1. Creative Ways to Solve a Problem
Grade Level K

2. Sometimes problems can seem like they just can’t be solved.

3. Sometimes the answers to
problems are there, but we have
to do some thinking to find them.

4. Here are some steps
you can take
to find solutions to
difficult problems.

5. Let’s think about the
following problem:

6. Your pet hippo has
been rolling in the
mud and is so dirty
he needs a bath or
your mother won’t
let him inside!

7. But your bathtub is too
small for the hippo to fit into.
What are you going to do?

8. It can be super helpful to think about the problem and everything you know about it first.

9. Next think about the things you don’t know but want or need to know.

10. Then you can start thinking of possible solutions to the problem.

11. Let’s think about what we know about our hippo problem:

12. The hippo is dirty
2. The hippo is too big for the bathtub
3. The hippo likes to play in the mud
What You Know
About Your Problem:

13. Can you take the hippo somewhere else to give him a bath?
Will the hippo keep wanting to get dirty in the mud?
Why do you have a pet hippo in the first place?
What You Need or Want to Know:

14. Usually there are many ways to solve the same problem
Usually there are many ways to solve the same problem. Here are some examples of how you might solve the muddy hippo problem:

15. Solution 1:
Use a hose to wash him off in the back yard.

16. Solution 2:
Find a pool nearby and have him take a swim.

17. Let the mud dry and brush it off him.
Solution 3:
Let the mud dry and brush it off him.

18. Solution 4:
Invent a hippo shower for somewhere else in the house where he can fit.

19. Solution 5:
Give the hippo to a zoo and let them take care of his bath.

20. Solution 6:
What is your idea?

21. Talk over the different ideas with someone else:
What ideas do they have?
What other ideas do you have?
What solution do you think is best?
Why?

22. Copyright © 2016 by Arrowhead Center
Copyright © 2016 by Arrowhead Center. All rights reserved arrowheadcenter.nmsu.edu/innoventure/innoventure-jr