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Can We Talk It Out?

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Lesson Plan

The Art of Talking It Out

Students will learn and practice structured negotiation and mediation techniques to resolve classroom disputes respectfully and independently.

Learning to resolve conflicts peacefully is a crucial life skill. This lesson empowers students to take ownership of their problems and find fair solutions, reducing the need for adult intervention and fostering a more harmonious classroom environment.

Audience

Elementary School Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Through direct instruction, role-playing, and guided practice, students will acquire practical conflict resolution skills.

Materials

Steps to Peaceful Negotiation (slide-deck), Conflict Scenario Role-Play Cards (game), and Our Agreement Blueprint (worksheet)

Prep

Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Introduction: What's the Fuss About?

5 minutes

Begin with a brief discussion about disagreements. Ask students:

  • "Has anyone ever had a disagreement with a friend or classmate?"
    - "How did it make you feel?"
    - "What did you do to try and solve it?"
    Introduce the idea that disagreements are normal and that there are special ways to 'talk them out' peacefully. Use the first few slides of the Steps to Peaceful Negotiation slide deck to introduce the topic.

Step 2

Understanding Negotiation

10 minutes

Present the 'Steps to Peaceful Negotiation' using the Steps to Peaceful Negotiation slide deck. Focus on:

  • Step 1: Cool Down (Take a deep breath!)
  • Step 2: Talk and Listen (Share your side, listen to theirs)
  • Step 3: Brainstorm Solutions (Think of ideas together)
  • Step 4: Choose a Solution (Pick the best idea for both of you)
  • Step 5: Make a Plan (How will you make it happen?)
    Engage students with questions after each step to check for understanding.

Step 3

Role-Play Practice

20 minutes

Divide students into small groups (3-4 students per group). Provide each group with a few Conflict Scenario Role-Play Cards.
Explain that they will choose a scenario and practice using the negotiation steps to resolve it. One student can be an observer or a mediator if helpful.
Circulate among the groups, offering guidance and positive feedback. After 10-15 minutes, bring the class back together to share a few successful role-play outcomes and discuss any challenges.

Step 4

Our Agreement Blueprint

8 minutes

Distribute the Our Agreement Blueprint worksheet. Explain that this is a tool they can use to help remember the steps and write down their solutions when they have a disagreement.
Have students fill out one of the scenario examples from the role-play on their worksheet, or provide a new simple scenario for them to complete as a class.
Emphasize that the goal is to find a solution that works for everyone involved.

Step 5

Wrap-Up: Peaceful Problem-Solvers

2 minutes

Reiterate the importance of using these skills. Ask students to share one thing they learned about solving problems peacefully.
Praise their efforts and encourage them to be 'peaceful problem-solvers' in the classroom and beyond.

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Slide Deck

Can We Talk It Out?

Disagreements happen!

It's okay to have different ideas.

Today, we'll learn how to talk it out peacefully!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of disagreements. Ask them to think about times they've had a disagreement and how it felt.

Step 1: Cool Down

Take a deep breath!

  • Count to five.
  • Think happy thoughts.
  • Walk away for a moment if you need to.

When you're calm, you can think better!

Explain that when we're upset, it's hard to think clearly. The first step is to calm down.

Step 2: Talk and Listen

Share your side, listen to theirs.

  • Speak in a calm voice.
  • Say "I feel... when... because..."
  • REALLY listen when the other person talks.
  • Don't interrupt!

Emphasize speaking calmly and using "I" statements. Also, stress the importance of truly listening to the other person without interrupting.

Step 3: Brainstorm Solutions

Think of ideas together.

  • What could we do?
  • What would make both of us happy?
  • Even silly ideas are okay to start!

Encourage creative thinking. Solutions don't always mean someone "wins" and someone "loses". It's about finding something that works for both.

Step 4: Choose a Solution

Pick the best idea for both of you.

  • Is it fair?
  • Will it solve the problem?
  • Can we both agree?

Guide them to evaluate the brainstormed solutions. Which one is fair? Which one solves the problem for both? Which one is realistic?

Step 5: Make a Plan

How will you make it happen?

  • What will we do first?
  • Who will do what?
  • When will we do it?

Once a solution is chosen, talk about how to make it happen. What needs to be done? Who will do what? When?

You did it!

You are a Peaceful Problem-Solver!

  • You know how to talk it out.
  • You can find solutions together.
  • You can help everyone get along!

Congratulate them on their hard work and reinforce that practicing these steps makes them great problem-solvers.

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Game

Conflict Scenario Role-Play Cards

Instructions: Cut out each card. In your groups, pick a card and role-play the scenario using the "Steps to Peaceful Negotiation" you learned!

Scenario 1: The Broken Crayon

You borrowed a friend's special blue crayon, and it accidentally broke in half. Your friend is upset and says you ruined their favorite crayon.

Scenario 2: The Block Tower Trouble

You and a classmate are building a tall block tower. You want to add a red block on top, but your classmate grabs a yellow block and insists it goes there instead. You both pull on the tower, and it crashes down.

Scenario 3: Playground Push

While playing tag, you accidentally bump into another student and they fall. They didn't get hurt, but they are very angry and yell at you.

Scenario 4: Shared Toy Dilemma

You and a friend both want to play with the same toy car at recess. There is only one, and neither of you wants to share it first.

Scenario 5: Group Project Ideas

Your teacher assigned a group project. You have an idea for how to do it, but another group member has a completely different idea, and you both think your idea is better.

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Worksheet

Our Agreement Blueprint

When we have a disagreement, we can use these steps to talk it out and find a solution that works for everyone!

Name: _________________________ Date: _____________

The Disagreement:

What happened? Who was involved?







Step 1: Cool Down

What did you do to calm down? (e.g., took a deep breath, counted to 5)




Step 2: Talk and Listen

What did you say? What did the other person say?

I felt...




The other person felt...




Step 3: Brainstorm Solutions

What are some ideas to solve the problem? (Think of at least two ideas!)





2.



Step 4: Choose a Solution

Which idea did you both agree on? Why is it fair?







Step 5: Make a Plan

What will you both do now to make the solution happen?







We agree to: _________________________________________________________________

Signatures:

(Your Name) (Other Person's Name)

I am a Peaceful Problem-Solver!

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