Centro Cultural Sampedrano

Psychology

Research Paper
Problem Solving Activities/Games

Ms. Cano, Ingrid

Group #4
Alice Flores, Fresia Rápalo, Samantha Chius,
Valeria Ordoñez, Joshua Pinto and
Luis Miranda

1
 Index
Introduction………………………………………….…………………Pg. 3
Alice Flores………………………………………….……………. Pg. 4 – 7
 Sudoku
 Crossword
 Alphabet/Letter Soup
 Spot the Difference
Fresia Rápalo………………………………………..…………… Pg. 8 – 11
 Labyrinth
 Find the Objects
 Complete the Picture
 Slither Link
Samantha Chius………………………………………..………...Pg. 12 – 15
 Matching Pair Card Games
 Scrabble
 Tetris
 Spaguetti Tower
Valeria Ordoñez…………………………………………..……...Pg. 16 – 19
 Crossword Puzzle
 Alphabet Soup
 Scramble Words
 Color the Numbers
Joshua Pinto…………………………………………………..….Pg. 20 – 23
 Hangman Game
 Maze Labyrinth Game
 X-O
 Scrambled Words
Luis Miranda…………………………………………………….Pg. 24 – 27
 Online Escape Rooms
 Marble Maze
 The Egg Drop Challenge
 Picture Pieces Puzzle Game

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Conclusions …………………………………………………………..Pg. 28

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 Introduction
Problem-solving is a mental process that involves discovering, analyzing, and solving
problems. The ultimate goal of problem-solving is to overcome obstacles and find a solution
that best resolves the issue.

When you are presented with a problem, before finding a solution, the problem must first be
clearly identified. After that, we apply one of the many problem solving strategies, hopefully
resulting in a solution. The best strategy for solving a problem depends largely on the unique
situation.
Here are some of the problem solving strategies:

1. Use a solution that worked before: Look back to what worked then, see if any of the
solutions could apply to your current situation and, if so, replicate them.

2. Brainstorming: The more people you enlist to help solve the problem, the more potential
solutions you can come up with.

3. Work backward: Imagine your problem has been solved, and make that the starting
point. Then, retrace your steps back to where you are now. This can help you see which
course of action may be most effective.

4. Use the Kipling method: This is a method that poses six questions based on Rudyard
Kipling’s poem, “I Keep Six Honest Serving Men.” Answering these questions can help you
identify solutions.

1. What is the problem?

2. Why is the problem important?
3. When did the problem arise, and when does it need to be solved?
4. How did the problem happen?
5. Where is the problem occurring?
6. Who does the problem affect?

5. Draw the problem: Sometimes it can be difficult to visualize all the components and
moving parts of a problem and its solution. Drawing a diagram can help. This technique is
particularly helpful for solving process-related problems.

6. Use trial-and-error: A trial-and-error approach can be useful when you have several
possible solutions and want to test them to see which one works best.

7. Sleep on it: Finding the best solution to a problem is a process. Remember to take breaks
and get enough rest. If possible, give yourself a few days to develop and analyze possible
solutions.

4
 Alice Flores

Sudoku

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
The rules for sudoku are simple. A 9×9 square must be filled in with numbers from 1-
9 with no repeated numbers in each line, horizontally or vertically.

5
 Alice Flores

Crossword

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
The goal is to fill the white squares with letters, forming words or phrases that cross
each other, by solving clues which lead to the answers. In languages that are written
left-to-right, the answer words and phrases are placed in the grid from left to right
("across") and from top to bottom ("down").

6
 Alice Flores

Alphabet/Letter Soup

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
The objective of wordsearch is to find hidden words in a window full of characters.

7
 Alice Flores

Spot the Difference

Number of players: 1 or more

Rules/Directions:
As the name implies, this interactive game requires players to find a set number of
differences between two pictures that look nearly identical.

8
 Fresia Rápalo

Labyrinth

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
We start where the bee is, we have to find our way through the labyrinth to get to the
other end by drawing a line.

9
 Fresia Rápalo

Find the Objects

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
Look carefully for the objects mentioned in the image and circle them.

10
 Fresia Rápalo

Complete the Picture

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
Use the grid to draw the other half of the image and color it.

11
 Fresia Rápalo

Slither Link

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
Mark the lines so that around each number only as many lines as its value
indicates are drawn.

12
 Samantha Chius

Matching Pair Card Games

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
The aim is to match as many pairs as quickly as you can — lay any number of cards
face down, flip over two at a time, and try to remember where the matches are.

13
 Samantha Chius

Scrabble
Number of players: 2 - 4
Rules/Directions:
It is an online word building game, you build words and add points according to the
values of the letter tiles.

