problem solving games for students online

Give your brain a workout with these kids problem solving games and interactive activities. Find cool number problems and exercises as well as challenges that will test your logical thinking and reasoning abilities.

Help a frog jump stones, measure water with limited resources, get people safely across a bridge and more. If you get stuck, try thinking outside the square, sometimes it pays to step back and look at a problem from a different point of view. Have fun and enjoy these free problem solving games for kids.

Enjoy this bridge crossing game, a classic problem solving activity that takes some thought to solve.

Help people across the bridge but remember that it’s dark and the lantern only lasts for a maximum of 30 minutes.

Check out this fun frog jump game for kids. Think hard and solve all the brain bending interactive puzzles.

Can you get the frog to land on all the stones without getting stuck? Give it a try and find out!

Protect the sheep from the wolf but don’t forget to protect the cabbage from the sheep.

Getting everyone over to the other side of the river isn't going to be easy but the solution isn't as difficult as you might first think.

Have fun trying to find a solution to these great time problems.

Use the hourglasses to measure the correct amount of time, think outside the square and complete as many of the stages as you can.

Practice your problem solving skills with this interactive math game for kids.

Measure different amounts of water with just 2 jugs, can you do it? Give this educational brain teaser a try and find out.

Make the impossible possible with this free problem solving game that kids will enjoy.

Use just one piece of information to confidently label the fruit bags without seeing everything that’s inside them.

| | | | | | | | | | |

44 Powerful Problem Solving Activities for Kids

This post and its photos may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy.

Inside: Tons of activities that will help boost kids’ problem-solving skills and make them super critical thinkers!

Table of Contents

Who doesn’t love a little challenge now and then? Especially if it’s for our kiddos!

You see, problem-solving isn’t just for the puzzles and math sheets. It’s the magic stuff that shapes our little ones into big thinkers and doers.

Yep, it’s pretty important!

With the right activities, we aren’t just sharpening kids’ brain muscles; we’re also enhancing their creativity, boosting their confidence and critical thinking skills, and (just maybe) buying ourselves five minutes to sip that coffee while it’s still hot.

Stick around, and let’s dive into 44 simple activities to boost your child’s problem-solving skills while having a blast! 🚀💡

Mindfulness activities for kids preview set.

Gain access to our library of free printables!

Because we all want our kids to be happy and healthy — not just for right now, but for the rest of their lives.

Why is it Important to Learn Problem-Solving Strategies?

Importance of problem-solving abilities:

Navigating the maze of life requires many skills; it requires the ability to face challenges, find solutions, and adapt.

This is where problem-solving enters the picture, and here’s why it’s so crucial for our kiddos:

Life is Full of Puzzles: From tying shoes to understanding a new math concept, life constantly presents us with puzzles. Equipping our children with problem-solving skills ensures they can tackle each one confidently.

Boosts Independence: As parents or educators, we won’t always be there to hand-hold. When kids can solve problems on their own, they gain a sense of independence, which is essential for their personal growth.

Develops Resilience: Not every attempt to solve a problem will be successful. But with each try, children learn resilience, understanding that it’s okay to fail and important to try again.

Prepares for Real-World Challenges: The real world isn’t a scripted playground. It’s unpredictable. By honing their problem-solving abilities, we’re preparing kids to face the unforeseen challenges of the world outside.

Enhances Cognitive Growth: Otherwise known as cognitive development. Problem-solving isn’t just about finding solutions. It’s about thinking critically, analyzing situations, and making decisions. This cognitive workout helps in the overall brain development of our children.

Fosters Creativity: There’s often more than one way to solve a problem. Encouraging kids to think outside the box helps them see things from different perspectives and nurtures their creative spirit, letting them see possibilities where others might see roadblocks.

Encourages Adaptability: In the face of challenges, it’s important not just to find solutions but to be adaptable. As the world changes, kids with strong problem-solving skills can change with it, learning and growing along the way.

Builds Confidence : Every problem solved is a victory, a testament to their capabilities. This builds a child’s self-esteem, making them believe in their ability to face and overcome obstacles.

So, while it may seem like just another skill on the list, problem-solving is a cornerstone for a well-rounded, resilient, and successful individual.

4 Simple Problem-Solving Steps We Should Know at a Young Age

Problem-solving steps can be thought of as the building blocks for tackling challenges.

They’re like a set of instructions that guide us on our journey to finding different solutions. These steps provide a roadmap for kids, helping them break down big problems into smaller, more manageable pieces.

By following these steps, children can learn how to think critically, make smart decisions, and even discover their own creative problem-solving superpowers.

First, we need to understand the problem, just like examining the pieces before we start building.
Next, we brainstorm – this is where we think of different solutions, like trying out various block combinations. Then comes the important part – evaluating the options. We must determine the best solution , just like choosing the right blocks for our structure.
After that, it’s time to put the plan into action, just like assembling the blocks to create something amazing.
Finally, we review and see if our solution works, making adjustments if needed.

These problem-solving steps are like our trusty toolkit, helping us build our way to success with creativity and ingenuity.

Whether it’s figuring out a math puzzle, resolving a conflict with a friend, or coming up with a new game, these problem-solving steps will be a guide to helping kids take their next steps.

Featured resource

HeartSmart Social Emotional Curriculum

If you want a program that guides you on how to teach problem-solving along with other essential skills like self-regulation, respect, teamwork, conflict resolution, and more, check this out!

Best Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

In this guide, we have a cool mix of fun problem-solving activities. There are activities for inside, outside, playing in groups, and even on the computer! So take deep breaths, and let’s get to it!

44 Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

Problem-solving games for kids:, card games:.

These are more than just fun; they are brain boosters. In Go Fish , the hunt for matching cards sharpens memory. While in the classic game Uno , it’s all about plotting the right move to take the lead.

The Memory Game:

This game isn’t just about remembering; it’s about strategizing. Matching pairs means we’re not just recalling but also paying close attention. This boosts concentration, focus, and, of course, memory – essential skills for everyday challenges!

Try this animal matching memory game.

Classic Board Games:

Whether it’s Chess , where every move counts, or Monopoly , where every decision can make or break your game, these games teach foresight and strategy.

Maze Games :

Navigating a maze isn’t just about reaching the end; it’s about strategizing the route. These games enhance our ability to plan and foresee, invaluable skills in real-life situations.

Brain-Teasing Sudoku :

Sudoku isn’t merely filling in numbers; it’s about using logic to deduce the correct sequence.

Tangram Puzzles:

These aren’t your average puzzles. With Tangram, you shape a story, crafting images using geometric pieces.

Chess & Strategy-Based Games:

Think of these as mental workouts. Here, every step is a calculated decision, honing your ability to think multiple steps ahead.

For more fun:

20 Best Games for 4-Year-Olds
15 Board Games Every 9-Year-Old Will Love

Indoor Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

Complete simple tasks:.

Simple tasks are little jobs that you can do to practice problem-solving.

Matching Socks: Sort through a pile of laundry to pair up matching socks.
Grocery List Planning: Help create a list for the week’s meals, considering everyone’s preferences.
Toy Organization: Sort toys into designated bins by type, size, or color.
Packing Their School Bag: Ensure they have all the necessary items for the next school day.
Setting the Table: Consider where each plate, fork, and glass should go.

Ask Open-Ended Questions:

Open-ended questions are special questions that don’t have just one answer. They make you think! For instance, instead of asking, “What color is the sky?” you might ask, “Why do you think the sky changes colors?”

Puzzle Games:

Try simple puzzles with fewer pieces for younger kids and more complex puzzles with more pieces for older kids! You figure out how to fit the pieces together, which helps your brain get stronger!

Puzzle games are also great for hand-eye coordination!

Pattern Recognition:

This is all about finding the special patterns in things. Imagine a puzzle with colors or shapes. You have to figure out the pattern to solve it.

Dress-Up and Role-Play:

When you dress up and pretend to be someone else, it’s like stepping into their shoes. You have to think about how they would act and problem-solve what they would say if you were them.

Shape Sorters:

Shape sorters are super fun for young kids. You have to match each shape to the right hole. It’s like a puzzle for shapes! This helps you learn about different shapes and how they fit together.

Building Challenges:

Use Wooden blocks or legos and give kids a theme or structure to replicate. Great for all age groups!

indoor problem solving activities for kids

Cooking or Baking:

Cooking and baking are like yummy science experiments! You follow recipes, mix ingredients, and even get to taste your creations. You must figure out how to follow and “solve” the recipe so that your creation tastes delicious!

“What If?” Scenarios:

Present hypothetical situations (e.g., “What if you were invisible for a day?”) and discuss possible solutions or actions.

Homemade Science Experiments:

Homemade science experiments are like being a scientist in your own lab! You get to try out cool experiments and discover how things work.

Quick Experiment example:

Make Dancing Raisins:

Clear soda (like Sprite or 7-Up)
A clear glass
Fill the glass with the soda.
Drop a few raisins into the glass.

Result: The raisins will initially sink, then start “dancing” up and down due to the carbon dioxide bubbles attaching and detaching from them.

Coding Activities:

Coding is like giving a computer a set of clues to follow. Think of it as telling a story where the computer plays the main character, and your instructions guide its every move. It’s our way of communicating with machines to make them do amazing tasks!

Crossword Puzzles:

Crossword puzzles are fun little word challenges. You must fill in the blanks with the right words and use your smarts to solve tricky clues!

Complex Problems like Brain Teasers:

Brain teasers are like mental gymnastics, making you stretch and flex your thinking muscles. What’s fun about them? There’s often more than one way to reach an answer, so your imagination and logic both get a workout!

Goal Setting Activities:

Goal setting is like making a special plan for what you want to achieve.

Think of goal setting as charting out your very own treasure map, with no wrong answers!

By laying out what you aim to achieve, you’re setting the course toward your treasure: success!

Goals, be they immediate or down the road, act like our personal compasses. They keep you on track and motivated. And every time you hit a goal? That’s you cracking a code and unlocking a new achievement in your adventure!

Setting SMART Goals

This engaging kit focuses on teaching essential skills for setting and achieving smart goals, just like breaking down that LEGO set into manageable sections. We help kids understand the importance of clear objectives, staying motivated, overcoming obstacles, embracing adaptability and more.

Math Challenges:

Think of math challenges as your brain’s personal gym session. These aren’t just any puzzles; they’re crafted to push those thinking caps to the limit.

Debates (Best for older children):

Debates are friendly arguments where you defend your ideas with strong reasons. They’re excellent for problem-solving and for our social skills because they teach us how to think critically and consider different viewpoints. By defending our thoughts in a debate, we learn how to express ourselves clearly, listen to others, and find strong arguments to support our ideas!

Use Worksheets (Teach the Size of the Problem Concepts)

Teach concepts like the size of the problem to help kids determine if their reactions to problems are appropriate and what suitable solutions might be. Use fun visuals and problem-solving worksheets.

You can get this worksheet and more in our HeartSmart curriculum.

STEM Challenges:

STEM challenges are games that use science, technology, engineering, and math to solve problems. They’re awesome for problem-solving because they let us be like inventors and builders. Kids can engage in creative play and design and create things, like bridges or machines, using our smarts and creativity.

Outdoor Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

Nature scavenger hunt or treasure hunt: .

Create a list of natural items for kids to find. For added difficulty, give riddles as clues.

We have some awesome free Scavenger Hunt Bundles you can snag!

Free Scavenger Hunt Bundle

Download this set now, which includes four unique scavenger hunt games

Outdoor Obstacle Course:

Use items like ropes, cones, and hula hoops to design a course that requires navigation.

Garden Planning & Planting :

Design a garden patch, deciding what to plant based on sunlight and spacing needs.

Map & Compass Orienteering:

Teach kids to use a map and compass, then set waypoints for them to find.

Water Relay Challenges:

Carry water from one bucket to another using a sponge or cup, navigating hurdles.

outdoor problem solving activities for kids

Campsite Setup Simulation Challenge:

Set up a mock campsite considering factors like wind direction, incline, and resource proximity.

Nature Art & Patterns:

Using twigs, leaves, stones, and more, create mosaic patterns or depictions.

Group Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

Tower of spaghetti:.

Using only spaghetti and marshmallows, groups compete to build the tallest stable tower.

Egg Drop Challenge:

Groups are provided with a set of materials (e.g., straws, tape, cotton) to create a protective casing for an egg, which is then dropped from a height.

Silent Line-Up:

Without speaking, kids must line up according to their birthdays or another criterion.

Group Story Time:

One child starts a story with a sentence or two, and each subsequent child adds on, weaving in unexpected twists and turns.

group problem solving activities for kids

The Human Knot:

Kids stand in a circle, reach across, and grasp two different hands. The challenge is to untangle the knot without releasing hands.

Escape Room:

Everyone is ‘locked’ in a themed room and has to solve a series of clues and puzzles to ‘escape’ within a set time. It’s fantastic for problem-solving because it challenges critical thinking, teamwork, and creativity. Everyone must work together, think outside the box, and use their wits to solve the puzzles and complete the mission before time runs out!

Role-Playing Social Situations:

Role-playing helps you practice how to react and solve problems in different situations. Present the group with a fictional but realistic scenario (e.g., stranded on an island) and brainstorm and act out solutions.

By pretending to be in different roles, you can figure out the best ways to communicate, understand others, and find solutions to problems in a safe and fun way!

Blindfolded Obstacle Course:

In pairs, one blindfolded child is guided through an obstacle course by their partner using only verbal instructions.

Online and App-Based Problem Solving Activities

When tech meets intellect, the digital realm becomes a treasure trove of problem-solving wonder!

Educational Apps:

Best Apps by Age:

Younger Kids : Dive into the mathematical world with “Moose Math” or kick-start programming concepts playfully with “Bee-Bot.”
Older Kids: Amp up programming skills with “Cargo-Bot” or embark on a critical thinking journey with “Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure.”

Online and App-Based Problem Solving Activities

Online Escape Rooms:

Just like physical escape rooms, but from the comfort of your home! They’re digital adventures, demanding clues to be solved to advance to the next level.

Check out these 10 Family Friendly Online Escape rooms here! I’m especially looking forward to Hogwarts Harry Potter Escape Room .

Virtual Logic Puzzles:

Websites that present logic problems and puzzles, leveling up in complexity as kids solve them.

Top Picks: “Conceptis Puzzles,” “Math Playground Logic Games.”

Benefits: Perfect for sharpening deductive reasoning and pattern recognition.

Interactive E-Books:

These are not your everyday e-books. They demand interaction, choices, and decision-making to progress the story.

Suggestions: “This Book is Perfect” or I love this big list of the best interactive books for kids.

Benefits: Enhance comprehension, decision-making, and experience of how choices shape outcomes.

Online Strategy Games:

These games demand planning, strategic thinking, and foresight.

Check out: “Fish Sticks Strategy Game”

Benefits: Apart from being immensely fun, they teach patience, strategy formulation, and long-term planning.

10 Examples of Problem-Solving Skills Young Children Should Have

Each of these skills not only helps kids tackle problems effectively but also equips them with abilities they’ll use throughout their lives.

problem solving activities for 5 year olds

Critical Thinking: Encourage young thinkers to examine situations, ask questions, and view things from different angles before reaching a conclusion.
Decision-Making Skills: Help children practice making choices by offering them options and discussing the potential outcomes of each decision.
Creative Thinking: Cultivate creativity by providing opportunities for imaginative play, artistic expression, and activities that encourage thinking outside the box.
Communication Skills: Show children how to express their thoughts, feelings , and ideas clearly and effectively – a vital skill for problem-solving in social situations.
Teamwork and Collaboration: Foster the spirit of cooperation by encouraging children to work together on group activities or projects, which helps develop problem-solving skills as a team.
Resourcefulness: Challenge children to find alternative solutions using the available resources rather than relying solely on adult guidance.
Flexibility and Adaptability: Teach children how to adapt to changes and unexpected situations, which is crucial for effective problem-solving in real-world scenarios.
Persistence: Staying determined, even when faced with challenges, and continuing to try until a solution is found.
Self-reflection: Recognizing one’s own mistakes or misunderstandings in a situation and learning from them for future problem-solving.
Active Listening: Paying close attention to details when others speak, helping them understand problems more fully and respond effectively.

