Problem Solving – Sample Lesson
“Jumping Hurdles”
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Sample Lesson Resources
Click on any of the links below to view or download the resources from this sample lesson on Emotional Regulation from the WhyTry Program Materials and Toolkit
Lesson Resources: Problem Solving
Jumping Hurdles
About this Lesson
This sample lesson on Problem Solving comes from our Secondary Prebuilt Lessons, designed for middle school and high school students.
This lesson introduces students to a structured, repeatable problem-solving model using the visual metaphor of jumping hurdles. Students learn that challenges are not walls meant to stop them, but obstacles that can be approached strategically, adjusted to the right height, and overcome through effort, support, and persistence.
Why This Lesson Matters
Middle school and high school students face challenges every day. Academic pressure, peer relationships, family expectations, social media, and uncertainty about the future can all feel overwhelming. When problems feel too big or personal, teens may avoid them, react emotionally, or believe they’ve failed.
This lesson helps students slow those moments down and learn that challenges are part of life—not a sign that something is wrong with them. The focus is not on solving every problem perfectly, but on learning how to respond when challenges show up.
What’s Included in This Sample Lesson
These resources are designed to make implementation easy and flexible for classroom or small-group use. You’ll receive:
- A video walk-through showing how to teach the visual metaphor (Jumping Hurdles) and key activity elements
- A complete printable lesson plan
- A story-based video clip to illustrate the concept during instruction
- Step-by-step activity instructions
- Printable Resilience Boosters for observation and reflection (including an option to assign as homework)
- A downloadable presentation deck
- Keynote (Mac)
- PowerPoint (PC)
- A Student Mechanisms Game Plan worksheet to help students process the metaphor independently
- A Facilitator Guide for using the worksheet in a one-on-one setting
- A parent companion resource to help families reinforce these skills at home
Video Demonstration
Facilitating the lesson and Processing The Visual Metaphor “Defense Mechanisms”
Want to See the Full WhyTry Program in Action?
Schedule a live demo with one of our Program Directors. We’ll answer your questions, walk you through implementation options for your school or district, and provide pricing details.
Looking for Elementary or Pre-K/Kinder resources? We’d be happy to show you how WhyTry supports younger learners as well.