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 Samantha Chius

Tetris
Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
The goal of Tetris is to score as many points as possible by clearing horizontal lines of
Blocks. The player must rotate, move, and drop the falling Tetriminos inside the
Matrix (playing field). Lines are cleared when they are filled with Blocks and have no
empty spaces.
As lines are cleared, the level increases and Tetriminos fall faster, making the game
progressively more challenging. If the Blocks land above the top of the playing field,
the game is over.It is an online word building game, you build words and add points
according to the values of the letter tiles.

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 Samantha Chius

Spaguetti Tower
Number of players: 2 or more
Rules/Directions:

The goal of this exercise is to see which team can use the materials provided to build
the tallest tower within an allotted time period. The tower must be able to stand on its
own. To make this exercise more challenging, try adding a marshmallow to the top of
the tower. This team problem-solving exercise helps people think on their toes while
building camaraderie and leadership.

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 Valeria Ordoñez

Crossword Puzzle

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
A crossword puzzle consists of a grid, with each box in the grid designated to one
letter. The clues are numbered from 1 across and 1 down, to signify which direction
the word goes. When completing a crossword puzzle, the goal is to solve every clue
and enter every letter and word on the grid.

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 Valeria Ordoñez

Alphabet Soup

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
The game consists of a board full of letters distributed in rows and columns. Some of
the rows, columns or diagonals that make up the letters on the board give rise to words
about a common topic raised. These words can be read both from the right and from
the other side.

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 Valeria Ordoñez

Scramble Words

Number of players: 1, or more than 2

Rules/Directions:
Basically the game consists of ordering the disordered words based on the given theme
and you must make a sentence with that word, the person who finishes first is the
winner but if the sentences do not have coherence you are disqualified.

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 Valeria Ordoñez

Color the Numbers

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
You must paint the given image in order of numbers, said image includes scrambled
numbers to make it more complicated to paint, if the player gets confused it would be
noticeable at first glance.

20
 Joshua Pinto

Hangman Game

Number of players: 2 or more

Rules/Directions:
In this game you try to guess the word by saying letters, and by each letter you get
wrong a man getting hanged is drawed. If you mess too many times and the drawing is
finished you loose. Instead if you can guess correctly the word you win.

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 Joshua Pinto

Maze Labyrinth Game

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
This game is about finding a way to get from one destination to another. It contains
routes that will not take us anywhere except for one, the correct one.

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 Joshua Pinto

X-0

Number of players: 2
Rules/Directions:
This game is about two players who try to make a line of 3 with x or 0. They are
looking to defend against the opponent preventing they make first the line of 3 while
they are looking for it.

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 Joshua Pinto

Scrambled Words

Number of players: 1
Rules/Directions:
This game is about reorganizing some words that are jumbled. These could be of any
topic and the words can be as messy as they want.

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 Luis Miranda

Online Escape Rooms

Number of players: 2 or more

Rules/Directions:
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.

25
 Luis Miranda

Marble Maze

Number of players: 1, 2 or more

Rules/Directions:
To do this activity in its simplest form, you will need a piece of paper, a pencil, and
some marbles. First, draw a maze on a piece of paper using a pencil.
Make sure to create a start and finish point. Then, place the marbles at the start of the
maze. The goal is to get the marbles from the start to the finish by tilting the paper and
using gravity to guide the marbles through the maze.
Another example of a marble maze can involve using toilet paper rolls taped together
to create a three-dimensional maze. The larger the maze, the harder you can make it.

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 Luis Miranda

The Egg Drop Challenge

Number of players: 1, 2 or more

Rules/Directions:
The egg drop challenge helps kids learn how to engineer a solution that prevents
something from breaking. It requires them to think critically about which materials
will best protect something fragile like an egg when dropped from a height.
To do this activity, you will need some eggs and various materials such as straws,
cotton balls, bubble wrap, etc. The goal is to construct a device that will protect an egg
from breaking upon impact.
This can be done individually or in teams. Teams can even have a competition for the
best egg drop device.

27
 Luis Miranda

Picture Pieces Puzzle Game

Number of players: 1, 2 or more

Rules/Directions:
Kids must think critically about how to put the pieces together to create a certain
picture. It also helps them learn about shapes, colors, and other concepts.
You can take a medium to large picture and cut it into pieces. If you have younger
kids, you may want to make the pieces larger. However, if you have kids closer to the
8-11 age range, you should be able to provide a challenge and make
the pieces smaller.

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 Conclusions
We can conclude that problem-solving games are a real deal to help people build trust
in themselves and others. These games help individuals sort various personality issues
and adapt to a better understanding of their behavior and use their creativity to the best
of their abilities. It helps participants build trust among team members, engage and
communicate better in a team hence improving team-building skills. The games also
help you polish leadership and decision-making skills with a better understanding of
your capabilities. 

Problem solving may first sound as a boring or repetitive thing, not interesting at all,
but it doesn’t have to be that way. Games are a great way to engage kids, teens, adult,
or elders, basically everyone to develop problem solving skills. This activities are
challenges that ask players to think critically and use logic to overcome issues or
answer riddles.

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