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Arguing Fairly: Respectful Chats

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Lesson Plan

Arguing Fairly: Respectful Chats

Students will learn to identify the difference between healthy and unhealthy arguments and practice using respectful communication strategies to express their opinions effectively without causing conflict.

Understanding how to argue fairly is a crucial life skill. It helps students resolve disagreements with friends, family, and future coworkers, preventing misunderstandings and building stronger relationships. This lesson provides practical tools for respectful communication.

Audience

10th Grade Students (Low IQ ~70)

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through guided discussion and practical examples, students will learn to distinguish productive disagreements from harmful ones and apply simple rules for fair arguing.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Warm-Up: Argument or Discussion?, Arguing Fairly Slide Deck, Discussion Guide: Real-Life Arguments, Worksheet: My Fair Argument Plan, and Cool-Down: One Takeaway

Prep

Review and Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Argument or Discussion? (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  1. Distribute the Warm-Up: Argument or Discussion? to each student.
  2. Instruct students to quickly read the scenarios and decide if each is an 'argument' or a 'discussion.'
  3. After 2 minutes, ask students to share their answers and their reasoning. Guide a brief class discussion on their initial thoughts about arguments vs. discussions.

Step 2

Introduction to Fair Arguing (7 minutes)

7 minutes

  1. Present the Arguing Fairly Slide Deck (Slide 1-3).
  2. Introduce the concept of arguments as natural disagreements. Emphasize that not all arguments are bad.
  3. Use the slides to explain the difference between 'healthy arguments' (where people listen and try to understand) and 'unhealthy arguments' (where people yell, interrupt, or blame).
  4. Ask students to give simple examples of each type.

Step 3

Rules for Arguing Fairly (8 minutes)

8 minutes

  1. Continue with the Arguing Fairly Slide Deck (Slide 4-6).
  2. Go through each rule for fair arguing: 'Listen First,' 'Speak Clearly,' 'No Name-Calling,' 'Stay on Topic,' and 'Find a Solution.'
  3. For each rule, provide a very simple example and ask students to briefly discuss why it's important using the Discussion Guide: Real-Life Arguments as a reference for prompts.

Step 4

Practice: My Fair Argument Plan (7 minutes)

7 minutes

  1. Distribute the Worksheet: My Fair Argument Plan to each student.
  2. Instruct students to think of a simple past disagreement (or a hypothetical one) and apply the fair arguing rules to plan how they would handle it better next time.
  3. Circulate and provide support as students work. Encourage them to use specific rules they learned.

Step 5

Cool-Down: One Takeaway (3 minutes)

3 minutes

  1. Distribute the Cool-Down: One Takeaway to each student.
  2. Ask students to write down one important thing they learned about arguing fairly.
  3. Collect the cool-downs as an exit ticket to gauge understanding.
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Warm Up

Warm-Up: Argument or Discussion?

Directions: Read each scenario below. Decide if the people are having an Argument (disagreeing in a not-so-good way) or a Discussion (talking about different ideas in a good way).

  1. Scenario: Maya and Liam are talking about which superhero movie is best. Maya says, "Spider-Man is the clear winner, no contest!" Liam responds, "I see your point, but I think Batman has better stories because they are darker and more complex. Here's why..."

    • Argument or Discussion?



  2. Scenario: Sam wants to play video games, but his sister, Chloe, wants to watch TV. Sam yells, "You always get your way! This isn't fair!" Chloe screams back, "No, you always hog the TV!"

    • Argument or Discussion?



  3. Scenario: A group of friends is planning a weekend trip. Some want to go camping, others want to go to the beach. They are calmly sharing reasons for each idea and listening to everyone.

    • Argument or Discussion?



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Slide Deck

Arguing Fairly: Respectful Chats

How can we talk about different ideas without getting mad?

Welcome students and introduce the idea that arguments happen all the time. Ask them to think about times they've disagreed with someone. Emphasize that 'argument' isn't always a bad word. Set a positive tone.

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Arguments

Healthy Argument:

  • Sharing different ideas
  • Listening to each other
  • Trying to understand

Unhealthy Argument:

  • Yelling or shouting
  • Interrupting
  • Calling names
  • Blaming others
  • Getting very angry

Explain the difference clearly. Use simple language and relatable examples for a low IQ audience. For healthy, think 'two people sharing ideas.' For unhealthy, think 'yelling or being mean.'

