Developing Tools and Techniques Useful in Social Problem-Solving

1.  LEARNING ABOUT VOTING

Voting can be one possible way to choose from an array of solutions to a problem.

Here is an article describing how kindergarten children learned about the concept of voting through 5 scaffolded levels:

Scaffolding Level 1:   

Different People have Different Ideas  (What does it mean to vote?  Oh my – others may vote differently than I do!)

Scaffolding Level 2:   

My Choice Might Not Be the One Selected by the Group, but I Abide by the

Outcome  

Scaffolding Level 3:   

Deliberation Provides Knowledge Before We Make a Choice  (Get facts before voting!)

Scaffolding Level 4:   

Using Persuasion to Influence Voting  (Maybe I can convince others to see it my way!)

Scaffolding Level 5:   

Living with the Outcome, but Working for Change  (My vote didn’t win.  Now what should I do?)

pdf article: Boss of the United States – Kindergarteners’ Concept of Voting – Five Scaffolded Levels that Build Understanding

Betty C. Mulrey, Ann T. Ackerman, and Patricia H. Howson. “Boss of the United States” – Kindergarteners’ Concept of Voting: Five Scaffolded Lessons that Build Understanding. Social Studies and the Young Learner 25 (1), pp. 27–32 ©2012 National Council for the Social Studies

2.  LEARNING THAT THERE CAN BE MORE THAN ONE SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM

3. LEARNING THAT THERE IS MORE THAN ONE WAY TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS

4.  LEARNING TO WORK TOGETHER – PRACTICING COLLABORATION ON OTHER THINGS BESIDES PROBLEM-SOLVING