Must read post:

How to Help Kids with Inflexible Thinking THRIVE

Tips for Parents and Educators: Nurturing Problem-Solving in Kids

When it comes to fostering problem-solving skills in children, both parents and educators play pivotal roles. It’s less about giving the right answers and more about asking the right questions.

Encourage Curiosity. Let kids explore questions like, “What do you think would happen if…?” or “How would you do it differently next time?”.

Embracing mistakes as learning opportunities can be a game-changer.

Set Up Scenarios. Create environments or situations where kids can think and act independently. Whether it’s setting up a puzzle station at home or a role-play corner in the classroom, these controlled scenarios can stimulate their problem-solving faculties. Remember, it’s okay for them to struggle a bit. It’s through overcoming challenges that real learning occurs.

Lastly, Be a Guide, Not a Director. Instead of directing them step-by-step, guide them by providing hints or asking probing questions. This helps them develop the ability to analyze situations and think critically. As they grow, they’ll be more equipped to approach challenges with confidence and creativity.

So, whether you’re a parent or an educator, remember that each day presents countless opportunities to bolster these invaluable skills. Embrace them!

Final Thoughts: Problem Solving Activities for Kids

Being a pro at problem-solving helps us face all types of curveballs life throws at us.

From untangling math puzzles to making big decisions, this skill is our trusty sidekick. And when life changes? No sweat! We can adapt and shine.

In short, mastering problem-solving helps us face challenges, make wise choices, and truly succeed in whatever we tackle!

I hope you enjoyed these problem-solving activities for kids. Tell me, what one is your favorite?

simple problem solving activities for preschoolers

Because we all want our kids to be happy and healthy — not just for right now, but for the rest of their lives.

Tina Williamson is the published author of the growth mindset activity journal for kids - “ Amazing Me ” and the writer and founder here at Mindfulmazing. Passionate about raising mindful, resilient, and compassionate kids we are committed to sharing calming strategies, positive parenting tips, and growth mindset resources. Our resources are now used in over 10,000 homes, schools and counseling offices! Visit the shop here.

Resources You’ll Love

Our shop is filled with printable resources to help you calm the chaos and assist your amazing little humans to believe in the amazing little humans they are!

Calm Down Corner Bundle

Mindful Minute

Feelings Fun Kit

Social Story Bundle

problem solving games for students online

Fall SEL Resources

Now available.

Dive into fall with these fall-themed social-emotional learning activities

Connect with other parents + teachers

Love this article? Make sure to connect with me on your favorite social platform below, and leave a comment so we can chat!

25 Free Printable Halloween Bingo Cards for Kids

The Best Growth Mindset Books for Teachers & Classrooms

Free Square Breathing Worksheets & Box Breathing Benefits For Kids

Printable Zones of Regulation Activities for Kids

140 Positive Affirmations for Kids To Use Daily (Inspire & Encourage)

Homemade Stress Balls for Kids With Balloons

How To Make Homemade Stress Balls For Kids (And Where to Buy Stress Balls, Too)

We are passionate about raising mindful, resilient, happy kids.

Our resources are now being used in thousands of homes and classrooms around the world! Welcome to the community.

$$ Bundle & Save $$

Your One-Stop Shop for All Your Kids’ Social-Emotional Needs!

Mega Emotions Super Bundle

Calming Corner Bundle

Growth Mindset Bestsellers Bundle

HeartSmart SEL Program

Amazing Me Journal now available!

Free printables library!

Subscribe for the latest updates plus direct access to our library of free printables! Because we all want our kids to be happy and healthy — not just for right now, but for the rest of their lives.

Shop the store

Social Emotional Learning
Coping Skills + Feelings
Growth Mindset
Mindfulness

Read the blog

Selfcare + Mindfulness
Feelings + Coping Skills
Kids Games + Activities
Privacy Policy

Mindfulmazing is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, where we earn from qualifying purchases.

🎒 Back-To-School Sale: 30% OFF + Get a Free Family Plan!

Brain Games for Kids

Fun Brain Games for Kids

Logic Balls

These kinds of brain games online for kids improve reasoning, planning, and visualization skills.

Face Memory Game

A great mind game for kids! It improves visual scanning, planning, and spatial memory .

Spot the Difference

One of the best brain games for clever kids. Improves visual attention, visual scanning, and comparison skills.

Find the Word

This brain game for kids improves visual recognition, conceptualization, and visual attention skills.

Online Brain Games for Kids

Candy Match

Entertaining brain games for kids online like this one improve kids’ cognitive skills as well as visual attention and counting abilities .

Looking for mental games for kids? It improves memory, visual attention, and naming skills.

Card Matching Game

When you want to boost your mental abilities, you can use smart brain games for kids! Don’t skip without trying this one.

Missed Ball

If you need the best brain games for kids, you can be sure that your kids will love this game!

Kids love—parents trust. Named among the best in family-friendly products by U.S. Teachers and Moms.

The convenience of MentalUP’s content to the UK curriculum has been proved by the Education Alliance Finland .

MentalUP has been qualified to get EVIDENCE of IMPACT Award by University College London for its academic contribution.

Loved by over 10 million users . Join millions of parents, teachers, and kids all around the world.

It’s a safe, fun world for kids. There are no ads or inappropriate content either.

Brain Exercise Games for Kids

Bubble Buster: Addition to 10

These kinds of maths brain games for kids planning , visual attention and math skills.

Dwarf Giant

These kinds of good brain games for kids improve reaction control , focusing , and divided attention .

Musical Instruments Game

Brain teasers games for kids help children to improve their visual-aural memory and decision-making skills.

Hidden Object Game

Are you ready for the best brain workout? These kinds of free mind games for kids are a golden opportunity to improve their attention , scanning , and memory skills!

Brain Break Games for Kids

Have I Seen It or Not?

These kinds of fun brain games for kids free improve visual memory , sustained attention , and visual recognition skills.

Shape Recognition

These brain gym games for kids can help kids improve visual attention , visual scanning , and short-term memory skills.

Kindergarten brain games for kids like this one improve sustained attention, visual tracking , and spatial memory skills.

Shape Match

These kinds of brain games for kids kindergarten improve visual attention, conceptualization , and visual scanning skills.

Brain Puzzle Games for Kids

Exactly the Same

Brain games free for kids like this one work as a concentration exercise that develops visual attention , visual scanning , and comparison skills .

Find the Pairs

You can both have fun and boost your mental skills by playing cognitive games for kids. Be ready for a challenging experience.

Shadow Matching

This free brain training game for kids improves attention, visual scanning, and reasoning skills.

Find the Differences

Simple brain games for kids help you to develop your and your kids’ cognitive skills. When you are improving with this fun game, you will lose track of time.

Brain Storming Games for Kids

Counting Game

If you’re looking for brain math games for kids, look no further! This one improves visual attention and counting skills.

Color Word Matching

These kinds of brain activity games for kids improve divided attention, reaction control and focusing skills.

Brain development games for kids like this one improve sustained attention, visual recognition, and memory skills.

What Changed?

These kinds of games for kids brain improves visual attention, visual memory , and visual scanning skills

Letters & Numbers

This brain stimulation exercise for kids improves visual scanning , comparison , and planning skills .

Stroop Test

This stimulation game for kids improves divided attention, reaction control , and sustained attention .

Ascending Number Order

Games that help your brain for kids like this one improve visual scanning, comparison, and planning skills.

Ascending Letter Order

One of the games for the brain! It improves divided attention, reaction control, and focusing skills.

PLAY FOR FREE

Free Brain Games for Kids

IQ games for kids like this one boost your reasoning, spatial perception, and counting skills. Start to play, have fun, and develop in a short while.

Math Operation Game

Brain board games for kids like this provide your children with a special experience because they improve math and processing speed skills instantly.

Less Than or Greater Than Game

These kinds of fun free brain games for kids improve logical thinking, math skills, and comparison skills.

True or False?

This free brain training game for kids supports math skills , decision-making , and processing speed skills .

Find the Operation

When you need to challenge your skills such as logical thinking and decision-making by having fun at the same time, brain games for kids free should be your first choice.

Brain building games for kids like this one improve math skills, processing speed , and decision-making skills.

Equalization

Best brain games for kids help your kids to improve their math, reasoning and processing speed skills . You can use it to practice your mental abilities.

Conditional Statements

If you need to empower your logical thinking, planning , and sustained attention , you can use this game which is one of the best alternatives to kids mind games.

Brain Teaser Games for Kids

Word Generator

Brain games ideas for kids like this word game improve vocabulary, verbal fluency , and planning skills .

These kinds of kids brain games improve vocabulary, verbal fluency , and reasoning skills .

Synonym Antonym

Puzzle brain games for kids like this exercise improve verbal fluency and vocabulary skills .

Relationship Status

These kinds of visual brain games for kids improve conceptualization, comparison , and divided attention skills.

Color Pattern Shape

Brain games for kids preschool like this one improve conceptualization, visual attention , and sustained attention skills.

Word Categories

These kinds of brain games for kids quiz improves vocabulary, conceptualization , and divided attention skills.

Word Combinator

Free mind games for kids! This free game improves vocabulary , visual scanning , verbal intelligence and conceptualization skills.

Let’s Find It

These kinds of brain games puzzles for kids support visual recognition, conceptualization , and visual attention skills .

Why MentalUP Brain Games?

Trusted by World Leading Communities

We recommend the MentalUP which is developed by academicians and pedagogues and is filled with educational brain teasers.

Washington University's mentalup comment

MentalUP Educational Games will enable your child to use technology in a beneficial way.

MentalUP is an online innovative games resources for teachers and parents.

MentalUP does brain training well. Its games are easy to understand while challenging the skills which they are designed to stretch.

educational app store's mentalup comment

MentalUP is a UK-based award-winning scientific-educational application containing cognitive learning games for K-8 learners.

MentalUP developed by game designers and academics incorporating innovative teaching methods to offer dozens of mind games.

FEATURES OF THE EDUCATIONAL GAMES

FUN & IMPROVING FREE BRAIN GAMES
PERSONALIZED GAMES FOR THE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
SCIENTIFICALLY APPROVED ENTERTAINING ONLINE BRAIN GAMES

BENEFITS OF MENTALUP BRAIN GAMES

INCREASES ATTENTION.
IMPROVES MEMORY.
DEVELOPS THINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS.

Try MentalUP free, discover the world of MentalUP now!

Problem Solving the Thinking Blocks® Way!

We updated our thinking blocks suite of learning tools with all new features. read aloud word problems - visual prompts - better models - engaging themes - mobile friendly.

Thinking Blocks Junior

Thinking Blocks Addition

Thinking Blocks Multiplication

Thinking Blocks Fractions

Thinking Blocks Ratios

Thinking Blocks Tool

$Print Word Problems$

Part-Whole A

Part-Whole B

Mixed Operations

Critical Thinking

Fraction of a Set A

Fraction of a Set B

Fraction of a Set C

Add and Subtract A

Add and Subtract B

Multiply and Divide

% of a Number

Taxes, Tips, Sales

% Challenge A

% Challenge B

Three Quantities

Smart Security

9 Online Educational Games That Teach Problem Solving Skills to Kids

Parenting is tougher than most people would expect—at least, 54% of parents agree . But you can reduce that burden a notch.

That's why we compiled these nine online games that teach kids problem-solving skills.

Apart from exploring online games that challenge kids to think strategically, we'll cover

Escape rooms,
Adventure gameplay

We'll also get into subject-specific games that keep kids connected to school lessons, including math and language skills.

Moreover, you might worry that they won’t access the right educational games for their ages. Left on their own, kids will stumble on content that's not age-appropriate.

But we don’t want that to happen.

So, we hand-picked the best online games your kids will love learning from even if they hate figuring things out on their own.

Take a look:

9 Best Online Educational Games To Teach Kids Problem Solving Skills

Fun games you’ll find in this list include:

General adventure gameplays to teach kids strategy,
Subject-specific games to help kids build math, language, or geography skills,
Team-building activities that require them to work in groups, and
Puzzles for learning critical thinking.

Let’s get right to it.

#1 Code Breaker

Age Rating: EC (3 - 8)

This interactive game from Odd Squad will help your kids learn how to count and identify numbers, shapes, and patterns. Players can generate a number or shape following given rules and identify certain features that aren’t explicit in the rules.

Code Breaker is an extension of the PBS show , Odd Squad, which is the perfect mix of action and science fiction.

Throw in some educational bits and you’ve got an awesome after-school activity for your child. Gamified learning content like this allows your kids to become skilled problem solvers.

#2 Interactive Math Games

Age Rating: EC (3 - 14)

Most kids (adults too) find math either boring or challenging. It’s easy to zone out while the math teacher drones on about algebras and equations in the classroom.

Thankfully, technology has made math fun. Your child can subtract integers and match equivalent fractions while squashing fruits.

The sound effects in the game are also fascinating for younger kids. You can find problems from early math to pre-algebra in interactive game forms suitable for children in pre-k to the eighth grade. These games allow kids to develop important age-appropriate math skills.

#3 Sorting Box

Age Rating: EC (3 - 6)

Sid the Science Kid is another category of interactive games for children by PBS. It educates them on various topics and useful life skills. The game, Sorting Box, teaches your kid to sort items by colors , traits, and features while placing them into different columns.

The character Sid, also offers useful tips and advice to players who get confused, making it easy for your child to have fun and learn effectively. Encourage your preschoolers’ curiosity about the world and how it works with this fun game.

Age Rating: E (7+)

Now, this is a game everyone in the family can enjoy. If you have younger children who prefer group activities you could play Sudoku for kids . The rules are the same as traditional Sudoku puzzles except that the grids are easier and may substitute the numbers for letters or shapes.

Where the game is concerned, more is fun, so be sure to include your kids’ friends. Allow them to improve their decision-making skills and the art of compromise.

Stay connected with your buddies from school and friends from the neighborhood, solve puzzles as a team, and have loads more excitement with stable internet from GVTC .

#5 Oddstacle Course

Age Rating: EC (4+)

This entry from Odd Squad is an obstacle course game that allows players to cruise around different continents in a van, collecting trophies and points. The game plot involves fixing the oddness around the world caused by villains. Your kids get to defeat giant snowmen, enormous jelly beans, gargantuan babies, and more while building their geography skills.

With the help of the Odd Squad, they travel the world, gather clues to reveal the villain, and solve various problems. Oddstacle course provides both fun and critical thinking for kids.

#6 Room Recess

Age Rating: E (7 - 12)

The more enjoyable a task is, the more kids engage with it. Reading games are no exception. As a parent, it’s important to get your child to enjoy reading since its success depends on how long they spend on the task.

That’s where reading games come in handy. Interactive options like Reading Ninja and Sir Readalot teach kids all about conclusions, figurative language, context clues, syllables, fact, and opinion. Elementary students can focus on specific educational standards by learning new skills that challenge their comprehension levels.

#7 Crossword Puzzles

Puzzles are another fantastic means of occupying your child’s time since they allow them to practice spelling and expand their vocabulary. Kids develop positive self-esteem through the game when they complete a crossword puzzle - especially when they require little to no help from parental figures. You can find puzzles covering various genres , topics, and children’s stories for the family to enjoy.

Pro tip — Create a custom crossword puzzle game for everyone to enjoy at family game nights, or for kids’ sleepovers at Crossword Labs .

#8 Brain Den

Age Rating: E10+

Brain Den features all kinds of puzzles and fun brain teasers from Logic Riddles, Alphametics, to Paradoxes. Test your child’s logic and problem-solving skills with a collection of puzzles of varying difficulty levels. Encourage their creativity by allowing them to come up with new riddles.

