Problems Near and Far
A 40-minute Kindergarten lesson on naming problems close to home and further away, and who is working on them.
Problems Near and Far is a free 40-minute Kindergarten to Grade 2 social studies lesson plan for Common Core standard D4.6.K-2 — name problems near and far, and some ways people are tackling them. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Kindergarten to Grade 2
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- D4.6.K-2
Kindergarten to Grade 2 · Communicating Conclusions and Taking Informed Action
D4.6.K-2
Identify and explain a range of local, regional, and global problems, and some ways in which people are trying to address these problems.
Objective
Students will be able to name a problem near them and one further away, and say who is working on each.
Students are successful when they can
- Names a near problem.
- Names a further one.
- Names somebody working on it.
What you need
- Problem cards
- Two rings: near us, further away
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — walk round the school
5 min- Name three problems visible in the school grounds.
- Keep them small and real.
Teach — near, far, and somebody is on it
13 min- Place the three near problems in the first ring.
- Add two from further away and place them in the second.
- For each, ask who is working on it. Somebody always is.
- Say why that question comes with the problem: a problem with no helper is frightening rather than useful.
- Note that near problems are the ones this class can act on.
“Somebody is working on that one. Who?”
Guided practice — place and name
12 min- Pairs place eight problems in the two rings.
- For four of them they name somebody working on it.
- They mark which ones the class could help with.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the near-or-far page.
- Read each problem aloud.
Close
2 min- Take one near problem the class could act on.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Names only enormous problems.
Why: Big problems are what get talked about.
Fix: Start in the school grounds. A near problem is one you can see and act on.
Thinks nothing is being done about far problems.
Why: The helpers are not visible from here.
Fix: Name somebody for each. The who-is-working-on-it question is not optional.
Finds the far problems frightening.
Why: They are large and unfixable from a classroom.
Fix: Always pair the problem with a helper, and end on a near one the class can act on.
If they are not there yet
- Four problems rather than eight.
- Give the ring and name the helper.
If they finish early
- Find a problem that is both near and far.
- Say how a far problem reaches us.
- Say what would have to change to fix a near one.
Exit ticket
Name one problem near us and one further away. Who is working on them?
What to look for: Both rings and a named helper. A problem with no helper means that question needs asking every time.
Printable practice for D4.6.K-2
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Near Us or Far Away?Sort each problem into near or far.
Questions about Problems Near and Far
How long does the Problems Near and Far lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Problems Near and Far teach?
D4.6.K-2 — D4.6.K-2, Communicating Conclusions and Taking Informed Action for Kindergarten to Grade 2: “Identify and explain a range of local, regional, and global problems, and some ways in which people are trying to address these problems.” In plain terms, name problems near and far, and some ways people are tackling them.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
Problem cards, two rings: near us, further away and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: names only enormous problems; thinks nothing is being done about far problems and finds the far problems frightening. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Name one problem near us and one further away. Who is working on them?.” Both rings and a named helper. A problem with no helper means that question needs asking every time. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Problems Near and Far?
Yes — 1 printable D4.6.K-2 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Problems Near and Far free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to D4.6.K-2 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.