Description
Want to make problem-and-solution writing feel easier—for both you and your students?
This slide deck teaches students how to write clear and focused informational paragraphs using a problem-and-solution structure. It follows a scaffolded flow from discussion to brainstorming to writing.
Students begin with two realistic school-based problems and brainstorm both why the issue matters and potential solutions. These are quick scenarios that prepare them for deeper thinking without overwhelming them.
The students are then guided to read and analyze two mentor paragraphs:
- One shows multiple solutions to a school-based problem (a messy lost and found).
- The other shows one strong solution (fixing a leaky pipe).
- Both are broken down to highlight the role of each sentence and model the paragraph structure.
Next, the slide deck walks students through how to:
- Write a topic sentence that introduces the problem
- Add supporting sentences that explain why it matters and give one or more solutions
- Finish with a closing sentence
Students also learn how to use transitions (e.g., “Another idea…” or “This would help because…”) and how to avoid repeating the word “solution” over and over.
Revising and editing slides are also included to help.
Note: Students plan their supporting details, but I have them write their topic sentence and closing sentence directly on their writing paper as part of the drafting process, not on the organizer.
What’s Included?
✔️ Teaching Slides that walk you and your students through a lesson on the skill.
✔️ Slides-aligned practice to keep your students engaged and focused, scaffolded to make it easier for them to take notes on the skill and not miss out on the presentation.
✔️ Optional Printable Posters or References – Use these to help your students follow along and as a reference tool in your classroom.
✔️ Writing Practice Pages – Reinforce the skill with guided and independent practice. Use with or without the teaching slides!
✔️ Writing Prompts – Practice the skill with ready-to-use writing prompts, available digitally and printable, with organizers.
✔️ Answer Keys – For any relevant printables, answer keys are included. In addition, answers are embedded in the slide deck as you go through the slides.
Interactive Elements:
The presentation encourages participation. Add more interactive elements as needed to keep your students engaged and interacting with the content. See the PDF for more ideas for engagement.
More About the Writing Teaching Slides
The writing teaching slides are available in Google Slides. The access link is available in the PDF.
You can download them from Google Slides to use in Microsoft PowerPoint if you prefer.
The slides are NOT editable but you can delete, insert, or rearrange slides as needed.
The slideshow does not use transitions. This allows for you to use them seamlessly in your choice of application and on a variety of devices. Content is added to slides as you go through to provide the students with a bit of information at a time.
Writing Problem and Solution Paragraphs - Teaching Slides & Notes for Grades 4-5
Highlights
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Description
Want to make problem-and-solution writing feel easier—for both you and your students?
This slide deck teaches students how to write clear and focused informational paragraphs using a problem-and-solution structure. It follows a scaffolded flow from discussion to brainstorming to writing.
Students begin with two realistic school-based problems and brainstorm both why the issue matters and potential solutions. These are quick scenarios that prepare them for deeper thinking without overwhelming them.
The students are then guided to read and analyze two mentor paragraphs:
- One shows multiple solutions to a school-based problem (a messy lost and found).
- The other shows one strong solution (fixing a leaky pipe).
- Both are broken down to highlight the role of each sentence and model the paragraph structure.
Next, the slide deck walks students through how to:
- Write a topic sentence that introduces the problem
- Add supporting sentences that explain why it matters and give one or more solutions
- Finish with a closing sentence
Students also learn how to use transitions (e.g., “Another idea…” or “This would help because…”) and how to avoid repeating the word “solution” over and over.
Revising and editing slides are also included to help.
Note: Students plan their supporting details, but I have them write their topic sentence and closing sentence directly on their writing paper as part of the drafting process, not on the organizer.
What’s Included?
✔️ Teaching Slides that walk you and your students through a lesson on the skill.
✔️ Slides-aligned practice to keep your students engaged and focused, scaffolded to make it easier for them to take notes on the skill and not miss out on the presentation.
✔️ Optional Printable Posters or References – Use these to help your students follow along and as a reference tool in your classroom.
✔️ Writing Practice Pages – Reinforce the skill with guided and independent practice. Use with or without the teaching slides!
✔️ Writing Prompts – Practice the skill with ready-to-use writing prompts, available digitally and printable, with organizers.
✔️ Answer Keys – For any relevant printables, answer keys are included. In addition, answers are embedded in the slide deck as you go through the slides.
Interactive Elements:
The presentation encourages participation. Add more interactive elements as needed to keep your students engaged and interacting with the content. See the PDF for more ideas for engagement.
More About the Writing Teaching Slides
The writing teaching slides are available in Google Slides. The access link is available in the PDF.
You can download them from Google Slides to use in Microsoft PowerPoint if you prefer.
The slides are NOT editable but you can delete, insert, or rearrange slides as needed.
The slideshow does not use transitions. This allows for you to use them seamlessly in your choice of application and on a variety of devices. Content is added to slides as you go through to provide the students with a bit of information at a time.