You can pull up puzzles from this category and use them during game nights and other fun family activities.

#9 Push-Pull Puzzles

Age Rating: EC (4 - 8)

This game was created by PBS to improve STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) culture in children from underserved communities.

The Push-Pull Puzzles teach kids basic physics concepts by navigating characters through whimsical obstacle courses. The game follows the Scientific Method of breaking levels into two major stages - planning and testing.

In the first phase, the player observes a problem before them, develops a hypothesis, before testing it by pushing and pulling objects around. Help your kids practice critical thinking skills as they solve fun puzzles and explore science techniques.

Safe Educational Online Gaming for Your Kids

Now that you know all the educational games that teach kids different logical and problem-solving skills, you can rest easy. Thanks to the entries listed here, your children can continue learning even when school isn’t in session. And now they can enjoy themselves while developing new skills.

Are you uncomfortable with your kids spending all their free time on social media or playing games with adult ratings? Now’s the time for some educational games.

Enjoy maximized gaming experience and WiFi speed of up to 1.0 Gbps/250 Mbps with GVTC WiFi/internet services .

Take control of your kids’ screen time with Premium WiFi with ExperienceIQ . The service allows you to take charge of your household by restricting access to non-age-appropriate content online with a click of a button.

12 fun outdoor gps games to play this fall, 8 engaging online multiplayer games for kids to enjoy during christmas break, most popular games for the summer.

Learn by .css-1v0lc0l{color:var(--chakra-colors-blue-500);} doing

Guided interactive problem solving that’s effective and fun. Master concepts in 15 minutes a day.

Data Analysis

Computer Science

Programming & AI

Science & Engineering

Join over 10 million people learning on Brilliant

Master concepts in 15 minutes a day.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or ready to dive into machine learning and beyond, Brilliant makes it easy to level up fast with fun, bite-sized lessons.

Effective, hands-on learning

Visual, interactive lessons make concepts feel intuitive — so even complex ideas just click. Our real-time feedback and simple explanations make learning efficient.

Learn at your level

Students and professionals alike can hone dormant skills or learn new ones. Progress through lessons and challenges tailored to your level. Designed for ages 13 to 113.

Guided bite-sized lessons

We make it easy to stay on track, see your progress, and build your problem-solving skills one concept at a time.

Stay motivated

Form a real learning habit with fun content that’s always well-paced, game-like progress tracking, and friendly reminders.

15 Problem-Solving Activities for Kids & Teens: Critical Thinking

What is one of the most important skills all students must learn? Is it math or coding? Reading? Writing? While all these skills are indeed vital to success, the one skill that underlines all disciplines is problem solving. All lines of work need great problem solvers to find tomorrow’s solutions, and students of any age can be honing their problem-solving skills. Check out some of these fun problem-solving activities for kids and teens below!

Problem-solving activities for elementary school kids (ages 5-10)

From traditional paper-and-pencil activities to online tools, below are some great activities for kids ages 5-10.

1. Coding Courses for Kids

It’s never too early to start learning the foundational concepts of computer programming! There are a number of courses appropriate for young students to start building their problem solving skills, including the award-winning Scratch Ninja course . For the uninitiated, Scratch is a user-friendly colorful drag-and-drop coding tool developed by MIT for making awesome games and animations while learning important coding logic. Or, for students who are visual learners, try a Minecraft Redstone Engineering course to find out how to build awesome inventions! There are many free coding classes to start with, to find your child's interests.

2. Tower Building

Turns out that kindergartners might be better engineers than grownups (at least according to this experiment)! The challenge was as follows: given 20 pieces of spaghetti, a yard of tape, and a yard of string, build the tallest possible tower that can support 1 marshmallow on top. After various groups of people tried it from Stanford and other universities, kindergartners ended up beating them for creating the tallest tower. Challenge your student to see how tall they can make their tower too!

3. Crosswords

Whether taken out of the newspaper or off of the web, crosswords are a useful logic puzzle for kids to work on. Crosswords encourage students to use context clues, as well as their reasoning skills by eliminating possible options as they progress. Plus, it’s easy to vary the difficulty of the puzzles, as well as find fun, themed crosswords for different holidays! There's even a Thanksgiving crossword for your student to try.

4. Jigsaw Puzzles

There’s nothing like a good, ole’ fashioned puzzle to challenge the mind. Each person takes a different approach to puzzle solving, whether they organize their pieces first, find all the corners, or do something totally different. Exploring different strategies for solving puzzles is an effective introduction to independently creating strategies for problem solving. This is a solid choice for students who are visual learners.

An age-old classic, LEGOs are a fantastic way to combine creative skills with problem solving. Students need to follow sequential steps and visualize to create their LEGO designs. It’s even better when students go beyond the kit instructions to create their own LEGO build, as students will have to learn to utilize limited resources while coming up with a structured plan for designing their idea. LEGO Mindstorms is a popular starting point.

Problem-solving activities for middle school tweens (ages 11-13)

Middle schoolers (ages 11-13) will want to be challenged more with their activities, and these are some effective activities for encouraging growth.

6. Middle School Coding Courses

By the time they reach middle school, students will be ready to take on more advanced coding concepts, regardless of their prior coding experience. For those who have no prior coding experience, the Accelerated Scratch course is an excellent option, as it will introduce students to basic coding concepts while allowing them to make their games and animations. Students with some prior coding experience may want to try the Minecraft Code to Mod course, builds upon basic coding concepts like loops, conditionals, and more while building students' creativity and critical thinking.

7. Birthday Ordering

An activity commonly done at summer camps, the silent birthday lineup is an excellent problem-solving activity for groups. The goal is for students to line up in chronological order based on their birthdays, without talking at all. Working in total science requires students to think outside the box to accomplish their goal, and to prioritize teamwork. Try timing the students to see how quickly they can get it done, then let them reflect on the activity afterwards to see what strategies worked and what didn’t.

8. Event Planning

Have students plan their own event, like a fundraiser, a social, or a competition for their coding club . This will require students to collaborate by delegating tasks, coordinating supplies, budgeting, and more. Even planning something as simple as a pizza party still requires some logistical planning, and students will benefit from struggling through the process. Plus, they can get to enjoy the results of their work when the event finally arrives!

Arduino circuit boards are an excellent choice for children interested in engineering. Because Arduino is widely-popular, there are countless tutorials demonstrating its capabilities, such as creating a controller, custom RGB lighting, robotics, or more. Once students learn the basics, they can use Arduino boards to come up with creative solutions to their own problems. This is an excellent idea for highly-motivated kids who like to work by themselves.

Sudoku is an excellent number puzzle and a great problem-solving exercise. It requires students to evaluate multiple possible options as they try to fill in the puzzles, so students need to be able to create an organized approach to be successful. There are various difficulty levels for sudoku, so students can start easy, then advance as they become proficient at solving the puzzles.

Problem-solving activities for high school teens (ages 14+)

High school (14+) is a good time to incorporate group work into the activities, as students will need to learn to work collaboratively for their future in college and beyond.

11. Coding for Teens

Once reaching high school age, students are ready to tackle the complexities of text-based coding. This is where students can focus on their interests, whether it be web design , AI, app design , and more. Create & Learn’s Python for AI course is a good option, as Python is one of the most widely-used programming languages in the world. Students interested in game design might try the Roblox Studio course , which teaches students how to program their own Roblox games (or try the Beginner Roblox Game Coding course if they have limited previous coding experience.)

12. Robotics Club

Many different school programs offer robotics teams and robotics competitions , using tools such as VEX robotics . Robotics is a great way to combine computer science, mechanical engineering, and problem-solving skills. If there is no robotics team at your student’s school, consider trying a robotics kit such as the Makeblock mBot Ranger .

13. Egg Drop

This classic experiment is a lot of fun for students, and makes for a good competition as well. Students must build some sort of structure that will prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from a certain height (like the top of a staircase). It works best when students are restricted with the resources they can use; for instance, define a “ budget ” for parts that they can’t exceed, or give everyone the same materials to work with .

14. Debate Club

Whether deciding public policy or the best ice cream place in town, having the ability to engage in meaningful debate is critical. Debate forces students to self-analyze, listen, and think critically before making decisions. These skills benefit students’ futures by making them strong, independent thinkers. Check out these speech and debate competitions . And here are some tips for starting a debate club .

15. Science Fair

Science fairs pose an excellent opportunity for exploring the scientific method, both through creating personal projects and checking out other students’ presentations. By encouraging students to come up with their own projects, they must identify some question or problem and find a way to solve it. This can be the most challenging kind of problem-solving, as it requires the student to take initiative in finding their own ideas, but also can be the most rewarding. Try the Google Science Fair Competition .

Enjoy problem-solving activities for kids

And there you have it: problem-solving activities for students from elementary through high school age. Of course, there are many more ways to build critical-thinking abilities like problem-solving. For more ideas, check this list of awesome after-school enrichment activities !

Written by Create & Learn instructor Dominic Occhietti. Dominic is a graduate of Michigan State University, where he studied music performance and computer science. He thoroughly enjoys teaching, whether that be coding classes, French horn lessons, or even downhill skiing lessons!

You Might Also Like...

How to Choose the Right AP Computer Science Course

After-School Program Curriculum Ideas

Math and Logic Puzzles

If you REALLY like exercising your brain, figuring things 'round and 'round till you explode, then this is the page for you !

Whosoever shall solve these puzzles shall Rule The Universe!

... or at least they should ...

Educationise

Engaging Problem Solving Activities That Spark Student Interest

In this article, we’ll explore a range of engaging problem solving activities crafted to captivate students’ interest and promote active learning across various subjects. From STEM design challenges to literature-based dilemmas, these hands-on activities are meticulously tailored to inspire curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking in the classroom .

What are Problem Solving Skills?

Problem-solving skills refer to the ability to identify challenges, analyze potential solutions, and implement strategies to resolve issues effectively. These skills involve a combination of cognitive processes, such as critical thinking, creativity, and logical reasoning, that help individuals tackle complex problems in a systematic way.

Developing problem solving skills is essential not only in academic settings but also in everyday life and the workplace. They enhance decision-making, promote adaptability, and encourage the capacity to approach obstacles from multiple perspectives, enabling individuals to arrive at the most effective solutions.

Problem Solving Skills Examples

When exploring examples of problem solving skills, it’s important to understand how various abilities contribute to effective resolution of issues. These problem solving skills examples encompass a range of techniques and strategies that enable individuals to tackle challenges efficiently. Let’s explore these examples one by one:

Analytical Thinking : The ability to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable components, making it easier to understand and solve the issue systematically.
Creativity : Using innovative thinking to generate unique solutions to problems, often by approaching challenges from a new or unconventional perspective.
Critical Thinking : Assessing situations logically, evaluating evidence, and making informed decisions by considering all aspects of the problem before acting. This is a common example of problem solving skills. This is a classic example of problem solving skills, demonstrating how the ability to analyze, evaluate, and address challenges can lead to effective solutions.
Decision-Making : The ability to weigh different options, assess their potential outcomes, and choose the best course of action to resolve an issue effectively. It exemplifies the essential skills of solving problems, including the ability to weigh different options, assess their potential outcomes, and choose the best course of action to achieve a successful resolution.
Communication : Sharing ideas clearly and effectively with others, listening to different viewpoints, and collaborating to reach a solution collectively.
Adaptability : Being flexible in adjusting to new information or changes in circumstances, allowing one to modify their approach when the original plan is no longer effective.
Research : Gathering relevant information and resources to better understand the problem and find informed solutions based on facts and evidence.
Collaboration : Working together with others, leveraging diverse skills and knowledge, to solve a problem more efficiently than working alone.
Time Management : Prioritizing tasks and managing time efficiently to ensure problems are solved within deadlines or before they escalate.

From problem-solving skills examples such as analytical thinking and creativity, which help break down and innovate solutions, to critical thinking and decision-making, which guide the evaluation of options and implementation of the best strategies, each skill plays a pivotal role.

Additionally, skills like communication, adaptability, research, collaboration, and time management are crucial for addressing problems in a comprehensive manner. Understanding and developing these skills can greatly enhance one’s ability to navigate complex issues and achieve successful outcomes.

Problem Solving Activities for Students

In today’s educational landscape, fostering critical thinking and problem solving skills is paramount. As educators, we aim to cultivate a generation of students who excel not only academically but also in navigating real-world challenges with creativity and confidence. Here is the list of problem-solving activities that can help enhance these essential skills.

1. Escape Room Challenge: The Lost Treasure

“Escape Room Challenge: The Lost Treasure” offers compelling problem solving activities for students, immersing them in a thrilling adventure that enhances their critical thinking and teamwork skills as they work to solve puzzles and uncover hidden clues. This interactive experience also serves as one of the best team building problem solving activities, fostering collaboration and communication among participants.

Follow the steps below to implement this activity in the class:

Introduce the escape room challenge and set the scene with a captivating treasure hunt theme.
Transform the classroom into an immersive escape room environment with hidden clues and puzzles.
Divide students into teams and provide instructions for the challenge, emphasizing teamwork and problem solving skills.
Allow teams to explore the room and uncover hidden clues and puzzles.
Encourage observation and collaboration as teams work together to solve challenges.
Present teams with a variety of puzzles and obstacles to overcome.
Challenge them to solve each puzzle to progress through the adventure.
Set a time limit for the challenge to create urgency and excitement.
Encourage teams to work efficiently to unlock the secrets of the treasure before time runs out.
Foster effective communication and teamwork among team members.
Emphasize the importance of listening and leveraging each other’s strengths.
Throughout the challenge, students will develop critical thinking, communication, and problem solving skills.
Encourage reflection on their strategies and teamwork dynamics.
Celebrate each team’s success upon completing the challenge.
Facilitate a debrief session for students to share insights and reflect on their experiences.

With this guide, you can create an engaging escape room challenge that promotes teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving skills in a fun and immersive learning environment. Incorporating problem solving activities for kids like this one will not only keep them entertained but also sharpen their cognitive abilities as they tackle exciting challenges.

2. STEM Design Challenge: Build a Bridge

“STEM Design Challenge: Build a Bridge” is one of the most engaging problem solving activities for middle school students, offering a fun problem solving experience that enhances their engineering skills and encourages teamwork and innovation

Here is the step by step breakdown of this activity:

Present the STEM design challenge to students, explaining that they will be tasked with building a bridge using simple materials.
Supply students with materials such as popsicle sticks, straws, tape, string, and basic construction tools.
Encourage students to inspect the materials and plan their bridge designs accordingly.
Prompt students to brainstorm ideas and sketch their bridge designs before starting construction.
Encourage them to consider factors like structural stability, weight distribution, and material durability.
Instruct students to begin building their bridges based on their designs.
Remind them to apply principles of engineering and physics as they construct their bridges.
As students build their bridges, they’ll encounter challenges and obstacles.
Encourage them to apply problem solving strategies and make adjustments to their designs as needed.
Throughout the construction process, facilitate discussions among students.
Encourage them to reflect on their design choices and problem solving approaches.
Provide opportunities for students to test their bridges using various weight loads or simulated environmental conditions.
Encourage them to observe how their bridges perform and make further adjustments if necessary.

8. Bridge-Building Showcase:

Conclude the challenge with a bridge-building showcase where students present their creations to their peers.
Encourage students to discuss their design process, challenges faced, and lessons learned.

9. Celebrate Achievements:

Celebrate students’ achievements and highlight the importance of their creativity and engineering prowess.
Encourage a spirit of inquiry and innovation as students showcase their bridge designs.

10. Reflect and Conclude:

Conclude the STEM design challenge with a reflection session.
Prompt students to reflect on their experiences and discuss the skills they’ve developed throughout the challenge.

