Courseversity

Lesson

Story problems and solutions

Primary EducationGrade 2English & Language ArtsCV-PRI-G02-ELA-U08-L0545–60 min

You will learn

  • Say what a problem is in a story.
  • Find the solution.
  • Sequence problem, events and solution.
  • Predict a solution.

Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.

Student lesson

The lesson in 60 seconds

  1. Most stories have a problem.
  2. The characters try to solve it.
  3. The solution ends the problem.
  4. Look for beginning, middle and end.

Words to know

problem
something wrong a character must fix
solution
how the problem is fixed
plot
what happens in a story
resolve
solve or settle

1. Discover: The lost lantern

Ngozi’s lantern went out in the dark forest. She could not see the path. She sat down and thought. Then she remembered her matches. She struck a match and lit the lantern. The light showed the path home. “I should always carry matches,” she said.

Think: What was the problem? What was the solution?

2. Understand: Problems and solutions

Idea 1: The problem

Most stories have a problem, something a character must fix. Here: the lantern went out and she could not see.

Idea 2: The solution

The solution is how it is fixed. Ngozi remembered her matches and lit the lantern. The problem is resolved.

Idea 3: Plot

The plot goes: beginning (setting, problem), middle (trying to solve), end (solution).

Remember: A story problem is what a character must fix. The solution is how it is fixed. The plot moves from problem to solution.

3. Worked examples

Example 1 (I show you): Problem

What was the problem?

  1. Something wrong.

Answer: The lantern went out.

Example 2 (We do it together): Solution

What was the solution?

  1. How fixed.

Answer: She lit it with a match.

Example 3 (You try): Order

What came between the problem and solution?

Show the steps and answer
  1. She thought.

Answer: She remembered her matches.

Did you know?

Even simple stories have problems because without a problem there is no story.

Why this matters

Finding problems and solutions helps you understand how stories work.

4. Explore: Problem map

Map problem and solution.

  1. Read the story.
  2. Find the problem.
  3. Find the steps.
  4. Find the solution.
Think about it: what did you notice?

You can map a plot.

5. Practise

Say it in a sentence

Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.

  • The problem is ___.
  • She tried ___.
  • The solution is ___.
  • At the end, ___.

Guided practice

Question 1. What is a problem?

something to fix

Question 2. What is a solution?

how it is fixed

Question 3. What was the problem?

the lantern went out

Independent practice

Level 1: Start

  1. Something a character must fix is a ___.
  2. How it is fixed is the ___.
  3. What happens in a story is the ___.
  4. To solve is to ___.
  5. Ngozi lit the lantern with a ___.

Level 2: Grow

  1. Problem: no food. Solution?
  2. What did Ngozi do first?
  3. How did she fix it?

Level 3: Stretch

  1. Why do stories have problems?
  2. Can there be more than one problem?
  3. Where is the solution?

Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.

6. Apply: English in everyday life

Tell a family member a story with a problem and solution.

Show a sample answer

a story

Another one. Write a short story with a problem and solution.

Show a sample answer

a story

7. Common mistakes

Mistake: Missing the problem.
Fix: Ask what is wrong.
Another mistake: Mixing steps.
Fix: Use order.

8. Lesson summary and revision card

I can…

  • I can say what a story problem is.
  • I can find the solution.
  • I can sequence the plot.
  • I can predict a solution.

9. Check and master

Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.

1. A story problem is something to ___.

2. The solution is how it is ___.

3. What was Ngozi’s problem?

4. How did she solve it?

5. The plot is what ___ in a story.

6. Where is the problem usually?

7. Where is the solution usually?

8. To resolve is to ___.

9. What did Ngozi do after sitting down?

10. What did the light show?

11. Why do stories need problems?

12. Predict: a boy loses his shoe. Solution?

Challenge 1. Which is a solution to a lost key?

Challenge 2. Which part comes first in a plot?

Your result appears here after you answer every question.

10. Key takeaways

  • Stories have problems.
  • Solutions fix them.
  • Plot goes beginning, middle, end.
  • Look for clues.

11. Next lesson

Next lesson: Poems and rhythm. Keep going with the next idea in this course.

Exam practice

These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.

  1. What is a story problem? [1 mark]
  2. What is a solution? [1 mark]
  3. What was the problem in The Lost Lantern? [1 mark]
  4. How was it solved? [1 mark]
  5. Explain how a plot moves from problem to solution. [3 marks]

Total: 7 marks.

Marking guide and model answers
  1. something a character must fix [1]
  2. how the problem is fixed [1]
  3. the lantern went out [1]
  4. she lit it with a match [1]
  5. beginning problem [1]; middle tries [1]; end solution [1]

Score guide: 6 to 7 = secure. 5 to 5 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.

Printable worksheet

  1. Something to fix is a ___.
  2. How it is fixed is the ___.
  3. What happens is the ___.
  4. To solve is to ___.
  5. Ngozi used a ___.
  6. True or false: stories have problems.
  7. True or false: the solution is at the beginning.
  8. Problem: lost key. Solution?
  9. What was the lantern problem?
  10. Write a problem and solution.

Homework

Write a short story with a problem and solution.

Answer key and marking scheme

Question Expected response Marks
1. Something to fix is a ___. problem 1
2. How it is fixed is the ___. solution 1
3. What happens is the ___. plot 1
4. To solve is to ___. resolve 1
5. Ngozi used a ___. match 1
6. True or false: stories have problems. true 1
7. True or false: the solution is at the beginning. false 1
8. Problem: lost key. Solution? look for it 1
9. What was the lantern problem? it went out 1
10. Write a problem and solution. The kite broke; I fixed it. 1
Total 10

Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 problem; 2 solution; 3 plot; 4 resolve; 5 match. Level 2: 1 go shopping; 2 sat down and thought; 3 lit a match. Level 3: 1 make them interesting; 2 yes; 3 at the end.

Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.

Mastery and remediation

Objective Bronze (Developing) Silver (Proficient) Gold (Advanced)
O1 Say what a problem is in a story Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation
O2 Find the solution Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation
O3 Sequence problem, events and solution Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation
O4 Predict a solution Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation

Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.

If a learner struggles

  1. Find the misconception: Missing the problem. Ask what is wrong.
  2. Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
  3. Show a simpler example: Use a problem-solution chart.
  4. Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
  5. Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
  6. Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.

For parents and guardians

In this lesson your child finds problems and solutions in stories. You do not need to be an expert to help.

  • Ask: What was wrong?
  • Ask: How was it fixed?
  • Praise reasoning.
  • Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
  • Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
  • Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.

Teacher package

1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration

Lesson objectives. Learners will: say what a problem is in a story; find the solution; sequence problem, events and solution; predict a solution.

Prerequisite knowledge. Characters and settings.

Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.

Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.

Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.

6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities

Introduction (5 min). Read a story.

Explanation (10 min). Teach problem/solution.

Guided activity (10 min). Practise.

Independent activity (10 min). Share.

Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.

Key questions. What is the problem? How is it fixed?

Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.

10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions

Support. Use a chart. Extension. Find multiple problems.

Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.

Misconceptions. Missing the problem. Ask what is wrong.

13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme

Use the quiz, the 7-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.

16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection

Remediation. Use a problem-solution chart. Enrichment. Find stories with two problems. Homework. See above.

Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.

Sources and standards

This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.

Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 2 » Reading: Literature. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.

Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core RL.2.3 and RL.2.5; Cambridge Primary English Stage 2 (reading). These sources informed the lesson.

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