100 Free Problem-Solving Scenarios for Speech Therapy

These 100 free problem-solving scenarios for speech therapy help students practice real-life decision-making, critical thinking, reasoning, and flexible thinking. Designed for speech-language pathologists (SLPs), teachers, parents, and caregivers, these practical prompts support expressive language, social communication, executive functioning, and self-advocacy.

Explore everyday school, home, and social situations. Use each scenario to identify problems, brainstorm possible solutions, predict consequences, and explain decisions. These free problem-solving activities are ideal for speech therapy sessions, classroom discussions, and practice at home.

How to Use These Problem-Solving Scenarios

Choose a scenario below and use the P.L.A.N. problem-solving strategy to guide discussion.

• P – Problem: What’s the problem?
• L – List Solutions: What could you do?
• A – Anticipate Outcomes: What might happen with each solution?
• N – Next Step: Which solution would you choose, and why?

Browse Problem-Solving Scenarios

School & Learning | Home & Everyday Life | Friends & Social Situations

School & Learning

1. You arrive at school and realize you forgot an assignment that’s due today.
2. Your teacher explains an assignment, but you’re unsure what to do.
3. Your group is ready to begin a project, but you forgot to bring the materials you promised.
4. You return to school after being absent for two days and aren’t sure what assignments you missed.
5. Your teacher asks everyone to find a partner, but your classmates have already paired up.
6. Your locker won’t open, and the bell for your next class is about to ring.
7. You have two important assignments due tomorrow and aren’t sure how to finish both.
8. You’re writing a paper when your computer suddenly shuts down, and some of your work is lost.
9. You need to submit an assignment online, but you can’t log in to your account.
10. You’re working on an assignment at home when your internet connection stops working.
11. You forgot to charge your school computer, and its battery is almost dead.
12. You arrive at school and realize you left your lunch at home.
13. You’re carrying your lunch when you accidentally drop it on the floor.
14. You return from gym class and realize your clothes and shoes are missing.
15. You’re getting ready for a field trip but realize you forgot something important.
16. Your classroom is noisy, and you’re having trouble concentrating on your work.
17. You miss the school bus, and the adults who usually drive you are unavailable.
18. Your ride is late picking you up after an after-school activity.
19. Your class schedule changes unexpectedly, and you’re not sure where to go next.
20. You’re new to a school and can’t find the classroom for your next lesson.
21. You start feeling sick during class, but there’s still a lot of the school day left.
22. You wake up feeling sick on the day of a presentation you’ve been looking forward to.
23. You need to finish an assignment, but the school library is closed when you arrive.
24. Your group members disagree about how to complete an assignment, and the deadline is approaching.
25. You signed up for two school activities but discover they’re scheduled at the same time.
26. You borrow a library book for a school assignment but can’t find it when it’s time to return it.
27. You accidentally damage a book or supply that belongs to your classroom.
28. A substitute teacher repeatedly calls you by the wrong name.
29. You find a $20 bill on the floor in a school hallway.
30. During a test, another student asks to see your answers.
31. You notice a classmate taking something from the teacher’s desk without permission.
32. During an art activity, you accidentally spill paint on another student’s project.
33. Your class is starting an activity, but there aren’t enough supplies for everyone.
34. You’re in the middle of a group activity when the teacher announces that it’s time to switch to something else.