By following these step-by-step instructions, students will engage in a hands-on STEM design challenge that fosters critical thinking, creativity, collaboration , and resilience while deepening their understanding of engineering and physics principles.

3. Mystery Box Inquiry: What’s Inside?

It is one of the ideal problem solving group activities that offers creative ways to improve problem solving skills in students, encouraging teamwork and critical thinking as they work together to uncover the secrets hidden within the box.

Incorporating problem solving team-building activities like this fosters collaboration and enhances communication, essential skills for both academic and personal growth. These engaging team problem solving activities challenge participants to think critically and combine their strengths to achieve a common goal.

Follow these steps to carry out this activity in the class:

Introduction and Setup: Introduce the Mystery Box Inquiry activity and set up a closed mystery box in the classroom.
Group Formation and Instructions: Divide students into small groups and provide instructions emphasizing teamwork and critical thinking.
Engage the Senses: Encourage students to gather around the mystery box and use their senses (touch, smell, hearing) to gather clues about its contents.
Making Observations: Instruct students to carefully observe the exterior of the mystery box and record their observations.
Formulating Hypotheses: Prompt students to formulate hypotheses about what might be inside the mystery box based on their observations.
Testing Hypotheses: Invite students to test their hypotheses by proposing various scenarios and explanations.
Refining Problem Solving Strategies: Encourage students to refine their problem solving strategies based on new information and insights.
Group Discussion and Conclusion: Gather the groups for a discussion, allowing students to share their observations, hypotheses, and insights. Conclude by revealing the contents of the mystery box and discussing the problem solving process.
Reflection and Extension: Provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their experience and optionally extend the activity by challenging them to design their own mystery box inquiries.

By following these steps, you can facilitate an engaging Mystery Box Inquiry activity that prompts students to make astute observations, test hypotheses, and refine their problem solving strategies effectively. Through teamwork and problem solving activities, students learn to communicate ideas, share diverse perspectives, and develop strategies that lead to creative and successful solutions.

Incorporating hands on problem-solving activities like this not only enhances critical thinking but also strengthens teamwork, as students collaborate and combine their efforts to solve challenges together.

4. Real-World Problem Simulation: Environmental Crisis

Real-World Problem Simulation: Environmental Crisis” is one of the most engaging problem solving activities for high school students, designed as a group problem solving challenge that immerses students in the complexities of environmental issues, encouraging collaboration and critical thinking to find innovative solutions.

Introduce the environmental crisis scenario.
Explain its significance and real-world implications.
Divide students into teams with varied skill sets.
Assign roles like researcher, negotiator, presenter.
Task teams with researching causes, impacts, and solutions.
Provide access to relevant resources.
Encourage teams to negotiate with stakeholders.
Prompt the development of comprehensive strategies.
Organize a debate or town hall-style discussion.
Facilitate analysis of proposed solutions.
Allow teams to implement proposed solutions.
Monitor progress and outcomes.
Conclude with a group reflection session.
Discuss lessons learned and the importance of problem solving skills.

This is one of the problem solving activities for students that can create a simulated environmental crisis scenario, fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and problem solving skills in students.

5. Mathematical Escape Puzzle: Crack the Code

Mathematical Escape Puzzle: Crack the Code” is one of the most intriguing problem solving activities in the classroom, offering an exciting blend of problem solving games for students and challenging puzzles that test their mathematical skills and teamwork. This activity presents a unique problem solving challenge for students, motivating them to collaborate and think critically to solve complex equations and unlock the code.

Introduce the escape puzzle, explaining the goal of unlocking a hidden code through math equations and logic puzzles.
Set up materials in the classroom.
Explain students’ task: solving math equations and logic puzzles to unlock the code.
Provide puzzle materials to teams or individuals.
Instruct on effective use.
Prompt students to solve provided math equations and logic puzzles.
Encourage collaboration and problem solving among students.
Offer guidance as needed.
Monitor student progress and provide assistance when required.
Celebrate successful completion of puzzles.
Guide students through unlocking the hidden code.
Conclude with a reflective discussion on math concepts and problem solving skills applied.

By following these steps, you can engage students in a challenging Mathematical Escape Puzzle that reinforces math skills and promotes problem solving abilities.

6. Literature-Based Problem Solving Activity: Character Dilemmas

Literature-Based Problem Solving Activity: Character Dilemmas” is an engaging problem solving activity for students that enhances problem solving skills in students by challenging them to analyze and resolve complex character dilemmas in literature. This activity not only deepens their understanding of the narrative but also sharpens their ability to think critically and collaboratively.

Choose literature pieces with rich character development and moral dilemmas that are suitable for your students’ age and maturity level.
Present the Literature-Based Problem Solving activity to students, explaining that they will engage in thought-provoking analysis and ethical reflection inspired by characters in literature.
Assign readings or excerpts from the selected literature to students.
Instruct students to analyze the characters’ motivations, actions, and the ethical dilemmas they face.
Encourage students to prepare for discussions by taking notes on key points, character motivations, and possible solutions to the dilemmas.
Host lively discussions where students explore the moral dilemmas presented in the literature.
Encourage students to express their thoughts, opinions, and interpretations while respecting diverse perspectives.
Organize persuasive debates where students defend their viewpoints and propose solutions to the character dilemmas.
Encourage students to use evidence from the literature to support their arguments.
Prompt students to apply problem solving skills to analyze the consequences of different decisions and actions within the literature.
Encourage critical thinking as students navigate complex ethical situations.
Guide students in applying the lessons learned from literature to real-world scenarios.
Encourage reflection on how the problem solving skills and ethical considerations explored in the activity can be applied in their own lives.
Conclude the Literature-Based Problem Solving activity by summarizing key insights and takeaways from the discussions and debates.
Encourage students to reflect on how their understanding of moral dilemmas and problem solving skills has evolved through the activity.

It is one of the problem solving activities through which students will engage in thought-provoking analysis, ethical reflection, and problem solving inspired by characters in literature, fostering critical thinking and ethical decision-making skills in a meaningful and engaging way.

Engaging problem solving activities for students are the cornerstone of active learning, fostering essential skills for success in today’s dynamic world. By seamlessly integrating these hands-on experiences into the classroom, educators inspire curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking in their students.

Whether through STEM design challenges, literature-based dilemmas, or coding adventures, these problem solving exercises empower students to become adept problem solvers, equipped to navigate the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and ingenuity. Embrace the transformative potential of engaging problem solving activities to unleash the full spectrum of educational possibilities and prepare students for a future brimming with possibilities.

6 thoughts on “ Engaging Problem Solving Activities That Spark Student Interest ”

Pingback: 11 Activities That Promote Critical Thinking In The Class - Educationise
Pingback: 10 Teaching Strategies to Spark Creativity in Students - Educationise
Pingback: Gamification in Education: Tips and Tricks for Gamified Learning - Educationise
Pingback: Neuroscience of Learning: 10 Principles for the Classroom - Educationise
Pingback: 10 Unique Educational Experiences Every Student Should Try - Educationise
Pingback: DIY Education: 8 YouTube Channels Revolutionizing Learning - Educationise

28 Online Interactive Math Games Kids Will Love

K through 12 … it all adds up to fun!

$Collage of online interactive math games including Number Bonds Match and Algebra Jeopardy$

Looking for fun ways to get kids to do some math practice? Try these online interactive math games! They’re perfect for at-home enrichment or homework assignments. In the classroom, use them for fast finishers, or play as a group using your interactive projector or whiteboard.

Elementary School Online Interactive Math Games
Middle School Online Interactive Math Games
High School Online Interactive Math Games

Best Online Interactive Math Games for Elementary School

It’s important to spark an interest in math at a young age and build confidence in skills quickly. Fun interactive math games are a great way to do it.

Penalty Kick

$Illustration of a soccer goal, with a pop up box reading$

What students practice: Multi-digit multiplication

The game is simple enough: Each player takes a turn kicking a soccer ball or defending the goal. When they’re successful, they get to solve a math equation for a chance at a bonus point.

Play it: Penalty Kick at Coolmath Games

Puzzle Pics

$Online math game with a grid of numbers. As each correct answer is selected, it reveals part of a mystery picture.$

What students practice: Basic addition and subtraction

Click and drag the puzzle pieces to answer the math questions, revealing a cool picture at the end. There are multiple versions for different skills and levels, and you can change the target sums too.

Play it: Puzzle Pics at Math Playground

Bar Graphing With Eggs

Cartoon illustration showing five hens on nests, laying eggs, while a frying pan shifts underneath to catch the eggs

What students practice: Sorting, graphing

First, move the frying pan to catch the colored eggs as they fall from the chickens. Then, sort the eggs by pattern. Finally, use the eggs to create a basic bar graph. ADVERTISEMENT

Play it: Bar Graphing With Eggs at Education.com

Math Baseball

$Screenshot from online Math Baseball game, showing a 2-digit addition problem and a player standing on home base ready to swing at the pitch$

What students practice: Arithmetic skills

It’s a simple concept: Students solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division equations, then take a swing. You can change the difficulty from easy to “super brain,” so this is a game that grows with kids.

Play it: Math Baseball at Funbrain

$Multiplication facts practice game with a squirrel and nuts theme$

Practice math facts with a fun squirrel who needs your help to gather as many acorns as possible!

Play it: Going Nuts at Multiplication.com

Number Bonds

Screenshot of online math game showing spiral of numbered beads and a central number ball shooter

What students practice: Addition and number bonds

Choose a target sum between 10 and 20. Then, aim and shoot the center number ball at one of the balls circling the track to make the target sum. Repeat until all the balls are gone.

Play it: Number Bonds at Math Playground

Candy Cashier

$Screenshot from Candy Cashier online math game showing rows of candy jars marked with prices, and money for paying$

What students practice: Adding up money and making change

Help the monsters in your candy shop buy candy! As each monster comes in to make a purchase, add up the cost. Then, use their money to make the appropriate payment.

Play it: Candy Cashier at Math Playground

Estimation Contraption

What students practice: Estimation and addition

Estimation seems simple, but it can give some kids real trouble. Play this simple game to get practice rounding and adding numbers.

Play it: Estimation Contraption

Coin Weighing

Illustration showing a simple scale with a number of coins on each side of the scale

What students practice: Comparison, weights

Students have four chances to weigh coins to determine which one is fake. In addition to practicing weights, kids have to think carefully to solve the problem.

Play it: Coin Weighing at Math Game Time

Math Pac-Man

$Pacman board with ghosts that have addition sums printed on them$

What students practice: Arithmetic equations

Classic arcade game meets math! You’ll have to think fast to solve the equation and eat the right ghost. Try this one in pairs with one student solving and the other moving Pac-Man as fast as they can.

Play it: Math Pac-Man at Math Game Time

Canoe Puppies

$Cartoon puppies in a canoe race, with a two-digit math problem underneath$

Can your puppy-filled canoe beat the others to the finish line? Solve the equations quickly to paddle your way to victory. Students practice two-digit addition with this game.

Play it: Canoe Puppies at Math Playground

Kangaroo Hop

$Cartoon kangaroos hopping onto a variety of shapes that match the description at the bottom of the screen$

Hop from shape to shape faster than your opponents. Students need to know both 2D and 3D shapes to master this one. Kids learn geometric shapes with this game.

Play it: Kangaroo Hop at Math Game Time

Best Online Interactive Math Games for Middle School

As math becomes more challenging, it can also become more difficult to have student engagement. Entertaining math games help students sharpen their skills without feeling like a bore.

Move Here Move There

$7 x 7 grid with colorful squares showing numbers and directional arrows$

Use logical reasoning to create a path from the dark blue tile to the green target tile. Part coding, part logic game, this one is excellent for building deductive-reasoning skills.

Play it: Move Here Move There at Coolmath Games

Orbit Integers

$Four cartoon spaceships racing each other, with a math problem underneath$

What students learn: Adding and subtracting positive and negative integers

Can you win the space race? Students need to solve the equations faster than everyone else in the competition to soar into first.

Play it: Orbit Integers at Math Playground

Math in Music

$Screenshot from an online math game asking you to count the number of beats in a music sample$

What students practice: Real-world algebra skills

Students always ask how they’ll use math in real life, and this game gives an example. The challenge is to adjust the music tracks so they align. First, though, they have to figure out how many beats per minute in each. How will they solve the problem?

Play it: Math in Music at Get the Math

Fruit Splat

Colorful fruit images floating on a screen with numbers in each, and a target bubble saying

Practice identifying prime and composite numbers with this simple game. Move the target around the screen and SPLAT the fruit matching the description.

Play it: Fruit Splat at Sheppard Software

Puppy Chase

$Cartoon puppies racing with a fraction math problem underneath the online math game$

What students practice: Decimals and equivalent fractions

Click the equivalent decimal from the fraction given. The faster you find the answers, the more you move ahead to win the race!

Play it: Puppy Chase at Math Playground

Find the Quark

Battleship-type math game with little monsters plotted on a coordinate plane

What students practice: Coordinate graphing

If kids have played Battleship, they’ll recognize this game. This time, they’re looking for the Quarks hidden somewhere on the board.

Play it: Find the Quark at JLab

High-Stakes Heist

$Screenshot from online math game called High Stakes Heist, showing a safe with a combination lock students can open by solving a math problem using order of operations$

What students practice: Order of operations

Crack the safe by solving an equation, one step at a time, using the correct order of operations. If you make a mistake, you can go back to the previous step to fix it.

Play it: High-Stakes Heist at ABCYa

Algebraic Reasoning Sweet Shop

Cartoon candy store with several piles of candy, and a calculator for figuring out the value of each using algebraic reasoning

What students practice: Mental math, writing equations

Using the stacks of various candies that add up to certain amounts, determine how much each individual candy is worth. This can be done as mental math or by writing out and solving equations.

Play it: Algebraic Reasoning Sweet Shop at Math Playground

Boat Coordinates

Cartoon boats racing on a four-quadrant coordinate plane

Enter the coordinates to send the boat on its way to the finish line. Stop along the way to pick up coins but be sure to avoid obstacles. You have a limited amount of time, so think fast! This game can be customized with single-quadrant or four-quadrant boards.

Play it: Boat Coordinates at MathNook

Best Online Interactive Math Games for High School

Higher-level math doesn’t have to be all work and no play. Online math games for high school students are harder to find, but these games give students the chance to practice their skills in unique ways.

Exponents Jeopardy

$Math jeopardy game with cartoon players$

What students practice: Exponents

You know the drill: Pick a category, solve the equation, earn the points. Be careful though! If you’re wrong, you can lose all the points you’ve earned.

Play it: Exponents Jeopardy at Math Play

Wrecks Factor

$Screenshot from a submarine math game requiring players to factor quadratic equations$

What students practice: Factoring quadratic equations

Ships sail onto the board and wreck, displaying a quadratic equation. Factor the equation, then click and drag the correct answer to the points on the grid that surround the boat. More boats continue to arrive, and if one sinks before you solve the equation, you lose a life.

Where to find it: Wrecks Factor at Mangahigh

Math in Fashion

$Screenshot from a game about using applied math in fashion, with a sheet breaking down the costs involved in making a shirt for sale$

What students practice: Decimals, multiplication, problem-solving

See how math plays a role in fashion design as you try to alter the design of a blouse to meet the target price. This is a fun game to play together in groups so you can see how others would make the changes.

Play it: Math in Fashion at Get the Math

Transformation Golf

$Four-quadrant coordinate plane with spaces to enter variables like translation, rotation, deflection, and more$

What students practice: Translation and transformation in a coordinate plane

Pick a transformation and then a factor choice of that transformation to get the golf ball into the hole. Includes translation, rotation, reflection, and dilation.

Play it: Transformation Golf at Hooda Math

Sortify: Angles

Math game with a series of cards showing various angles and buckets to sort them into

What students practice: Types of angles, basic geometry

Sort the cards by dragging them into bins and placing the correct label on them. Some cards need to be linked together, like those that form complementary or supplementary angles. Submit the bins to be checked and earn points for correct answers.

