Introducing the 3Ps Flipbook Model: A Simple Framework for Independent Thinking

At Bayside Academy, we believe in building systems that support independent thinking—not just independent work. That belief led to the creation of our 3Ps Flipbook system, a structured tool designed to help students make the most of their time after core work is complete.

The model is simple:

Puzzle → Problem → Prompt

Each element invites a different type of thinking—and together, they form a powerful framework for cognitive variety, student ownership, and low-tech independence.

Why We Built This

In many classrooms, “early finisher” time becomes either chaotic or hollow. Extra worksheets. Random tech games. Low-stakes activities that don’t really stretch the student.

We wanted to create a better solution:

• Something that could run without constant teacher supervision

• That worked for a multi-age, low-tech, hands-on environment

• And that reinforced different modes of thinking—not just more of the same

So we asked: What if we structured enrichment time around the kinds of mental moves we want kids to practice anyway?

Puzzle → Pattern Recognition & Reasoning

Puzzles are tasks that require observation, logic, and visual thinking.
They might involve sequencing, odd-one-out challenges, visual analogies, or codebreaking. These build foundational cognitive skills like:

• Spatial reasoning

• Pattern awareness

• Working memory

Puzzles are a great entry point for reluctant learners because they feel like play—but activate serious brainwork.

Problem → Application & Decision-Making

Problems are where students apply knowledge to a real-world or open-ended scenario.
These can be math-based, scenario-based, or STEM design challenges.

Here, students have to make decisions, show their thinking, and often revise based on what they discover. Problems help students build:

• Critical thinking

• Flexible strategy use

• Cross-domain connections

Prompt → Creative & Reflective Thinking

Prompts are open-ended tasks that spark expression, reflection, or divergent thinking.
They may be writing-based, discussion-based, or visual. A prompt might ask:

• “What advice would you give to someone just learning this?”

• “How would this concept look if you turned it into a cartoon?”

• “What does this remind you of in your own life?”

Prompts give space for:

• Personal voice

• Metacognition

• Self-connection

What Makes the 3Ps Model Work

Each task is paired with a QR code that links to a short video, then a printed worksheet the student retrieves and completes. The final work is stored in their binder, organized by which kind of thinking it represented: Puzzle, Problem, or Prompt.

This system gives structure without rigidity. It supports different learners on different days. And it actually teaches students how to think, not just what to do next.

Designed by an Educator, for Educators

The 3Ps Flipbook model was developed here at Bayside Tech Solutions by yours truly—Kent Young—as a response to real needs in our classrooms. It’s not an academic framework. It’s a living system that we’re testing, improving, and scaling as we go.

If you're an educator interested in piloting the 3Ps system at your school, I’d love to collaborate, swap ideas, or share early templates. Let’s build tools that actually work for real teachers and real kids.

Kent Young
Chief Systems Architect
Bayside Academy | Bayside Tech Solutions