Healthy or Unhealthy? Let's Practice!

Which one sounds like a good way to talk?

  • Scenario A: You and a friend want to play different games. You both say why you like your game, and then decide to play both, one after another.
  • Scenario B: You and a friend want to play different games. You yell that your friend's game is dumb, and they stomp away.

Give very short, clear examples for each. For instance, 'Healthy: Deciding what to eat for dinner. Unhealthy: Fighting over who gets the last cookie.' Ask students to offer their own simple examples.

Rule 1: Listen First 👂

Before you speak, listen to what the other person is saying.

  • Let them finish their turn.
  • Try to understand their side.
  • Don't interrupt!

Introduce the first rule. Emphasize that listening means really hearing what the other person says, not just waiting to talk. Model active listening if possible.

Rule 2: Speak Clearly 🗣️

Say what you think and how you feel in a calm voice.

  • Use clear words.
  • Explain your ideas simply.
  • Don't yell or shout.

Explain that 'clearly' means using easy-to-understand words and saying what you mean. Avoid mumbling or getting too emotional that your words become unclear.

Rule 3: No Name-Calling 🚫

Do not call the other person names.

  • Don't say mean things about them.
  • Focus on the problem, not on attacking the person.

This is a very important rule. Explain why name-calling hurts and makes it impossible to solve problems. Give examples of what not to do.

Rule 4: Stay on Topic 🎯

Talk only about the problem you are disagreeing about.

  • Don't bring up old fights.
  • Keep your conversation focused.

Explain that sometimes arguments go off-topic. Remind students to stick to the main thing they are disagreeing about. Give an example: 'If you're arguing about chores, don't bring up last week's homework.'

Rule 5: Find a Solution 🤝

Try to work together to find a way that makes sense for everyone.

  • Can you both get a little of what you want?
  • Can you agree to disagree politely?
  • What's a fair way to move forward?

The goal of a healthy argument is often to find a way forward. Discuss different types of solutions: agreeing to disagree, compromising, or finding a new idea together.

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Discussion

Discussion Guide: Real-Life Arguments

Use these prompts to guide discussions with students as you go over each rule for fair arguing:

Rule 1: Listen First 👂

  • Why is it important to let someone finish talking before you start?
  • What happens if everyone talks at once?
  • How does listening help you understand the other person?

Rule 2: Speak Clearly 🗣️

  • What does it mean to speak in a calm voice?
  • Why is it easier to understand someone who speaks clearly?
  • When you explain your feelings, does it help the other person?

Rule 3: No Name-Calling 🚫

  • How does it feel when someone calls you a mean name?
  • Does calling names help solve the problem?
  • What should you do instead of calling names?

Rule 4: Stay on Topic 🎯

  • If you're arguing about chores, should you talk about last week's homework?
  • Why is it helpful to stick to just one problem at a time?
  • What happens if an argument brings up too many different things?

Rule 5: Find a Solution 🤝

  • What are some ways to solve a disagreement so both people feel okay?
  • Can you always get exactly what you want?
  • Why is it good to try and find a fair way to end the argument?
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Worksheet

Worksheet: My Fair Argument Plan

Directions: Think about a time you had a disagreement with someone (or imagine one). Use the fair arguing rules to plan how you would handle it in a good way.

1. What was the disagreement about? (Keep it simple!)







2. Who were you disagreeing with?




3. Which "Fair Arguing Rule" would help you most in this situation? (Choose one or two)

  • Rule 1: Listen First 👂
  • Rule 2: Speak Clearly 🗣️
  • Rule 3: No Name-Calling 🚫
  • Rule 4: Stay on Topic 🎯
  • Rule 5: Find a Solution 🤝




4. How would you use that rule (or rules) to make your argument fair?

  • Example for Rule 1 (Listen First): "I would let my friend finish talking about why they want to play a different game before I say anything."












5. What could be a fair solution to your disagreement?







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Cool Down

Cool-Down: One Takeaway

Directions: Write down one important thing you learned today about arguing fairly or having respectful chats.












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