Play it: Sortify Angles at BrainPOP

Math in Videogames

$A one-quadrant coordinate plane with a small asteroid and a rocket, and a space for entering coordinates$

What students practice: Graphing on a coordinate plane

Students practice graphing linear paths on a coordinate plane with this game, and keep the spaceship from crashing into the asteroid.

Play it: Math in Videogames at Get the Math

Four quadrant coordinate plane with two intersecting lines drawn on it

What students practice: Geometry

While not a game per se, we love the interactive site GeoGebra for creating graphs, 3D shapes, and more. It’s a perfect way to add an interactive touch to your geometry lessons.

Where to find it: GeoGebra

Looking for more online math content? Check out our big list of the best math websites for students K-12.

Plus, get more helpful teaching and learning ideas like this when you sign up for our free newsletters.

$From counting and basic arithmetic to advanced subjects like geometry and trig, these online interactive math games have something for all.$

18 Estimation Activities That Take the Guesswork out of Teaching Math

We're making an educated guess that you're going to love these. Continue Reading

Action Games
Classic Games
Mahjong Games
Games forum

Brain Games
Number Games
0 Favorites
Donate

Play the best free Mind Games online with brain, math, crossword and word games, sudokus and memory games. Visit our Puzzle Games site for more Puzzle games.

Word Search Summer

Daily Crossword

Daily Word Search

Word Search

Tower of Hanoi

Daily Sudoku

The Daily Commuter Crossword

Daily Suguru

Daily Str8ts

Daily StoStone

Daily Nonograms

Liquid Sort

Magic Word Square

Classic Word Wipe

Daily Star Battle

Daily Same Game

Killer Sudoku

Daily Futoshiki

Just Divide

Daily Queens

Tap It Away 3D

Sudoku Siege

Ball Sort Soccer

Daily Bridges

The Daily Crossword

Daily 1 to 25

Daily Numbrix

Daily Shirokuro

Bubble Word Puzzle

Fill Tracks

TextTwist 2

Our other sites….

Brain Games

Play free brain games in your web browser and improve your thinking skills! Train your brain while having fun in the newest and best brain games.

Challenge Your Mind

Brain games are more than your average puzzle game. They train your mind to think logically and recall patterns to solve problems. Improve your brain by coming back daily. In this category, we’ve curated some of the best brain games to put your mind to work!

Play The Best Brain Games

The best brain game for you depends on what genre you like. If you enjoy mahjong , there are some particularly challenging mahjong games like Mahjong Solitaire that are well worth checking out.

For a tricky logic puzzle game with oddly satisfying gameplay, Cups - Water Sort Puzzle is a must-play title where you sort colored liquids into bottles with increasingly difficult situations. Another one of our greatest brain games is Bloxorz , a stone-cold classic from the Flash games era.

Memory games are a really effective way of sharpening up those recall skills. Incremental Memory is a game about memorizing and choosing the correct tiles. This is a great way to train your brain!

Math isn’t for everyone, but it certainly improves your numerical skills. Sudoku is an excellent combination of math and puzzle. Math Push is a cool platformer where you move blocks to solve mathematical expressions.

What are the most popular Brain Games?

Fill The Fridge
Words of Wonders
Cube Stories: Escape
Cut the Rope
Daily Room Escape
BlockBuster Puzzle
Find It - Find The Differences
Bolts and Nuts

What are the best Brain Games to play on mobile phones and tablets?

Nuts & Bolts: Screw Glass Puzzle

What are some underrated Brain Games?

LA Times Crossword

What are Brain Games?

Brain games feature problem-solving puzzles that may help improve one or more aspects of your cognition. They can feature abstract logic, math, memory recall, and sometimes questions similar to those you may find on an IQ test.

Residential
Small Business
Multifamily
Affordable Connectivity
Additional Services
Why Frontier
Fiber Expansion
Uncable Yourself
Help Center
How-To Videos
Support Wizard
Order/Ticket Status
Sign In/Register
Work From Home
Entertainment

Representation of an educational gaming controller

6 Online Educational Games That Teach Problem Solving to Kids

Good news: The great divide between educational games parents like and fun games kids want is getting smaller all the time. There’s a variety of popular games across various platforms that kids will have fun playing, full of problem-solving techniques and even cool enough to play with their friends. And Mom and Dad can enjoy them, too.

Choosing the best video games for kids

Gone are the days of playing “Oregon Trail” on an old green-screen computer. Today’s games for kids have bright graphics, snappy dialogue and fun tasks. You can get the whole family together for some role playing games on the PC, or you can fire up a console and let your kid play solo or with others.

Games give your young learner a chance to make mistakes in a low-stress yet stimulating environment. If struggling in a subject in school, a child can play a game related to it and get more comfortable. The gameplay may help overcome some of the mental blocks impeding your child’s path to academic success.

Here are some suggestions by theme to get your gameplay underway!

Strategy games

Strategy games focus on skillful planning to overcome various challenges or complete exploration tasks. Your kids may command armies around a map with the goal of taking control of or destroying their opponents’ resources. Your kids can learn about gathering and expending resources, base building and controlling large units of soldiers.

“StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void” – The world of StarCraft takes place in a fictional universe where humans, cybernetically enhanced individuals and genetic mutants are all tasked with colonizing far-off planets in the galaxy. Problems arise when negotiations with alien races break down, and it’s up to the game’s protagonists to prevent the eventual destruction of planets. Players are tasked with resource management and base construction duties, and different tactics and quick thinking are needed for success.

Available for Windows PC and macOS

Puzzle games

“LittleBigPlanet 3 ” – This wildly popular option can inspire critical thinking in young minds as they try to link together clues that will help them progress in the game. Players can explore a world called the Imagisphere, meet new fictional friends and create their own levels in this puzzle platform game. Your child will learn how to solve problems creatively and also look around the world critically, as exploration is well rewarded in this game.

Available only on PlayStation consoles

“Prodigy” – This free-to-play math game for kids grades 1–8 involves Pokemon-like action and exploration. Players battle monsters and fend off opponents by answering questions about addition, subtraction, multiplication and more. You can even work with your child’s teacher to customize the questions to correspond with the lessons being taught in class.

Stream it on Windows or Mac devices

Reading games

“Wordscapes” – If you’re looking for some vocabulary-building games to help your young reader, check this one out. The game allows as many chances as needed to solve a crossword puzzle. A dictionary is built-in, so your kids can learn some new words, too.

Available on iOS and Android

Simulation games

“Animal Crossing: New Horizons” – One of the most popular simulation games on the market today, it mimics real-world tasks and relationships, so players can learn decision-making, problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

Players land on a deserted island and work to build a thriving community filled with talking creatures, lush gardens and bountiful orchards. Your kids will not only learn about resource management, they’ll also learn how to communicate effectively with their tenants on the island, how to buy and sell supplies and how to manage their real-world and in-game play time.

Available for Nintendo Switch

“Stardew Valley” – Don’t let the pixelated graphics fool you. This is a surprisingly deep game that can teach your child about resource management, time management and the trials and tribulations of farm work. The game also has a co-op mode, so you and your child can work on a farm together or with friends.

Available for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS Vita, iOS and Android

What do we need to play these games?

Fiber internet can make downloading these games easier, as fast gigabit speeds can reduce download times. You don’t need to have a gaming private network (GPN) for these kinds of games, as they’re typically not resource heavy, but a GPN can enhance your internet speed during peak network traffic times.

Overall, it can be worth it to invest in a good computer or console for your kids, so they can explore and learn on their own time. Having gigabit internet service will make it easier for your kids to access all the games you find that teach problem solving and more.

Frontier Fiber gig speed keeps it fast and fun

Time to teach kids that you need to start with the right tools for the job. And to game the way you want to, start with a fiber internet connection. With speeds up to a gig, matching upload and download speeds, enough bandwidth to keep games running smoothly, this is the way to start. Ready for Frontier Fiber ? Check here to see if it’s available at your address.

Game features and availability may have changed and are subject to change. Games may require an additional fee.

Join the conversation Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Already a customer?

Having any issues? Please reach out to us on

Suggested for You

A gaming controller connected to a computer

The Future of Gaming Is in the Cloud (And It Needs Fiber)

The Advantages of Gig Speed for Gaming

Why Virtual Reality Needs Fiber Optic Internet

Cut the Lag With Fast Fiber Internet

Frontier Fiber Internet: Best Internet Provider for Gaming acording to U.S. News & World Report

Contributors

Katherine Goldman

Katherine is the author of four books about working mothers. She combines her writing life with ...

Satta Sarmah Hightower

Satta is a former journalist turned freelance writer specializing in consumer technology....

Beau Feeny is a writer and technology consultant based in Chicago. He has built applications and...

Sara Coughlin

Sara is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York, covering health, wellness, home, and lifestyle tr...

Steven Melendez

Steven Melendez is an independent journalist based in New Orleans. He writes about technology an...

Stephanie Vozza

is a tech and business writer who lives in Nashville. She is a regular contributor to Fast Compa...

Math for Kids
Parenting Resources
ELA for Kids
Teaching Resources

Who Invented Math? History, Facts & More

How to Teach Number Recognition to Kids in 8 Easy Steps

How to Teach One to One Correspondence To Kids: 4 Easy Steps

How to Teach Odd and Even Numbers in 4 Easy Steps

How to Teach Long Division to Kids in 6 Easy Steps

8 Types of Preschool Programs for Kids in 2024

6-year-old Developmental Milestones Checklist

How to Prepare a Schedule for Kindergarten With Examples

How to Prepare a Schedule for Preschoolers With Sample

12 Best Funny Short Stories for Kids to Read in 2024

How to Make Reading Fun for Early Readers: 12 Best Ideas

13 Best Phoneme Segmentation Activities for Kids

How to Teach Decoding in 9 Simple Steps

300+ Halloween Words From A-Z for Kids [Free Downloadable]

17 Best Guided Reading Activities for Teachers

12 Best Strategies for Teaching English Grammar to Kids

11 Best Coloring Apps for Kids [Android & iOS]

12 Best Reading Bulletin Board Ideas for Your Classroom

15 Fun Summer Bulletin Board Ideas for 2024

13 Best Assessment Tools for Teachers in 2024

15 Best Problem Solving Activities: Foster Critical Thinking

1. Rolling Dice

2. build a tower, 3. tic tac toe, 4. scavenger hunt, 6. activity books, 7. board games, 9. human knot, 10. open-ended questions.

Problem solving activities for kids are a great way to teach them how to think critically and creatively, and how to develop a growth mindset . We’re sure you must have also played many educational games as a kid that helped you develop critical thinking or problem-solving- skills you’re using even today. These activities can be tailored to be fun and engaging, and they help kids understand that challenges and difficulties are opportunities to learn and grow instead of things to be feared.

Math & ELA | PreK To Grade 5

Kids see fun ., you see real learning outcomes ..

Watch your kids fall in love with math & reading through our scientifically designed curriculum.

By providing kids with problem-solving activities, we can give them the tools to develop their problem-solving skills and build the confidence to tackle difficult challenges, which will be valuable to them throughout their life. It will also help them understand that their abilities can be developed with practice and hard work, encouraging them to persevere through difficult tasks and not give up easily when faced with obstacles. If you’re looking for some fun and engaging problem solving activities for children to develop a growth mindset, we have curated a list of activities for you.

15 Best Problem Solving Activities for Kids

Things you’ll need: A die or dice, some flashcards and a pen

How to do: You can play tons of different games with dice. Playing with two dice encourages kids to quickly add up numbers and learn math in a fun way . One fun game you can play with a single die involves flashcards. For this game, you can assign a category to each number on the die and when the kid rolls the die, they have to name any 3 examples from the category assigned to the number rolled. For example, if number 4 is assigned to animals and it is rolled, they will have to name any 3 animals.

Things you’ll need: Building blocks, lego, toilet rolls or anything that can be stacked

How to do: If you’re looking for problem solving activities for 5 year olds, this is for you. To play this game, just give the kids anything that can be stacked on top of the other. This can be building blocks, lego, Jenga blocks, toilet rolls, etc. The challenge is to stack one on top of the other and see how high a tower they can build. This game can be played in teams or individually as well.

Things you’ll need: A tic tac tow board or pen and paper

How to do: This is one of the most exciting problem solving fun activities for students. You can either play this game on a tic tac toe board or on paper. If you’re playing it on paper, draw a table so that you have 9 boxes. Now each player must choose X or O and try to make a continuous row of their chosen symbol. Whoever succeeds wins.

Things you’ll need: Small toys, stationery items, or anything you want to include in a scavenger hunt

How to do: Assign the teams or individual players specific items they have to find in a defined area. This can be an indoor or outdoor activity for kids . Give them a list of the things they need to find, and you can also give them hints on where to find these things. Whoever or whichever team finds all the things first wins.

Things you’ll need: A puzzle game

How to do: Get a puzzle set. This can be a regular cardboard puzzle or a wooden puzzle and ask the players or teams to arrange it. You can make this a timed challenge or just let the kids solve the puzzle in their own time and have fun.

Things you’ll need: Activity books and pencils

How to do: This is one of the best problem solving activities for kids. Activity books are great for children’s problem-solving skills to develop. Buy them activity books containing games like find the element, what’s wrong with the pictures, or hidden picture books.

Things you’ll need: Board games like Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly Junior, and Go Fish

How to do: Give them board games like Ludo, Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly Junior, Go Fish, etc. These board games help kids to develop logic, think deeper, plan ahead and solve problems.

Things you’ll need: A chalk

How to do: Build a maze with chalk on the sidewalk. Make sure you add a few dead-end ways to make it more challenging for the kids. Once the kid is able to walk through and come out of the maze, take the game to the next level by adding even more dead-end ways and see how they overcome the challenge.

Things you’ll need: Just a playground or garden

How to do: This is a great group activity for kids that’ll also teach them lots of skills. Ask the kids to form a circle and raise their right arm up. Now ask them to reach out to someone standing opposite to them in the circle and hold their left hand with their left hand. Now ask them to raise their left hands up and repeat the process with their right hands. The objective is to entangle them completely and then ask them to detangle themselves without letting go of anyone’s hands.

Things you’ll need: Pen and paper

How to do: Once you’re done with an activity, ask kids open-ended questions. These are questions that have no right or wrong answers. Some examples of such questions are- “Did you find this activity easy?”, “What did you enjoy the most about this activity?”, “How would you make this activity more fun?”, etc.

11. Wool Web

Things you’ll need: Balls of yarn

How to do: This is one of the most exciting group problem solving classroom activities for kids . Divide the players into equal teams and ask them to form a circle. Hand them over one ball of yarn each and ask them to make a web of it amongst the teams. Set a time limit for this step, and once it is done, switch the webs so that none of the teams has their own webs. Now the teams will decide on one player from each team to be blindfolded. This blindfolded player will have to untangle to web assigned to their team with the help of verbal instructions from their teams. The team that untangles the web first wins.

12. Fingertip Hula Hoop

Things you’ll need: Hula hoops

How to do: Divide the kids into teams of 6-8 for this game. Each team will stand in a circle and then be asked to raise their hands up. Now, place a hula hoop on top of their fingertips and ask them to bring it down slowly and make it touch the ground without it falling down or leaving the fingertips. The team to finish the task first wins.

13. Obstacle Course

Things you’ll need: Pillows, blankets, mattresses, cones, balls, chairs, etc.

How to do: Build an obstacle course indoors or outdoors with whatever you can find. This makes for one of the most engaging problem solving games for kids. Ask your kids to cross the obstacle course as fast as they can. To make it a bit more challenging, you can also ask them to race against each other to cross the obstacle course.

14. Memory Games

Things you’ll need: Playing cards

How to do: For this fun cards game, place all the cards face down and take turns to turn 2-4 cards. If you are able to open two similar cards (in number), you get to keep the pair. The player with the highest number of cards with them in the end wins.

