Hana the Problem Solver

Hana the Problem Solver

by

Patches the Story Dog

Patches the Story Dog

for your 2nd Grader

2nd Grader Problem Solver Self-Help & Independence

Make this story your own!

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Hana is dancing joyfully in the middle of a warm kitchen with bright yellow walls and a checkered tile floor, her arms stretched wide and one foot lifted mid-spin, with a big smile on her face. The big wooden table beside her is covered in art supplies, cereal bowls, and the small radio. In the background, sunlight streams through a kitchen window, casting golden light across the bright yellow walls.

Hana loved to dance. She danced when she woke up. She danced when she brushed her teeth. But most of all, she loved to dance in her warm, sunny kitchen, where the little radio on the big wooden table always played cheerful music.

Hana is sliding across the checkered tile floor in her socks, twirling with her braids flying outward, passing by the big wooden table loaded with art supplies, cereal bowls, and the small radio playing music with little music notes floating above it. In the background, the bright yellow kitchen walls are decorated with Hana's colorful artwork taped up in a row.

Every morning, Hana would slide across the checkered tile floor in her socks, twirling past the big wooden table covered in art supplies, cereal bowls, and all sorts of wonderful messes. "Dancing makes everything better!" she would say, spinning until her braids flew out like helicopter blades.

Hana is standing next to the big wooden table looking upset with her fists clenched and her face scrunched, staring down at a large puddle of spilled orange juice spreading across the checkered tile floor, with the tipped-over glass still rolling on the table. In the background, the bright yellow kitchen walls and the small radio on the table are visible, with sunlight pouring in.

One Saturday morning, Hana was doing her favorite spinning move when—WHOOSH—her elbow bumped her tall glass of orange juice right off the table. SPLASH! Juice spread across the checkered floor like a sticky orange river. "Oh no, no, NO!" Hana cried, stomping her foot. She felt her face get hot and her hands ball up into fists.

Hana is standing still with her eyes closed, her hands resting on her chest, taking a deep breath with a calm expression replacing her frustration. A small thought bubble above her head shows her mom's smiling face. In the background, the bright yellow kitchen walls glow warmly and the spilled orange juice puddle is still visible on the checkered floor.

Hana wanted to yell. She wanted to cry. But then she remembered something her mom always told her: "When you feel upset, stop and take a deep breath. Then think about what you can do." So Hana closed her eyes. She breathed in slowly through her nose and out through her mouth. One big breath. Then another.

Hana is down on her knees on the checkered tile floor, smiling and wiggling happily as she wipes up the orange juice puddle with a big towel, her braids swinging with her movement. In the background, the big wooden table with art supplies and the small radio sit against the bright yellow kitchen wall.

When Hana opened her eyes, she didn't feel so angry anymore. "Okay," she said to herself, "I can't un-spill the juice. But I CAN clean it up!" She grabbed a towel from the counter, got down on her knees, and wiped up every last drop. She even did a little wiggle while she scrubbed. "Problem solving is kind of like dancing," Hana giggled. "You just have to find the right steps!"

Hana is sitting at the big wooden table with a horrified expression, her elbow pressed into a crumpled section of an elaborate paper castle made of cardboard with glitter and tiny paper flags, while art supplies like glue, markers, and glitter containers are scattered around the table. In the background, the bright yellow kitchen walls and the small radio on the table are visible.

After the floor was sparkling clean, Hana sat down at the big wooden table to work on her craft project. She had been building a beautiful paper castle for three whole days, using cardboard, glue, glitter, and markers. It had tall towers and tiny paper flags. It was her masterpiece. She reached across the table for the glitter—and CRUNCH. Her elbow smashed right through the tallest tower.

Hana is sitting at the big wooden table holding up three fingers, her expression shifting from teary to thoughtful, with the damaged paper castle in front of her and art supplies spread all around. In the background, the bright yellow walls are warm with sunlight, and the small radio plays on the edge of the table.

Hana's lip trembled. She felt tears sting her eyes. Three whole days of work! She wanted to sweep the whole thing off the table and never look at it again. But then she stopped. She took a deep breath—in through her nose, out through her mouth. "Okay," she whispered. "What are my choices?" She held up her fingers and counted. "One, I could give up. Two, I could get mad. Or three... I could fix it and maybe even make it BETTER."

Hana is sitting at the big wooden table doing a little seated victory dance with her arms raised, grinning proudly at her rebuilt paper castle which now has an even taller glittery tower with a tiny paper dragon perched on top, surrounded by scattered art supplies, cardboard scraps, and glitter. In the background, the bright yellow walls catch sparkles of glitter floating in the sunlit air.

Hana chose number three. She rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She cut new pieces of cardboard, added extra glitter that sparkled like diamonds, and made the tower even taller than before. She even added a tiny paper dragon perched on top. "That's WAY cooler than the old one!" Hana laughed, doing a little victory dance in her chair. The cheerful music from the small radio seemed to agree.

Hana is standing at the open kitchen doorway looking surprised, while her friend from next door stands on the front step looking down at her shoes with a sad expression and her arms crossed. In the background, the warm sunny kitchen with bright yellow walls is visible behind Hana, and a green front yard stretches behind her friend.

Just then, the doorbell rang. It was Hana's friend from next door. "Want to come dance in the kitchen?" Hana asked excitedly. But her friend didn't smile. She looked down at her shoes. "You said you'd play with me yesterday," her friend said quietly. "But you stayed inside to work on your castle instead. That made me feel sad."

Hana is standing in the kitchen doorway with a gentle, sincere expression, placing one hand on her friend's shoulder, while her friend looks up at Hana with a hopeful but still slightly sad face. In the background, the bright yellow kitchen walls and the checkered tile floor are visible through the doorway.

Hana's tummy did a little flip. She almost said, "It's not a big deal!" But she stopped herself. She took a deep breath—in through her nose, out through her mouth. She thought about how SHE would feel if someone forgot about her. "You're right," Hana said softly. "I'm really sorry I forgot. That wasn't kind, and I don't want to make you feel that way. Can I make it up to you?"

Hana and her friend from next door are running hand-in-hand into the warm kitchen, both grinning with excitement, heading toward the big wooden table where the paper castle with its glittery dragon tower is displayed, while the small radio sits nearby with music notes floating from it. In the background, the bright yellow walls glow with warm sunlight and the checkered tile floor stretches beneath their feet.

Her friend's face slowly brightened, like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. "Really?" she asked. "Really and truly," said Hana. "Come inside! We can dance AND work on the castle together. I even have a dragon on top now!" Her friend's eyes went wide. "A DRAGON?! Okay, let's go!" They ran into the warm kitchen, and Hana turned up the cheerful music on the small radio.

Hana and her friend from next door are dancing together joyfully on the checkered tile floor, Hana spinning her friend under her raised arm, both laughing with pure delight, their hair and clothes mid-motion. The big wooden table with the glittering paper castle and the small radio playing music is beside them. In the background, the bright yellow kitchen walls are bathed in golden afternoon sunlight streaming through the window, with colorful artwork taped on the walls.

They danced around the kitchen, sliding on the checkered floor and laughing until their bellies hurt. And as Hana spun her friend under her arm, she smiled to herself. She had learned something important that day. Being a great problem solver really WAS like dancing—you just had to pause, listen to the music, and find the right steps. And the very best step of all? Being kind.

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2nd Grader Problem Solver Self-Help & Independence