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Lesson ID: 10289
Join Amazing Grace on her adventure and become a problem-solving pro as you read her inspiring story!
What’s the Problem?
Maybe you lost your shoe, spilled your juice, or couldn’t reach a shelf. Every problem needs a solution—something to fix it!
Stories are full of problems, too! That’s what makes them exciting. And just like in real life, stories also have solutions that help fix what’s wrong.
In this lesson, you’ll become a problem-and-solution expert as you read about a girl named Grace who faces a big challenge—and finds a powerful way to solve it.
Meet Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman is a story about a girl who loves using her imagination. Grace becomes pirates, heroes, and even Peter Pan in her pretend play.
But one day, someone tells her she can’t be Peter Pan in a school play—just because she’s a girl, and because she’s Black.
Grace faces a big problem.
Find out as you explore the problem and solution in Grace’s story.
What Is a Problem in a Story?
A problem in a story is something that goes wrong or something the character needs to fix.
It might be a big challenge or something that feels unfair.
Here are some examples of story problems.
A character loses something important.
A character gets hurt or feels left out.
A character wants something but can’t get it right away.
To find the problem, ask yourself these questions.
What is going wrong?
What does the character want?
What’s standing in their way?
What Is a Solution?
A solution is how the problem gets fixed or solved.
Here are some examples of story solutions.
A character finds what they lost.
Someone helps them feel better.
They stand up for themselves or try something new.
To find the solution, ask these questions.
What did the character do to fix it?
What happened at the end that solved the problem?
How Do They Work Together?
The problem and solution are like a puzzle—they fit together!
The problem creates the tension or challenge in the story.
The solution brings everything together and shows how the character changes or grows.
Every step between the problem and the solution helps tell the full story.
When you understand both, you can understand the whole story much better.
Try It With Grace!
As you listen to Amazing Grace, pay close attention to find the answers to these questions.
What is Grace’s problem? (Hint: What challenge does she face?)
How is it solved? (Hint: What does she do about it?)
Use the Problem and Solution Graphic Organizer from Downloadable Resources in the right-hand sidebar to write or draw what you notice. In one box, describe or draw the problem. In the other, show the solution.
Compare your ideas to those below.
Ready to Practice?
Now that you know what a problem and solution are, practice with Grace’s story—and maybe even find some in your own life!
Head to the Got It? section to test your skills and have some fun!
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