15. Impromptu Plays

Things you’ll need: A stage

How to do: This is one of the best problem-solving exercises for kids to play in groups. If you have a large group, divide the kids into teams of 6-8. If the group is smaller, just make the kids stand individually. Now make a few chits on a theme that has questions that form a difficult situation or a challenge. For example, you can put in chits with questions like “You just found your friend cheating in an exam. What do you tell them?” or “Your younger sibling just broke your favorite toy. How do you react?”. Each team must enact a scene that includes the situation their chit has. If the group isn’t that big, each kid must speak about the same chit but have different perspectives.

Why Are Problem Solving Skills Important for Kids?

Developing problem solving skills is extremely important for kids as it helps them to navigate easily around difficulties later on in life. As adults, we’re faced with challenging situations every day, and without our basic problem-solving skills, we wouldn’t be able to survive.

Problem solving skills also help kids to make effective decisions. It helps them resolve problems all at once without reducing them to smaller problems. Once kids develop problem solving skills, it is easier for them to develop other skills as well like critical thinking, cooperation and collaboration with others.

Having problem solving skills helps kids to become more creative and think differently than others and enables them to become independent. These skills also help kids develop decision-making skills and build their confidence along the way as they take the right decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the 5 problem solving skills.

The five problem solving skills are identifying the problem, producing possible results that might work, picking one solution from these, applying the chosen solution and evaluating the results.

What are some examples of problem-solving skills in kids?

Some of the problem solving skills in kids are research, creativity, team-building, communication, active listening, decision-making, and analysis. If you find some of these skills in a kid, chances are they’re great at problem solving.

What is problem solving learning?

According to cornell.edu, Problem solving learning is an approach wherein students are asked open-ended questions about a certain topic, and they must resolve and answer the same in groups.

At what age do children begin problem-solving?

According to a study by Shaffer , kids can start developing basic problem solving skills from the age of three. This further continues to develop as they grow.

What are three problem-solving techniques

According to deakin.edu , the three most basic problem solving techniques are defining the problem, listing out all the possible solutions, and evaluating the options.

17 Creative Art Activities for Preschoolers in 2024

17 Fun Letter H Activities & Crafts for Kids

12 Best Pre-Writing Activities for Preschoolers in 2024

Pre-Kindergarten
Kindergarten

Most Popular

76 Best Report Card Comments Samples for Teachers

117 Best Riddles for Kids (With Answers)

40 Best Good Vibes Quotes to Brighten Your Day

Math & ELA | PreK To Grade 5

Kids see fun., you see real learning outcomes..

Watch your kids fall in love with math & reading through our scientifically designed curriculum.

Parents, try for free Teachers, use for free

Games for Kids
Worksheets for Kids
Math Worksheets
ELA Worksheets
Math Vocabulary
Number Games
Addition Games
Subtraction Games
Multiplication Games
Division Games
Addition Worksheets
Subtraction Worksheets
Multiplication Worksheets
Division Worksheets
Times Tables Worksheets
Reading Games
Writing Games
Phonics Games
Sight Words Games
Letter Tracing Games
Reading Worksheets
Writing Worksheets
Phonics Worksheets
Sight Words Worksheets
Letter Tracing Worksheets
Prime Number
Order of Operations
Long multiplication
Place value
Parallelogram
SplashLearn Success Stories
SplashLearn Apps

Back-to-School Learning Boost!

Turn play into progress., jumpstart learning now.

Explore 4,000+ games and 450+ lesson plans designed to make this school year the best one yet!

Parents, Try for Free Teachers, Use for Free

15 Problem solving activities for students

In this guide

1. The detective game
2. Help ‘em out
3. What if…
4. Move IT!
5. The build
6. Just survive
7. Good old scavenger hunt maybe with a twist
9. Tower of terror
10. Community problem solving
11. Community problem solving documentary
12. Digital storytelling
13. Minefield/Lead the blind
14. Design sprints
15. Debates

Problem solving entails identifying, analyzing, and addressing challenges or obstacles using critical thinking, creativity, analytical skills, and reasoning. The World Economic Forum consistently ranks critical thinking and problem solving as top skills for the future in their list of essential abilities.

Why is problem solving an important skill for students?

In a 2020 report, the World Economic Forum emphasized the growing significance of critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the upcoming years ( Whiting, 2020 ). These skills are vital not only for academic success but also for navigating challenges beyond the classroom. Let’s explore four key benefits of problem-solving skills for students.

Student centered learning: Problem solving encourages student engagement by encouraging hands-on exploration and discovery. Students fully engage with a topic, they are not expected to simply absorb and memorize information. It recognizes and honors students’ individual learning pace, as well as their unique strengths, interests, and motivations.
Enhanced critical thinking: By tackling problems from diverse perspectives and evaluating information from various sources and viewing the problem from various angles, students are able to develop improved critical thinking skills. Problem solving also cultivates systems thinking, enabling students to grasp the interconnectedness of systems, complex issues, and devise holistic solutions.
Confidence building: Through regular practice, students gain confidence in their problem solving skills, equipping them to address challenges across a wide variety of subject areas and real-life scenarios. “The goal in teaching problem-solving is for it to become second nature, and for students to routinely express their curiosity, explore innovative solutions, and analyze the world around them to draw their own conclusions.” (Marshall, 2022)
Teamwork and communication: Engaging in problem solving activities nurtures essential teamwork skills such as communication and collaboration. Students learn to actively listen, respect diverse perspectives, and resolve conflicts in a constructive manner. Moreover, they develop goal setting abilities, organization, and build a sense of personal accountability within a team environment.

Problem solving activities for elementary

Problem solving activities can range from simple to complex and short to long.

1) The detective game

Gather 5-10 clues about a person, place, historical event, pop culture phenomenon, animal, etc. these can be physical clues or images of clues.
Place the clues to a bag and have students draw one clue at a time.
Encourage students to work in small groups to solve the mystery.
Require a minimum number of clues to be drawn (2-3) before attempting their first guess.

Problem Solving Activities Students Detective Game

2) Help ‘em out

Engage students in brainstorming sessions while reading about historical events or fictional characters.
Encourage small group discussion and decision making.
Students can work at desks or on whiteboards.
Challenge the students to identify the problems faced and devise creative solutions to alter the outcomes.

3) What if…

Create a list of moral dilemmas for students to ponder, ChatGPT would be perfect for this.
Cut them up and put them in a bag for students to pull out of or use an online randomizing tool like WheelPicker to make the selection.
Students then have to share how they would handle the situation using ethical reasoning and decision making skills.

Here are the prompts I used on ChatGPT:

I am looking for a list of 15 moral dilemmas for elementary students to try and solve.

And a follow-up prompt:

Could you give 10 more that are based around honesty, fairness, respect, and peer pressure?

And here are 10 dilemmas ChatGPT came up with in seconds:

Truth dilemma: Your friend breaks something and asks you not to tell anyone. Should you keep their secret or tell an adult what happened?
Fairness dilemma: You’re playing a game and your friend keeps losing. Do you let them win to make them feel better or play your best?
Respecting property dilemma: You find money on the ground. Do you keep it, try to find the owner, or turn it into a teacher?
Honesty dilemma: You accidentally take something that belongs to someone else. Do you return it, keep it, or ignore what happened?
Respect dilemma: Your friend likes a certain game, but you don’t. They invite you to play. Do you decline and risk hurting their feelings, or play to make them happy?
Cheating dilemma: You notice someone cheating during a class assignment. Should you tell the teacher or keep quiet?
Environment dilemma: You see someone littering in the park. Do you pick up the trash, ignore it, or say something to the person?
Privacy dilemma: You find a diary belonging to your sibling or friend. Should you read it or respect their privacy?
Homework dilemma: You finish your homework but notice that your friend forgot to complete theirs. They ask to copy your work. What do you do?
Peer pressure dilemma: Your friends want to gossip about another classmate. Do you join in, stay silent, or change the subject?

4) Move IT!

In this activity students are required to move an object across the classroom while navigating various constraints.

Introduce limitations such as restrictions on carrying the object, it can’t touch the floor, limited steps, use of specific body parts, or communication limitations with team members.
Encourage collaborative problem solving and creative thinking to overcome the obstacles.

5) The build

Provide students with materials like straws, marshmallows, paper cups, etc. and challenge them to build. Challenges can be the tallest freestanding tower, a bridge that can hold a certain weight, or other structures following specific rules. Students must learn to think creatively, collaborate, and iterate.

Problem solving activities for middle school

Middle school problem solving can also utilize those activities mentioned for elementary school with some slight tweaks. But, here are some more middle school style activities.

6) Just survive

Use survival scenarios to encourage small groups to employ critical thinking, collaboration, and creative problem solving skills. These scenarios immerse students in real-world situations and foster resilience and adaptability.

Many scenarios can be found online. Here are a few:

Survival Island (complete with Google Slides)
Plane Crash (survival game with a Hatchet by Gary Paulsen feel)
Moon Landing (space survival game)

7) Good old scavenger hunt maybe with a twist

Scavenger hunts require problem solving skills to solve clues, think critically, and collaborate to complete the hunt. A fun and innovative way to do this was created by a friend named Kathi Kersznowski, co-author of Sail the 7Cs with Microsoft Education, called FlipHunt:

A Fliphunt is a video-based scavenger hunt that is completely organized and run in the AMAZING Flip (formerly Flipgrid) environment. It is a wonderfully fun way to get students up and moving while exploring new learning or documenting understanding using the most beloved edtech site for amplifying student voice and student engagement in ways never known before! https://kerszi.com

Escape rooms are an amazing way to promote problem solving and critical thinking with middle school students. Students are presented with a scenario or challenge within a controlled environment, such as a themed classroom or designated area, where they must work together to decipher puzzles, uncover clues, and solve challenges within a set time limit. Escape rooms provide immersive and engaging problem-solving experiences.

There are a number of places teachers can go to find escape rooms, some paid, some free or freemium, and some physical with locked boxes or digital using Google Sites or Google Forms.

BreakoutEDU – Standards aligned Escape Room games.
Digital Escape Rooms from Ditch That Textbook
How to make your own digital escape room with Google Forms

9) Tower of terror

This is a “Red Solo Cup” cup stacking game.

Students are given 3 cups and 2 large index cards.
Cups are stacked with a card in between each cup.
Student teams have 3-10 minutes (be fluid with your time depending on the class) to pull the cards and get the cups to nest on top of each other, earning a point for each successful attempt. Check out this X (Twitter post) by Jonathan Alsheimer , Tower Of Terror . This quick, simple game encourages teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration in a fun fast paced way.

10) Community problem solving

Empower students to address real-world problems from the local community or your school community. Maybe it’s a dangerous intersection, food waste with school lunches, or single-use plastics in the cafeteria. Students can research, analyze data, and propose solutions, fostering civic engagement and social responsibility. This is an activity that can also be used for high school students.

Problem solving activities for high school

High school problem-solving activities build on foundational skills while providing opportunities for deeper exploration and application. Here are some elevated ideas tailored to high school students:

11) Community problem solving documentary

Challenge students to create short documentaries using their phones as cameras about solving problems they see in the community, in school, or in the world. Students can edit directly on their phones, on sites like Canva , WeVideo , or Capcut .

12) Digital storytelling

Encourage students to harness the power of Digital storytelling to promote problem solving. Whether through videos, graphics, podcasts, or interactive presentations, data visualization, or digital books ( BookCreator ), students can craft compelling narratives that inspire action and promote a problem-solving mindset.

Check out Michael Hernandez’s book Storytelling with Purpose Digital Projects to Ignite Student Curiosity and you can listen to Michael on the TeacherNerdz Podcast .

13) Minefield/Lead the blind

This is an outstanding activity created by Dr. Krista Welz & Melissa Welz which involves communication, collaboration, and planning. The “Minefield” activity is where one student navigates through a “Minefield” guided only by verbal commands from their peers. This hands-on exercise promotes teamwork, planning, and effective communication skills. Here is a detailed Google Slides explanation by the creators.

14) Design sprints

Introduce students to the concept of design sprints, a structured process for solving complex problems through rapid prototyping and user feedback. Small teams collaborate intensely over a short period, usually five days (can be shorter a class period or a few days), to ideate, prototype, and validate solutions. Here is a famous design sprint from IDEO shown on ABC’s Nightline, the shopping cart design sprint:

Here are a few ideas:

Redesigning the school cafeteria menu: Students work collaboratively to identify issues with the current cafeteria menu, brainstorm innovative solutions, create prototypes of redesigned menus, and gather feedback through testing sessions to ultimately present improved menu designs to school administrators.
Redesigning classroom layouts for enhanced learning: This sprint focuses on reimagining classroom setups to optimize student learning experiences. Students research, ideate, prototype, test, and present innovative classroom layouts designed to foster a more engaging and effective learning environment.
Creating solutions for reducing school waste: Students address sustainability concerns by identifying sources of waste within the school, brainstorming eco-friendly solutions, prototyping waste reduction strategies, testing their effectiveness, and pitching refined solutions aimed at minimizing waste and promoting environmental stewardship.
11 Activities from IDEO’s d.school for educators: Link

15) Debates

Facilitate lively debates on contemporary issues to stimulate critical thinking and persuasive communication skills. Topics could include:

Establishing a universal basic income to address poverty.
Social media regulation to address misinformation and hate speech on platforms.
Banning TikTok or any social media platform
Animal testing for cosmetics and scientific purposes.
Space exploration funding: Should governments invest more resources in space exploration and colonization efforts, or should these funds be allocated to other pressing issues on Earth?

As we navigate an era of unprecedented change and uncertainty, the need for problem-solving skills has never been more pressing. Gone are the days of lifelong careers; instead, today’s students face a landscape where adaptability and innovation are key. By integrating problem-solving activities tailored to elementary, middle school, and high school students, educators play a pivotal role in equipping the next generation with the tools they need to thrive.

As educators, parents, and stakeholders, we must acknowledge the role of problem-solving skills in shaping resilient, creative, and adaptable individuals. Educators should prioritize the cultivation of these essential skills in our schools and communities, empowering students to confront challenges with confidence, innovation, and creativity. When we do, we not only prepare them for the future but also foster a generation capable of shaping a brighter tomorrow.

*Many, if not all, of the activities above can be adapted up or down the grade levels. *

Daneshgari, F. (2023, March 29). High School Problem-Solving: 6 Activities That Work . Safes Parental Control App. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from https://www.safes.so/blogs/problem-solving-activities-for-high-school-students/
Educator Guides: Activities from d.school Books — Stanford d.school . (n.d.). Stanford d.school. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from https://dschool.stanford.edu/resources/educators-guides-books
Engaging Problem Solving Activities for Middle School Students . (n.d.). Everyday Speech. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://everydayspeech.com/sel-implementation/engaging-problem-solving-activities-for-middle-school-students/
5 Problem-Solving Activities for the Classroom . (2013, February 14). Resilient Educator. Retrieved April 7, 2024, from https://resilienteducator.com/classroom-resources/5-problem-solving-activities-for-the-classroom/
Foshay, W. R., & Kirkley, J. (1998). Principles for Teaching Problem Solving . PLATO Learning Inc. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262798359_Principles_for_Teaching_Problem_Solving
Khanna, B. (2023, September 29). World Economic Forum Warns of Skills Gap in the Future of Work . LinkedIn. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/world-economic-forum-warns-skills-gap-future-work-bhupendra-khanna
Marshall, M. (2022, October 5). Benefits of Problem-Solving in the K-12 Classroom – Institute of Competition Sciences . Institute of Competition Sciences. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.competitionsciences.org/2022/10/05/benefits-of-problem-solving-in-the-k-12-classroom/
Understanding the Importance of Teaching Creative Problem-Solving in Elementary Schools . (n.d.). Everyday Speech. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://everydayspeech.com/sel-implementation/understanding-the-importance-of-teaching-creative-problem-solving-in-elementary-schools/
Weil, Z. (2016). The World Becomes What We Teach: Educating a Generation of Solutionaries . Lantern Publishing & Media.
Whiting, K. (2020, October 21). What are the top 10 job skills for the future? The World Economic Forum. Retrieved April 3, 2024, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/10/top-10-work-skills-of-tomorrow-how-long-it-takes-to-learn-them/

Ronald M. Nober

Technology/STEAM Teacher

Ron Nober is a technology/STEAM teacher and co-host of the TeacherNerdz Podcast. He has a focus on using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the classroom as well as connecting technology to social good.

