---
title: Global Problem Solvers
description: Students will describe an invention that would solve a global or environmental problem such as floods, pollution, extreme heat, natural disasters, etc.
image: https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/global_problem_solvers-001-2.png
---

**Subject: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)**

**Lesson Length: 35 - 45 mins**

**Topic: STEM Challenges**

**Grade Level: 4, 5**

**Standards / Framework: **

- [ISTE 1.3 Knowledge Constructor](https://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards-for-students)

**Brief Description:**  Students will describe an invention that would solve a global or environmental problem, e.g., flooding, waste disposal, pollution, extreme heat, etc.

**Know Before You Start:**

- Students should have some prior knowledge of the STEM challenge process.

**Hook:**

- Review the STEM challenge process with students: 
    - Identify the problem.
    - Brainstorm solutions.
    - Formulate a plan.
    - Construct a solution.
    - Test the solution.
    - Reflect.
    - Iterate.
- Read and discuss the sample comic.
- - What global or environmental problem was the character facing?
    - What did they invent to solve this problem?

**Activity:**

- As a class or independently, have students brainstorm a list of global or environmental problems.
- Discuss the function of a prototype. A prototype is a sample solution and can be as simple as a description or drawing.
- Have students create a five-panel comic describing a prototype solution to a global problem which includes the following:
  
    - The problem.
    - Possible solutions.
    - A plan or prototype and an explanation about how it would solve the problem.
- Explain that they will not be able to test their solution, as they would on a home or school problem. 

**Closure:**

- Have students share their proposed inventions with a partner.

**Differentiation:**

- Allow students to use the speech-to-text feature.
- Allow students to use the voiceover feature to read their comics aloud.
- Allow students to work in pairs or groups as needed.
- Provide a list of global or environmental problems from which to choose.

**Resources:**

- Comic to print or display: [Comic](https://share.pixton.com/qbfvpai).

**Suggested Content:**

- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1665077198387912704/thumbnail.png) National Parks ](https://content.pixton.com/national-parks)
- [![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/thumbnail-rainforest.png) Rainforest ](https://content.pixton.com/rainforest)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1720501139696390144/thumbnail.png) Beach ](https://content.pixton.com/beach)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1792949466542800896/thumbnail.png) Ocean ](https://content.pixton.com/ocean)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1863972626834292736/thumbnail.png) Rock Cycle ](https://content.pixton.com/rock-cycle)
- [![](https://img.pixton.com/content-pack/1692653419912892416/thumbnail.png) Winter ](https://content.pixton.com/winter)

Assign Activity

## Related Ideas

[![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/there_s_an_app_for_that-001.png)](https://ideas.pixton.com/theres-an-app-for-that)

### [There’s an App for That](https://ideas.pixton.com/theres-an-app-for-that)

In this lesson, students will develop the idea for an app that will solve a problem they encounter at home or at school.

[![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/distance_problems-001.png)](https://ideas.pixton.com/distance-problems)

### [Distance Problems](https://ideas.pixton.com/distance-problems)

Students will interpret data to write and solve a real-world word problem involving distance.

[![](https://ideas.pixton.com/hubfs/party_balloon_subtraction-001-1.png)](https://ideas.pixton.com/party-balloon-subtraction)

### [Party Balloon Subtraction](https://ideas.pixton.com/party-balloon-subtraction)

Students will better understand addition and subtraction by solving and creating multistep word problems.