Language Arts · Grade 3

Active learning ideas

Problem and Solution in Narratives

Active learning helps Grade 3 students grasp problem and solution in narratives because they need to physically interact with the text to see how conflicts drive the story. When students map, role-play, and compare, they move from passive reading to active problem-solving, which builds deeper comprehension and retention.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3

• 25–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Think-Pair-Share
• 25 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Problem Spotting

Students read a mentor text silently for 10 minutes. In pairs, they discuss and note the main problem and attempted solutions on sticky notes. Pairs share one insight with the whole class, building a shared anchor chart.

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

Facilitation Tip

During Think-Pair-Share: Problem Spotting, circulate and listen for students to cite specific text evidence when naming problems, not just vague ideas.

What to look for

Provide students with short story excerpts. Ask them to write down the main problem and one solution the character attempted. Check for accurate identification of both elements.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Outdoor Investigation Session
• 35 min · Small Groups

Small Group Story Mapping

Provide story excerpts to small groups. Groups draw a flowchart showing problem introduction, rising actions toward solution, and resolution. Each group presents their map, justifying choices with text evidence.

Compare different strategies characters use to overcome obstacles.

Facilitation Tip

For Small Group Story Mapping, provide sticky notes so groups can physically rearrange events to see which ones connect to the main problem.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'If a character's first solution didn't work, what are two other things they could try?' Facilitate a class discussion where students share and compare different problem-solving strategies.

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Outdoor Investigation Session
• 40 min · Pairs

Role-Play Solutions

Assign roles from a familiar story to pairs. Students act out the problem, improvise alternative solutions, then debrief on effectiveness compared to the original. Record skits for class review.

Explain how the problem and solution contribute to the story's overall message.

Facilitation Tip

In Role-Play Solutions, give pairs a simple scenario so they focus on practicing multiple attempts, not just performing a perfect fix.

What to look for

Give students a graphic organizer with 'Problem' and 'Solution' columns. Ask them to fill in the main problem from a story read in class and describe the character's primary solution. Review responses for understanding of the core concepts.

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 04

• Outdoor Investigation Session
• 30 min · Small Groups

Compare-and-Contrast Charts

In small groups, students read two similar stories and complete a Venn diagram on problems and solutions. Discuss how strategies differ and affect outcomes.

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

Facilitation Tip

With Compare-and-Contrast Charts, model how to highlight differences in problems using colored markers to make patterns visible.

What to look for

Provide students with short story excerpts. Ask them to write down the main problem and one solution the character attempted. Check for accurate identification of both elements.

• Remember
• Understand
• Analyze
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness
• Decision-Making

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should model how to pause and ask, ‘What is the character trying to do, and what is stopping them?’ when reading aloud. Avoid summarizing the plot too quickly; instead, linger on the moment the problem first appears. Research shows that students benefit from drawing the problem and solution in a simple comic strip format before writing, as this bridges visual and verbal understanding.

By the end of these activities, students will confidently identify the main problem in a story and analyze how a character’s solution affects the plot. They will also articulate why some solutions work better than others and how persistence matters in resolving conflicts.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Think-Pair-Share: Problem Spotting, watch for students labeling every challenge as the main problem.

  After students share their initial thoughts, provide each pair with a sticky note to mark only the problem that changes the direction of the story, using the phrase ‘This makes the story go a different way’.

• During Role-Play Solutions, watch for students assuming the first solution always works perfectly.

  Give each pair a ‘Try Again’ card they must use after the first solution fails, forcing them to adapt based on the outcome they act out.

• During Small Group Story Mapping, watch for students treating all problems as equally important throughout the story.

  Ask groups to draw a line through the timeline where the main problem is solved, then highlight events that still affect the story afterward to show ongoing impact.

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Methods used in this brief

• Think-Pair-Share
• Outdoor Investigation Session