Try ClickView FREE today

Virtual Experiences
In-Person Experiences
Hybrid Experiences
Attend a Demo
Experience FAQ
Features & Benefits
How Pricing Works
Client Testimonials
Happiness Guarantee
Schedule Call
View Experiences

Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults

By: Angela Robinson | Updated: February 13, 2024

Here is our list of the best problem solving games, activities and exercises for adults.

Problem solving games are activities that require players to use critical thinking skills to solve puzzles. Example activities include escape rooms, Sudoku, and murder mysteries. The purpose of these exercises is to sharpen reasoning and decision-making skills in group settings and to do team building with employees.

These activities are a subset of remote team games , found in problem solving books , and are similar to team puzzles , team building brain teasers and team riddles .

This article contains:

team building problem solving activities for employees
free problem solving games for adults
virtual problem solving activities for students
group problem solving activities
problem solving team builders

Here we go!

List of problem solving games & activities

From word and number puzzles to role-playing games, here is a list of inexpensive and free problem solving team builders that help groups practice the art of critical thinking and compromise.

1. Espionage! (Team Favorite)

For an exciting game of social deduction, check out Espionage! This thrilling experience will put your team’s wits and instincts to the test.

Espionage! offers the following:

a 90-minute session led by an experienced host
undercover teams of agents and spies
challenging puzzles, tasks, and maneuvers
team conversations to help uncover secret identities

The best part is we will bring all the necessary game materials to your preferred location. If you are interested in boosting communication and critical-thinking skills within your team, then consider Espionage!

Learn more about Espionage!

2. Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh (Hosted)

You can turn your team into skilled detectives with Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh! In this captivating mystery, participants will locate the stolen artwork, The Bedroom .

Key features of this experience include:

a 90-minute adventure led by a world-class host
detailed puzzles, clues, and mysteries to unravel
trails of evidence and hidden secrets
group discussions to find the art

Additionally, you can include a cocktail kit to spice up your event. Through Art Heist, you will enhance your team’s ingenuity and problem-solving skills!

Learn more about Art Heist: The Vanishing of Van Gogh .

Get our free team building toolbox

icebreaker games
bingo cards

3. War of the Wizards (Popular)

With War of the Wizards, teams roleplay as minions of powerful wizards to vanquish forces of evil. Participants will play thrilling games and go on a quest to restore harmony to the realm!

War of the Wizards offers the following:

a 90-minute journey guided by a distinguished host
immersive storytelling that transports players into a magical realm
engaging activities like world-building, role-playing games, and storytelling
opportunities for forming alliances, facing challenges, and going on quests

Through the power of imagination and teamwork, your team can overcome tasks and participate in an epic fantasy battle. To improve communication and bonds, include War of the Wizards in your agenda!

Learn more about War of the Wizards .

Sudoku is one of the most popular free problem solving games for adults. The objective of this game is to fill each box of a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and letter contains each number from one to nine. The puzzle makes a great team challenge. To play Sudoku on Zoom, screen share the game board. Then, turn on the annotation features. Using the add text functions, participants can fill in the numbers on the grid.

We made a starter puzzle you can use in your next meeting or virtual team bonding session:

Here are more online Sudoku puzzles .

5. Crossword puzzles

Crossword puzzles are word games that ask players to fill in words based on clues. Words interconnect, and players must think critically about the surrounding words to select the right phrase for the space.

You can use an online crossword puzzle maker to create a custom puzzle. Here are a few themes you may want to consider:

teammates’ tastes and interests
company knowledge and history
industry terms and trends

Or, create a miscellaneous puzzle just for fun.

We made a sample puzzle you can use for your game:

To complete puzzles during online meetings, you can use the share screen function and add text through annotations.

Or, subscribers can play the New York Times’ daily crossword puzzle virtually . Dictionary.com also offers a free daily online crossword puzzle .

Check out more vocabulary games .

6. Online Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are timed games that get groups working together to solve puzzles. Traditionally, players enter a locked room and must complete all puzzles in an hour or two to unlock the door. However, groups can also play escape rooms online.

Digital escape rooms typically come in one of two forms: in a Zoom room and led by a host, or in a choose-your-own adventure format via Google Forms or websites. To play escape rooms virtually, enter a video meeting and follow the prompts, or screen share the Google Form and work out the puzzles together.

Check out our full list of online escape rooms .

7. Murder Mysteries

Murder Mysteries are story-based games that ask players to take on the roles of suspects or detectives while trying to identify a killer. These games often involve reading lines from a script, searching for clues, and occasionally solving puzzles to get hints.

These games make participants pay attention to conversations, analyze other characters’ behavior, and search for hidden meaning in the script. Players must use their powers of observation and logic to unravel the mystery.

Check out our list of Zoom murder mystery games .

8. Treasure Hunts

Treasure hunts are scavenger hunts with intention. While virtual scavenger hunts often ask players to collect random items, treasure hunts require participants to locate clues that lead to other prompts and hints. The game typically ends with players finding a treasure or solving a mystery, sometimes both.

The treasure hunt can have a specific theme such as secret agent missions or a hunt for pirate treasure, or you can run a more general hunt. Teammates can either compete simultaneously via Zoom call, or can play the hunt on an app individually and compete to beat each other’s scores.

Check out our list of treasure hunt apps .

9. Poem or story challenge

Most team building problem solving activities for employees revolve around science, math, and logic. Poem/story challenges rely on writing skills and are sure to appeal to the language lovers on your team.

Each player receives a limited word bank to use to create a story or poem. Then, players have a few minutes to craft their pieces. Afterward, everyone reads out or screen shares their creations.

Here are a few word challenge activities you can do remotely:

Found poems or stories : Participants make poems or stories out of words they find by visiting websites, searching emails, glancing out the window, or taking a walk or drive around the neighborhood.
Random word generators : Teammates use a random word generator to populate a word bank, and must use each word in the poem or story.
Poetry magnets : Group members make poems using poetry magnets. You can send poetry magnet sets to employees and assemble the verses on a cookie pan during a Zoom call. Or, teammates can play with poetry magnets online .
Page poems: Participants receive one page of a book or magazine, and must make a poem or story by blocking out other words so only the chosen text remains visible. This activity is part storytelling, part art, since story crafters can illustrate the pages as part of the design.
Ransom note stories or poems : Players cut out letters from magazines and must form new words to make poems and stories. Or, players can receive a mix of random letters, form words, and run the text through a ransom note generator .

These activities are suitable for teams and individual players.

10. Moral challenge

Some problems are ethical rather than factual. Moral judgment plays just as important a role in the decision-making process as technical prowess. Players can flex their moral problem-solving skills by tackling ethical dilemmas or social puzzles.

Here are some social problem solving games online:

Moral machine
Scruples – the game of moral dilemmas
Morality play

To play these games, either download the apps, or pull up the website and then screen share the prompts. These games are best played when discussed as a group, because the more belief systems and opinions, the harder an issue is to resolve. These exercises provide practice for real-life conflict resolution.

You can find similar challenges on our list of online personality tests .

11. Frostbite

Frostbite is a group game that hones team leaders’ communication skills while sharpening teammates’ listening and cooperation skills. The premise behind the game is that a group of explorers gets caught in a snowstorm and must build a shelter. Frostbite has paralyzed the leaders’ hands and snow-blinded the rest of the team. The leader must give the team instructions to build a tent that can resist arctic winds.

To play Frostbite, each teammate wears a blindfold. Then, the leader gives directions. Once the structures are complete, players turn on a fan to test whether tents can withstand the wind.

Frostbite is usually an in-person game, however you can also play virtually. In the remote version of the game, teammates construct tents out of cards and tape, while the leader surveys the scene on screen.

This exercise demonstrates the challenges of leading remotely, as teams need to operate with minimal oversight or supervisor observation. Therefore, instructions need to be clear and direct to be effective.

Check out more team building games .

12. Virtual Hackathons

Hackathons are events where participants have a set amount of time to design and pitch a new product or solution. This type of event originated in the programming world and is often used to create new apps, however you can apply the game to any industry or school subject.

Virtual hackathons are online versions of the event. Teams enter the competition, then work with each other via virtual meeting software or remote work communication platforms to design the solution. At the end of the competition, teams pitch ideas to a panel of judges and a winner is decided.

To run a virtual hackathon, first announce the theme of the event and collect sign-ups. So that no teams work ahead, hint at the general idea of the issue, and only explain the precise problem when the event begins. Then, give teams anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete the project.

Discover more virtual hackathon ideas .

13. Improv games

Improv games are excellent problem solving activities. These exercises force participants to think and respond quickly to keep scenes moving in a logical and entertaining way.

Here are some good problem solving improv games:

Banned words : Performers cannot say certain words. Scene partners will conceive of situations that encourage the actors to use those words, and the actors must find alternatives, such as using synonyms or taking the scene in a new direction.

Scenes from a chat : Audience gives a suggestion for a scene, and players act the scene out. Though it’s a fictional and often ridiculous scenario, actors must react to the situation and solve the problem in order for the scene to end.

Miracle cure : Miracle cure is a quick-moving exercise that follows a simple format. One player declares, “I have a problem.” Another player responds, “I have a….[random object.]” The first player then replies, “great! I can use the [random object] to….” and describes how they will solve the problem.

Check out more problem-solving improv games .

14. Spaghetti Tower

The spaghetti tower is a classic team building game. Participants gather uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows, and must construct the tallest freestanding tower.

During the in-person version, players must construct one tall freestanding tower. However, for the virtual version of the game, players construct individual towers. You can send groups to breakout rooms for the build, then reconvene in the main room for judging. Teams are judged on three main factors: number of towers, height, and uniformity.

This version of the game not only tests the structural integrity of the tower, but also consistency and quality control. This exercise teaches teams to align and collaborate remotely, and produce a consistent product even when far apart.

15. What Would You Do?

What Would You Do? is a simple situational game that challenges participants to react to different circumstances. To play this game, read prompts one by one, and then ask participants to respond with gameplans. You can use the polling or raise hand feature to vote for the best option.

Here are some problem solving scenarios for adults or kids to use in the game:

Zombies attack and you have to find a place to hide.
You are at the zoo and the animals escape. Which one do you try to corral back into the pen first?
After waiting in line for hours, someone cuts in front of you last minute. The person appears to be visually and hearing impaired, and doesn’t notice your protests. An official announces that due to diminishing supply, this individual will be the last in line to be served.
You are eating a meal with important clients and/or your partner’s parents, and you want to impress. The individuals make you a dish that does not fit within your dietary restrictions, but you do not speak the same language and cannot explain why you do not want to eat.
An imposter has infiltrated the organization, who looks, speaks, and behaves exactly like you. How do you convince your peers that you are the original?

For similar dilemmas, check out this list of Would You Rather? questions.

16. Desert Island Survival

Desert Island Survival is a game that challenges players to prioritize. The premise is that players have been stranded on an island, and must decide what order to perform survival steps.

Here are the possible actions:

Set up shelter
Explore the island
Try to signal for help
Make weapons for self-defense
Build a raft to escape the island
Start a fire
Choose a group leader
Search for other survivors

All group members must agree on the order of the steps. Players should explain the reasoning for the order of each step while ranking the actions.

Another version of the game involves players receiving a list of 15 to 20 items, and selecting five or so to bring to the island. You can also vary the location of the game, substituting remote islands for destinations like outer space or the distant past.

17. Choose Your Own Adventure

Choose Your Own Adventure stories enable readers to determine the outcome of the story by making decisions. Each action has a consequence that takes the tale in a different direction. Participants can try to guess how the story may unfold by talking through the different choices. When completing the activity in a group setting, the majority of the team must agree on an action before moving forward in the story.

There are a few ways to facilitate these activities online:

Play an online role playing video game
Watch an interactive movie like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch
Read from a Choose Your Own Adventure book on Zoom
Click through a Choose Your Own Adventure platform
Create your own story using a Google Form

Whichever way you choose to do the exercise, you can use the screen share feature in your virtual meeting software so that listeners can more easily follow along.

18. MacGyver

MacGyver is a show where the hero escapes sticky situations by improvising tools out of unlikely materials. For example, in one episode the hero makes a telescope out of a newspaper, magnifying lens, and a watch crystal.

To play MacGyver, you can either list three to five objects participants can use, or challenge players to use items that are within arms reach.

Simply state a desired end result, such as “a way to open a locked door,” or “a getaway vehicle,” and then ask teams to explain what they will build and how they will build it. To make the activity more collaborative, you can give teams five or ten minutes in breakout rooms to strategize and design a prototype.

19. Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a roleplaying game where players pretend to be magical figures and creatures. One player serves as the dungeon master, who guides the game, while the other players pick characters and make decisions to move the story forward. Upon choosing a course of action, players roll a twenty-sided die to determine whether or not the plan succeeds. The game is story-based, the possibilities are nearly limitless, and truly creative problem solving options arise. Also, since gameplay is mostly verbal, Dungeons & Dragons is an easy activity to do over Zoom.

Here are the basic rules for Dungeons & Dragons .

20. Pandemic

Pandemic is a game that pits players against the forces of nature in a race to contain and control disease outbreaks. At the beginning of the game, each player receives a role such as containment specialist or operations expert. Participants must carry out the duties of their roles by choosing appropriate actions. Pandemic is a great game for groups because each team member has a clear part to play, and players must collaborate and work together instead of competing against each other.

To play the game online, you can use a Pandemic game app , or talk through the exercise while one attendee moves and displays pieces on the board.

Note: The subject of this game might hit too close to home for some players, considering recent history. You can find games with similar mechanics that deal with different subject matter, such as Forbidden Island.

Check out more team building board games .

21. Model UN

Model UN is one of the best virtual problem solving activities for students. This exercise casts participants in the role of international diplomats who must negotiate to solve realistic problems. Each player assumes the role of a country ambassador and must form alliances and propose solutions to solve crises.

Here are some sample Model UN scenarios:

Human rights violation by powerful country
Food shortage
Disease epidemic
Technology privacy violations
Civil war branching into surrounding countries
Natural disasters

Depending on the size of the group, participants either take on the part of an entire government of a country, or play a certain role within the government. To carry out the activity on Zoom, players can take turns giving speeches, message other countries privately via the chat, meet in breakout rooms to form alliances or have more intimate discussions, and use the polling feature to vote on propositions.

If politics does not resonate with your group, then you can alter the exercise by applying the same activity structure to a different theme, such as the Justice League, movie characters, business board members, or reality TV stars.

The main purpose of the exercise is to research, talk through problems, and compromise. As long as these elements are present, then the specifics of the setup do not matter.

There are many types of problem solving activities for adults. You can do online problem solving games, which require a different skill set than in-person problem solving. For instance, communication must be much clearer and more abundant when group members are far apart and unable to demonstrate or pick up physical cues.

Though many problem solving games include props and in-person elements, there are many games you can play together online. These exercises work well as educational tools as well as team bonding accelerators. Upon completion, participants are likely to feel a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence. These games are also great practice for real life conflict resolution, creative thinking and team building.

Next check out this list of connection games , this collection of crime-solving games , and this post with conflict resolution games .

We also have a list of the best decision making books and a list of team building problems for work .

