Language Arts · Grade 2

Active learning ideas

Problem and Resolution

Active learning helps grade 2 students grasp problem and resolution by making abstract plot structures concrete. Through mapping, role-play, and discussion, children physically and socially interact with story elements, which improves comprehension and retention of narrative arcs.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.3

• 15–30 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Role Play
• 30 min · Small Groups

Story Mountain Mapping: Group Charts

Read a short story aloud. In small groups, students draw a story mountain on chart paper, labeling the problem at the peak and resolution steps on the way down. Groups share one key insight about the problem's impact.

Analyze the main problem a character faces and its impact on the story.

Facilitation Tip

During Story Mountain Mapping, give groups sticky notes so they can rearrange plot points until the whole class agrees on the problem and resolution locations.

What to look for

After reading a short story, ask students to write or draw the main problem on one side of a paper and the resolution on the other. Then, have them list two actions the main character took to solve the problem.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Role Play
• 25 min · Pairs

Role-Play Resolutions: Alternative Endings

Pairs select a story scene with the problem. They act out the original resolution, then improvise an alternative solution. Class votes on effectiveness and discusses why it works or fails.

Evaluate the effectiveness of a character's solution to a problem.

Facilitation Tip

For Role-Play Resolutions, provide sentence stems like 'I feel... when... because...' to guide students through character perspectives.

What to look for

Present students with a familiar fairy tale (e.g., 'The Three Little Pigs'). Ask: 'What was the main problem the third pig faced? How did he solve it? Was it a good solution? Why or why not? Can you think of another way he could have solved it?'

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Role Play
• 20 min · Whole Class

Problem Hunt: Read-Aloud Analysis

During a whole-class read-aloud, pause at key moments. Students raise hands to identify potential problems and predict resolutions. Record responses on a shared anchor chart for reference.

Predict alternative ways a character could resolve a conflict.

Facilitation Tip

In Problem Hunt, pause after each page to ask, 'How does this event make the problem worse or better?' to keep students focused on conflict development.

What to look for

Give each student a card with a simple scenario (e.g., 'A character lost their favorite toy'). Ask them to write one sentence describing the problem and one sentence describing a possible solution.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Activity 04

• Role Play
• 15 min · Individual

Resolution Journal: Individual Reflection

After independent reading, students jot the problem, character actions, and outcome in journals. They add one alternative resolution with reasons. Share select entries in a class gallery walk.

Analyze the main problem a character faces and its impact on the story.

Facilitation Tip

Have students use different colored pencils for problem, attempts, and resolution in their Resolution Journals to visually separate story elements.

What to look for

After reading a short story, ask students to write or draw the main problem on one side of a paper and the resolution on the other. Then, have them list two actions the main character took to solve the problem.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teach this topic by starting with familiar stories to build confidence, then gradually introduce less obvious problems and multi-step resolutions. Avoid rushing through the rising action, as students need time to see how tension builds before the resolution. Research shows that when students act out problems and solutions, their understanding of narrative causality strengthens significantly.

Students will confidently identify problems and resolutions, explain cause-and-effect relationships, and evaluate solution effectiveness using evidence from texts and discussions. They will also connect story events to their own experiences with conflict and persistence.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Role-Play Resolutions, some students may assume the problem is always a villain or external threat.

  Use the role-play cards to label character actions as internal (e.g., 'I was too scared to speak up') or external (e.g., 'The wolf blew down my house'), then discuss how both types drive the plot.

• During Story Mountain Mapping, students may think resolutions happen quickly after the problem starts.

  Point to the multiple steps on the mountain chart labeled 'attempts' to show how solutions involve trial, error, and persistence before reaching the resolution.

• During Problem Hunt, students may try to identify every small issue in the story instead of the central problem.

  Use the Problem Hunt checklist to circle the one problem that affects the main character most, then highlight how smaller issues support or complicate this main conflict.

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Methods used in this brief

• Role Play