Challenge Kits for Educators

Challenge Kits bring real-world problem solving into classrooms with a proven set of tools and processes that teach students skills like critical thinking, innovation, creativity, communication, and collaboration, while also being integrated into curriculum.

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What is a Challenge Kit

Challenge Kits

Sample Challenge Kit

Custom Challenge Kits

Over 135,000 students, across over 2,500 classrooms, have spent over 100,000 hours on real-world problem solving for their communities with I-Think Challenge Kits.

What is a Challenge Kit?

Challenge Kit

Real-World Problem

Real-World Partner

Tools To Enable The Problem Solving Process

Real-World Problem

You won’t find the answer to a real-world problem in the back of a textbook. For example:

how might we help our school design Remembrance Day to be meaningful to our school community? Or How might we help the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority make Tommy Thompson Park a source of environmental stewardship for the Great Lakes? Or How might we (re)build community at our school?

Let’s be real, young people deserve to have a say in the world around them, and their thinking can offer different perspectives than adults.

“We know we’re going to face really hard real-world problems. We deserve a chance to work on them now.

If we only teach problem solving as a theoretical activity, that doesn’t apply, we are not preparing us for our present or future. We know we’re going to face really hard real-world problems. We deserve a chance to work on them now. Not just later.”

– Student, Central Technical School

Real-World Partner

These are people organizations, schools and school boards who trust/value student thinking and are struggling with a real problem that needs a fresh perspective, and most importantly, are committed to taking action.

Tool Kit

Tools To Enable The Problem Solving Process

When you join the challenge, you’ll have everything you need to get your students solving a real-world problem. Together with our educator community and challenge partners we’ve created a comprehensive facilitator notebook, customizable slide deck, reflective handouts and meaningful empathy lesson plans to take the guesswork out of bringing real-world problem solving to your classroom. These materials were made with room to grow—we hope you’ll make them your own and revisit them time and time again. When you have questions about the process, need to get unstuck or share the incredible things happening in your classroom, a teacher coach will support you throughout the journey!

• Student-friendly materials that build confidence, introduce new perspectives and help students develop skills for critical thinking, collaboration and critical thinking
• Videos from the organizations that introduce the challenge
• Videos that provide context and build empathy
• Handouts to capture student thinking and share back with the organization
• Teacher ready-made materials that were designed to unlock remarkable possibilities within your classroom
• Facilitator Notebook that guides and supports facilitation
• Customizable slides in Google Slides
• Activity Plans that support students in building empathy

Our Current Themes For:

Challenge Kits

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AI Challenge Kits – For Educators

AI isn’t going anywhere and will continue to change the way in which we operate and live in this world. For young people it is a big part of the present and will be an even bigger part of their future. Like anything it comes with challenges we have to navigate through. If you want…

Climate Action Challenge Kits – For Educators

Our Climate Action Challenge Kits are action-oriented because without action, there is no change and we leave the next generation with anxiety, anger, dismay and frustration. If you want your students to work through a Climate Action Challenge Kit contact us to let us know.

Community and Well-Being Challenge Kit – For Educators

At I-Think we believe in many remarkable possibilities, which include customized experiences and programming that’s right for your school community.

Remembrance Day Challenge Kit – For Educators

In Fall 2022, with the support of Veterans Affairs Canada, we piloted the (Re)member Challenge Kits across 6 schools in Ontario.

For example, our Remembrance Day Challenge Kit looks something like this:

Remembrance Day Challenge Kit

Real-World Problem

How might we help our school design Remembrance Day to be meaningful to our school community?

Real-World Partner

Veterans, active military, historians, Veterans Affairs Canada, and more.

Tools To Enable The Problem Solving Process

Some custom tools for this specific kit include video interviews from diverse folks within the military, a live speaker series, and a video collaboration with a historian and museum.

Take a look at our Sample Challenge Kit.

Sample Challenge Kit

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Sample Challenge Kit

The Remembrance Day Challenge Kit is available every fall and is designed for grades 5-10.

Have a Real-World Problem?

Don’t see the real-world problem you want your students to work on? Don’t let that stop you, we are always looking to expand our work, contact us to start the conversation. We also do custom experiences/kits.