Book wildly fun team building events with expert hosts

FAQ: Problem solving activities

Here are common answers to questions about group problem solving activities.

What are problem solving games?

Problem solving games are challenges that ask players to think critically and use logic to overcome issues or answer riddles. Examples include sudoku, murder mysteries, and spaghetti towers. These games are also known as “problem solving exercises”, “problem and solution games” and “group problem solving activities.”

What are the best problem solving games for groups?

The best problem solving games for groups include online escape rooms, moral challenges, and improv games.

What are some good problem solving team building activities for students?

Some good problem solving activities for students include crossword puzzles, choose your own adventure stories, and model UN.

How do you play problem solving games online?

The best way to play problem solving games online is to join a video call meeting to talk through the issue. Using the screen sharing and digital whiteboard features helps participants visualize the problem more clearly. Breakout rooms give teams the chance to discuss the issue more intimately.

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

You missed chess… Now that’s problematic!

Get our free team building tool box

$49 value at no cost..

May as well check it out?
100+ tested icebreaker questions
24+ themed Bingo generators
5+ PDFs (including the 8% Rule)
2024 team building calendar and more...

Enter your email for instant access

Bachelor’s Degrees
Master’s Degrees
Doctorate Degrees
Certificate Programs
Nursing Degrees
Cybersecurity
Human Services
Science & Mathematics
Communication
Liberal Arts
Social Sciences
Computer Science
Admissions Overview
Tuition and Financial Aid
Incoming Freshman and Graduate Students
Transfer Students
Military Students
International Students
Early Access Program
About Maryville
Our Faculty
Our Approach
Our History
Accreditation
Tales of the Brave
Student Support Overview
Online Learning Tools
Infographics

Home / Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs / Online Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies Degree Program / Problem Solving Games

Problem Solving Games for Students

Problem-solving is an important skill to learn and work at. Every problem has a solution and there are skills you can practice in order to come to those solutions easily and quickly. Through critical thinking, logic, and consideration, you’ll be able to solve many problems every day. Use this collection of problem-solving links to help you practice your problem-solving skills specific to reading, math, puzzles, and more.

General Problem Solving

Knowledge Adventure – Pick an exciting game that builds science, math, or word skills for students in preschool through sixth grade.
Kaeru Jump – Can you make all the stones disappear by helping the frog hop on each one?
FunBrain Junior – Build your brainpower while you play Beach Ball Balance, Beaker Bonanza, Deep Letter Dive, and lots of other fun games.
Smarty Games – Choose from a variety of fun, educational games that challenge kids’ math, logic, and reading skills.
Brain Den – Kids can challenge themselves to solve logic riddles, matchstick puzzles, and more.
Topmarks Reading and Math Games – Kids ages 3-14 can choose from a variety of reading and math games that build their problem solving skills as they count sea creatures, spice up a scary story with adjectives, match animals to their sounds, and more.

Puzzles and Patterns

Pattern Quest – Are you ready for a challenge? Put on your thinking cap and find the secret car pattern, one tricky clue at a time!
Shape Sequences – Figure out which shape completes the pattern in this interactive, colorful game with fun sounds and animations.
Pattern Matcher – Look at the silly pictures to discover their repeating patterns!
Memorize Patterns – Memorize each pattern, but be quick! It’s your job to repeat it when it disappears.
Pattern Games – Kids can learn to recognize patterns as they play a number sequence game or help a dog cross the pattern bridge.

Math Problems and Games

Fast Math in Outer Space – You can solve math problems to shoot down enemy ships and win the space battle.
Math Playground – Choose your math skill level from first through sixth grade and then race your pony in the Division Derby, compete in the Math Millionaire game show, play with the animals of Fraction Forest, and more!
Math Zone – Want to learn about number lines with Cake Monster or win in MathCar Racing? Check out the Math Zone!
Interactive Math Games – Improve your math skills with Monkey Drive, practice multiplication in Fruit Splat, or try the Animal Rescue Number Line.
The Kidz Page – Try the Math Race or solve the Pirate Picture Math Puzzle!

Reading Games

Alphabetter – Can you match each letter to the word it begins in this colorful, animated game?
English Language Arts Games – Young readers with a range of ability levels can try the School Bus Spelling Game or play Sentence Spinner to add goofy adjectives to sentences.
Greek Word Roots – Play the It’s Greek to Me game to strengthen your knowledge of Greek word roots as you represent your country in the Olympic Games.
Starfall – Would you like to practice forming words and sentences while hearing them spoken aloud? Check out the cute, animated reading games at Starfall!
Teach Your Monster to Read – Kids preschool age and beyond will love this engaging series of games that build reading skills. Whether children are learning letters and sounds or reading sentences, Teach Your Monster to Read can help them grow and thrive.
ABC Countdown – Can you help the monkey practice his alphabet by picking coconuts in the right order?
Room Recess – Use context clues to help Sir Readalot make his way through the castle or practice letter sounds with fun, animated characters.

Bring us your ambition and we’ll guide you along a personalized path to a quality education that’s designed to change your life.

Take Your Next Brave Step

Receive information about the benefits of our programs, the courses you'll take, and what you need to apply.

JetBrains Academy

The place for learning and teaching computer science your way

Twitter Twitter
Facebook Facebook

JetBrains Introduces Free Online Clubs for School Students

Starting in October, we invite teenagers interested in math, programming, and AI to join our free online clubs. Whether you want to participate in Olympiads or planning to study at high-intensity and prestigious STEM programs, our clubs will help you prepare and meet like-minded people from different countries. Take a closer look at the clubs if you plan to participate in the upcoming JetBrains Academy Youth Challenge .

The clubs will operate from October 2024 until the end of May 2025. They are designed for high schoolers but can also be interesting for younger students with experience in solving tasks outside the standard school curriculum.

Every week, you’ll be given a set of 15 problems, each of increasing difficulty. You can solve those at any convenient time before the deadline. After that, you can discuss your solutions with your peers and coaches during the Math Club’s Saturday live sessions, which will last for 90 minutes.

The first semester focuses on polynomials, discrete probability, and graph theory. Students who solve at least 50% of the tasks will be invited to continue to the more advanced second semester with written solutions and oral defenses.

This club is particularly valuable for those who excel in programming. The course helps create a fundamental mathematical base to enhance your ability to solve programming problems more effectively. The course curriculum is designed by a team of mathematicians with expertise in preparing winners and medalists for major events like the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) and the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO).

For students entering bachelor’s studies this year, your Math Club results may count as an additional five points (about one-third) of an entrance test mark for the BSc degrees supported by JetBrains: Computer Science and AI and Software, Data, and Technology.

If you’re interested in diving into AI, learning the basics, and even putting in the effort to reach Olympiad level (like IOAI), take a closer look at our AI Club.

This club offers weekly lectures and live sessions every Wednesday, held by Alex Avdiushenko, PhD in math modeling and analyst on the JetBrains Education and Research team. You’ll learn about machine learning (data analysis and model training), neural networks, computer vision, and natural language processing (NLP).

This club will be especially beneficial to those interested in adding knowledge of AI to your math or coding skills.

Coding Club

Our Coding Club hosts weekly contests on the Codeforces platform. It’s a perfect match for those with some experience in competitive programming who want to master their problem-solving skills.

Each week, Pavel Mavrin, ICPC World Champion 2004, IOI 2002 Silver Medalist, and instructor at JetBrains Academy, will prepare a mashup contest for you and discuss your solutions during live sessions held on Thursdays.

Subscribe to JetBrains Academy updates

By submitting this form, I agree that JetBrains s.r.o. ("JetBrains") may use my name, email address, and location data to send me newsletters, including commercial communications, and to process my personal data for this purpose. I agree that JetBrains may process said data using third-party services for this purpose in accordance with the JetBrains Privacy Policy . I understand that I can revoke this consent at any time in my profile . In addition, an unsubscribe link is included in each email.

Thanks, we've got you!

Discover more

JetBrains Academy: New in September

This September, JetBrains Academy brings you a new project and 18 educational topics to help you on your coding journey.

JetBrains Academy – August Digest

Learn about new career programs, courses, students’ achievements, and more

Euro 2024: Scoring Goals With Python

In this blogpost, we used Python to dig stats from the Euro 2024 tournament, showing how you can apply the basics of data science to real-world contexts.

JetBrains Academy: New in August

Check out what's new at JetBrains Academy this August! We've got fresh courses and projects that can help you grow your skills and stand out in the job market.

IMAGES

Problem Solving Games For Students
Problem Solving Games For Students
Problem Solving Games For Students
5 Great Problem-solving Games to Use with Students in Class (Android
Problem Solving Games For Students
Problem Solving Games For Students / 17 Fun Problem Solving Activities

VIDEO

Sago Mini School
Top 10 PC Games with Mind Bending Puzzles
Top 10 Mind Stimulating Games to Boost Your Brainpower
Problem solving games
9 Riddles that will test your brain power|Tricky Riddles
Festival of the Arts- role playing and problem solving game

COMMENTS

Kids Problem Solving Games Online
Problem Solving Games for Kids. Give your brain a workout with these kids problem solving games and interactive activities. Find cool number problems and exercises as well as challenges that will test your logical thinking and reasoning abilities. Help a frog jump stones, measure water with limited resources, get people safely across a bridge ...
Math Games
Algebra Puzzles. Strategic Multiplication. Fraction Tasks. Problem Solving. 3rd Grade Math. Visual Math Tools. Model Word Problems. Free, online math games and more at MathPlayground.com! Problem solving, logic games and number puzzles kids love to play.
44 Powerful Problem Solving Activities for Kids
By honing their problem-solving abilities, we're preparing kids to face the unforeseen challenges of the world outside. Enhances Cognitive Growth: Otherwise known as cognitive development. Problem-solving isn't just about finding solutions. It's about thinking critically, analyzing situations, and making decisions.
Logic Games
Math Playground has more than 500 free, online math games, logic games and strategy puzzles that will give your brain a workout. Play Bloxorz, 2048 and all your favorite games. ... FUN KIDS GAMES Fun Games Adventure Games Car Games Sports Games Endless Runner Games Perfect Timing Games ... Problem Solving 3rd Grade Math Visual Math Tools
Brain Games For Kids
PLAY NOW. MentalUP Brain Stimulators Games for Kids help kids improve their skills including visual attention, divided attention, selective attention, focusing, problem-solving, and imagination. Improve your child's cognitive skills with online mind games, have fun, and learn at the same time! PLAY FOR FREE.
Math Word Problems
Problem 6. Math Playground has hundreds of interactive math word problems for kids in grades 1-6. Solve problems with Thinking Blocks, Jake and Astro, IQ and more. Model your word problems, draw a picture, and organize information!
9 Online Educational Games That Teach Problem Solving Skills to Kids
So, we hand-picked the best online games your kids will love learning from even if they hate figuring things out on their own. Take a look: 9 Best Online Educational Games To Teach Kids Problem Solving Skills. Fun games you'll find in this list include: General adventure gameplays to teach kids strategy, Subject-specific games to help kids ...
Brilliant
Students and professionals alike can hone dormant skills or learn new ones. ... We make it easy to stay on track, see your progress, and build your problem-solving skills one concept at a time. Stay motivated. Form a real learning habit with fun content that's always well-paced, game-like progress tracking, and friendly reminders. Product ...
15 Fun Problem-Solving Activities for Kids & Teens
Check out some of these fun problem-solving activities for kids and teens below! Problem-solving activities for elementary school kids (ages 5-10) From traditional paper-and-pencil activities to online tools, below are some great activities for kids ages 5-10. 1. Coding Courses for Kids.
Logic & Thinking Games for Kids Online
Logic & Thinking Games for Kids. Elevate your child's problem-solving abilities with our fun logic & thinking games for kids. They will learn to analyze, strategize, and think critically while having fun. Explore our collection now and provide them with endless opportunities to learn and grow. Start playing for free now!
Math and Logic Puzzles
Math and Logic Puzzles. If you REALLY like exercising your brain, figuring things 'round and 'round till you explode, then this is the page for you !
Engaging Problem Solving Activities That Spark Student Interest
Discuss lessons learned and the importance of problem solving skills. This is one of the problem solving activities for students that can create a simulated environmental crisis scenario, fostering collaboration, critical thinking, and problem solving skills in students. 5. Mathematical Escape Puzzle: Crack the Code.
28 Online Interactive Math Games Kids Will Love
Coolmath Games/Penalty Kick via coolmathgames.com. What students practice: Multi-digit multiplication. The game is simple enough: Each player takes a turn kicking a soccer ball or defending the goal. When they're successful, they get to solve a math equation for a chance at a bonus point. Play it: Penalty Kick at Coolmath Games.
Free Online Mind Games
Play the best free Mind Games online with brain, math, crossword and word games, sudokus and memory games. Visit our Puzzle Games site for more Puzzle games.
Cyberchase . Topics . Problem Solving
Step by Step: Act 1. Bianca's Wish on a Fish. The Harry Show: Leapin' Leopards. The Hacker's Challenge: Act 2. The Hacker's Challenge: Act 1. A Renewable Hope: Act 3. A Renewable Hope: Act 2. Become a problem-solver like the CyberSquad with these free math games, videos and activities from Cyberchase on PBS KIDS.
Brain Games ️ Play on CrazyGames
Play free brain games in your web browser and improve your thinking skills! Train your brain while having fun in the newest and best brain games. Show More. Brain games are more than your average puzzle game. They train your mind to think logically and recall patterns to solve problems. Improve your brain by coming back daily.
14 Games to Play in Class for Students of All Ages (Online ...
Education should be an exciting adventure that sparks curiosity. Discover 14 games handpicked for students of all ages, designed to make learning interactive and enjoyable. By blending entertainment and education, these games foster critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills, improving the classroom experience.
Mathigon
Our unparalleled interactivity allow students to explore, discover, learn problem-solving and be creative. Captivating storytelling and real applications make abstract topics more engaging than ever before. Discover Mathigon, the Mathematical Playground. Learning mathematics has never been so interactive and fun!
6 Online Educational Games That Teach Problem Solving to Kids
Math games. "Prodigy" - This free-to-play math game for kids grades 1-8 involves Pokemon-like action and exploration. Players battle monsters and fend off opponents by answering questions about addition, subtraction, multiplication and more. You can even work with your child's teacher to customize the questions to correspond with the ...
15 Fun Problem-Solving Activities for Growth Mindset
15 Best Problem Solving Activities for Kids. 1. Rolling Dice. Things you'll need: A die or dice, some flashcards and a pen. How to do: You can play tons of different games with dice. Playing with two dice encourages kids to quickly add up numbers and learn math in a fun way.
15 Problem Solving Activities For Students
Problem solving activities can range from simple to complex and short to long. 1) The detective game. Gather 5-10 clues about a person, place, historical event, pop culture phenomenon, animal, etc. these can be physical clues or images of clues. Place the clues to a bag and have students draw one clue at a time.
Problem Solving Games, Activities & Exercises for Adults
4. Sudoku. Sudoku is one of the most popular free problem solving games for adults. The objective of this game is to fill each box of a 9×9 grid so that every row, column, and letter contains each number from one to nine. The puzzle makes a great team challenge. To play Sudoku on Zoom, screen share the game board.
Problem Solving Games for Students
Brain Den - Kids can challenge themselves to solve logic riddles, matchstick puzzles, and more. Topmarks Reading and Math Games - Kids ages 3-14 can choose from a variety of reading and math games that build their problem solving skills as they count sea creatures, spice up a scary story with adjectives, match animals to their sounds, and more.
JetBrains Introduces Free Online Clubs for School Students
They are designed for high schoolers but can also be interesting for younger students with experience in solving tasks outside the standard school curriculum. Learn more. ... It's a perfect match for those with some experience in competitive programming who want to master their problem-solving skills. Each week, Pavel Mavrin, ICPC World ...