Home & Everyday Life

35. Your family planned to spend the afternoon outdoors, but it starts raining just before you leave.
36. You’re getting ready to leave for an appointment, but you can’t find something important that you need.
37. You borrow a family member’s phone and accidentally crack the screen.
38. You accidentally spill a drink on the couch just before guests arrive.
39. You saved the last piece of dessert, but someone else ate it.
40. You want to finish playing a game, but it’s time to leave for a family commitment.
41. You’re asked to do a household chore, but you’re not sure how to do it.
42. You promised to help prepare dinner, but you realize you’ll be home later than expected.
43. You’re making a recipe and discover that an important ingredient is missing.
44. You open the refrigerator and discover that something you planned to eat has spoiled.
45. You’re playing a board game when you realize an important piece is missing.
46. You’re trying to sleep, but a neighbor’s dog keeps barking.
47. Your family’s dog slips out through an open gate and runs down the street.
48. You’re responsible for feeding a pet, but you discover there’s no pet food left.
49. You stayed up later than planned and are having trouble getting ready on time the next morning.
50. Someone in your family is using the bathroom, but you need to get ready before leaving.
51. Your family has plans to visit relatives, but the trip is unexpectedly canceled.
52. You attend a family celebration and aren’t familiar with some of the traditions.
53. A younger child visiting your home starts playing with something fragile that could break.
54. You have two household responsibilities to finish before going out, but you’re running out of time.
55. You’re riding your bike several blocks from home when you get a flat tire.
56. You’re walking home from a nearby store when a heavy rainstorm begins.
57. You go to a store to buy something you need, but the item is sold out.
58. You’re buying something with your own money, but it costs more than you expected.
59. You pay for a purchase but realize the cashier gave you the wrong change.
60. You order food at a restaurant, but the server brings you something different.
61. A package arrives at your home, but it contains the wrong item.
62. You return home from shopping and realize you left something you purchased at the store.
63. You’re using your phone for directions, but the battery is almost dead.
64. You’ve been waiting in a long line at a store, but you’re about to miss your ride home.
65. You’re shopping with an adult and become separated from them in a crowded store.
66. You’re home alone when someone you don’t know knocks on the door.
67. The electricity goes out while you’re at home, and you don’t know when it will come back.

Friends & Social Situations

68. You see two friends making weekend plans, but they don’t invite you.
69. You invite a friend to play, but they say they’d rather do something alone.
70. You and a friend want to play different games and can’t agree on one.
71. A friend cancels your plans at the last minute, after you’ve already gotten ready.
72. A friend keeps changing the rules during a game.
73. Someone new asks to join your group, but some of your friends don’t want them to.
74. You want to join a conversation, but everyone seems busy talking.
75. You share an idea during a group discussion, but someone keeps talking over you.
76. You discover that several friends have a group chat without you, and they keep talking about plans they made together.
77. A friend wants to spend the afternoon doing an activity you really don’t enjoy.
78. A friend tells a joke about you that makes you uncomfortable.
79. You make a joke, but your friend seems hurt by it.
80. A friend shares a screenshot of a private message you sent, and other people start discussing it.
81. Someone posts a rumor about you online, and other students begin sharing it.
82. You accidentally tell someone something that your friend wanted to keep private.
83. A friend shares personal information about you without asking.
84. Someone posts a picture of you online without your permission.
85. You send a message that someone misunderstands, and now they’re upset with you.
86. A friend hasn’t responded to your invitation, and you need to make plans soon.
87. A friend keeps sending you messages while you’re busy doing something else.
88. A friend asks you to keep a secret that makes you worried about someone’s safety.
89. Your friends want you to participate in a prank that you think is unkind.
90. A friend asks you to say something untrue to keep them out of trouble.
91. You notice that someone is being left out during a group activity.
92. A friend tells you they feel left out when you spend time with other people.
93. Two friends are upset with each other, and both want you to take their side.
94. Someone blames you for a mistake during a team game, even though others contributed.
95. You accidentally damage something you borrowed from a friend.
96. A friend keeps borrowing your belongings without asking.
97. Someone repeatedly calls you by the wrong name, even after you’ve corrected them.
98. You notice someone leaving hurtful comments on a classmate’s social media post, and your friends are encouraging you to join in.
99. A friend asks for some space, but you were hoping to spend time together.
100. You promised to attend a friend’s event, but another friend invites you to something you’d rather do at the same time.

More Ways to Practice Problem Solving

Looking for an engaging way to practice problem-solving skills? My Mike’s New Car Video Companion helps students explore problems, evaluate possible solutions, predict consequences, and practice flexible thinking using a funny animated short film.