper and your pencil breaks. What could you do?
  1. You are taking a test and the guy behind you asks you for help. He wants to know what you put for question number two. What could you do?
  1. You are at a birthday party and you have waited in line for a long time for your turn to hit the piñata. It is finally going to be your turn and it looks like the next hit will break the piñata. But you suddenly have to go to the bathroom. What could you do?
  1. You are hanging outside with your friend and she decides to pick your neighbor’s flowers. She gives you the pretty handful of flowers and right then your neighbor opens the door. She asks you why you picked her flowers. What could you do?
  1. You borrowed your sister’s skates one day without asking and they broke while you were using them. What could you do?
  1. You are eating at a friend’s house and the mom piles your plate full of food. It looks really good and you want to eat it all but you can’t because you just ate a snack. What could you do so you don’t hurt her feelings?
  1. Your teacher was working at her desk. You wanted to ask her a question, but she didn't see your hand raised. What should you do?
  1. You started to do your work, but you weren't sure if you were doing it right. What should you do?
  1. You were playing tetherball and were the champion so far. In the next game, you slightly touched the rope. Only one student saw you touch the rope. What will you do?
  1. The teacher is giving directions, but your friend sitting next to you keeps talking. You can't hear the directions. What should you do?
  1. You didn't do your homework. Your teacher was upset with you. What should you do?
  1. You finished eating and felt a burp coming. What are you going to do?
  1. You were waiting to swing. When it was your turn, another boy jumped in front of you and took the swing. What would you do?
  1. You waited a long time, but your mom didn't come to pick you up after school. What should you do?
  1. A bully threatened to beat you up after school. What should you do?
  1. A boy on the playground keeps pushing you and making you mad. What would you do?
  1. You were sitting in class doing your work and you hear the fire alarm. What should you do?
  1. An adult you didn't know came on to the playground and asked if you would help look for his lost dog. What would you do?
  1. You forgot your lunch at home. What would you do?
  1. The person sitting behind you keeps tapping your chair with his foot. What should you do?
  1. You finished your work early. What should you do?
  1. You lost a board game that you never loose. What should you do?
  1. You notice that you are starting to get frustrated while talking to your parents. What could you do?
  1. You feel really sad about other people at school that are bullying you. It has been happening for a very long time and you don’t know if you can take it anymore. What can you do?
  1. Your parents asked you to complete some chores before they were supposed to get home. You get busy playing video games and you forget. You can hear them walking in right now. What should you do?
  1. Your mom said no when you asked her if you could go to the party. You know that your dad might say yes, because he is not as strict. You really want to go to the party. What should you do?
  1. A group of your friends are talking bad about another one of your friends, who isn’t there. What should you do?
  1. Your parents do not let you get what you want from the store. You know that they could if they wanted, but no matter how much you plead they will not get it for you. What should you do?
  1. Your parents make you mad because they sent you to your room without dessert. You yelled at them and slammed your door. What could you have done? What should you do now?
  1. You want to have your friend over for dinner. You know that your parents do not like it when you ask them if your friend can stay with your friend in the same room. You do it anyway and your parents say no. You feel embarrassed and angry at your parents. What do you do?
  1. You see that someone has posted something mean about you on facebook. There are other comments, some which protect you and others that agree with the negative comment. What should you do?
  1. You are doing something against the classroom and school rules. The teacher asks you to stop. You don’t. When you do it again, the teacher gets very upset and immediately sends you to the office to talk to the principal. What is the best way to react to this situation?
  1. You are outside and two kids start throwing balls at you. What is the wrong way to react?Demonstrate it. What would be the best way to react to this situation?
  1. You are doing an assignment that is difficult for you, but you are trying your very best. Two kids keep teasing you and making fun of you and calling you names. You ask them to stop. They don’t. What is the most appropriate way to react to this situation? Tell me what you shouldn’t do.
  1. You are outside and two kids start throwing balls at you. What is the wrong way to react? Demonstrate it. What would be the best way to react to this situation?
  1. You are given a group assignment but someone in the group continues to mess up and then the whole group has to start over. What is the worst way to treat this person? Demonstrate it. What is the best way to react? Demonstrate this as well.
  1. You are lining up to go to lunch and two other students cut in front of you. The teacher does not notice. Tell me the wrong way to react to this situation? What is the best solution to this problem?
  1. Your teacher is giving directions for a new assignment. You do not understand what the teacher wants you to do? Tell me the best thing to do in this situation? What is the wrong way to react to this situation?
  1. Another student keeps trying to talk to you while you are working at your desk. It is distracting and making it difficult for you to finish your work. Tell me the worst way to react to this situation? What is the best solution to this problem?
  1. You see a group of kids at recess playing a game you like. You really want to join them. Demonstrate a good way to ask if you can play with them. What should you not do?
  1. Your teacher has asked you to pair up with another student to complete an assignment. How do you ask someone to be your partner? Show me. What would not be a good thing to say?
  1. Your teacher has given you a timed test. You really have to use the bathroom. What should you do? What should you not do?
  1. Your best friend is gone today. You feel lonely at recess and want to play with another group of children but you are afraid to ask if you can join them? Demonstrate two possible ways you could approach them. Tell me two things you should not do in this situation.
  1. You are not invited to a birthday party that someone in your class is having and it makes you feel bad. What should you do? What should you not do?
  1. Another student accidentally bumps into you and makes you drop your pencil and it rolls away. You are upset. Describe a good way you could react to this situation. Describe a poor way to react to this.

1