Lesson Plan
Conflict Crushers Guide
Students will learn to identify common school conflicts and apply practical resolution strategies through guided discussion, modeling, role-play mediation, and reflective practice.
Building conflict resolution skills fosters a safer, more respectful school climate by empowering 7th graders to manage disputes calmly and collaboratively.
Audience
7th Grade Students
Time
50 minutes
Approach
Interactive instruction, modeling, role-play, reflection
Materials
- Resolution Strategies Slide Deck, - Mediation Role-Play Scenarios, - Resolution Skills Rubric, - Takeaway Reflection Forms, - Whiteboard & markers, - Printed scenario cards, and - Timer
Prep
Prepare Materials & Room
15 minutes
- Review the Conflict Crushers Guide to familiarize yourself with objectives and activities.
- Print and cut out all scenarios from Mediation Role-Play Scenarios.
- Print copies of the Resolution Skills Rubric and Takeaway Reflection Forms.
- Queue up the Resolution Strategies Slide Deck on your display.
- Arrange desks in small-group clusters and set out whiteboard & markers.
- Prepare a timer for each activity segment.
Step 1
Introduction & Icebreaker
5 minutes
- Display the lesson objectives from the slide deck.
- Ask: “What is a conflict? Share an example from school.”
- Record key definitions and examples on the whiteboard.
- Emphasize that understanding conflicts is the first step to resolving them.
Step 2
Exploring Conflict and Strategies
10 minutes
- Present the Resolution Strategies Slide Deck.
- Highlight four core strategies: active listening, calm tone, "I" statements, and collaborative brainstorming.
- Discuss a real-life school example for each strategy and ask students how they might use it.
Step 3
Modeling Effective Resolution
10 minutes
- Use a sample scenario from Mediation Role-Play Scenarios for teacher-led modeling.
- Think aloud as you identify the conflict, choose a strategy, and communicate a solution.
- Invite student suggestions at each step to demonstrate variations in approach.
Step 4
Student Mediation Role-Plays
15 minutes
- Divide students into triads: two mediators and one disputant, rotating roles.
- Distribute scenario cards from Mediation Role-Play Scenarios.
- Students apply the taught strategies to mediate their scenarios.
- Observers use the Resolution Skills Rubric to give structured feedback.
- Rotate roles so each student practices mediation and gives feedback.
Step 5
Reflection & Wrap-Up
10 minutes
- Hand out Takeaway Reflection Forms.
- Ask students to write one strategy they plan to use and how it will help in future conflicts.
- Invite volunteers to share their reflections with the group.
- Summarize the key skills and encourage students to notice conflicts they can resolve using these tools.
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Slide Deck
Resolution Strategies
• Define conflict resolution
• Introduce four strategies:
– Active Listening
– Calm Tone
– “I” Statements
– Collaborative Brainstorming
Let’s get started!
Welcome students! Today we’ll explore four core conflict resolution strategies you can use in school. By the end, you’ll know how to listen actively, use a calm tone, express yourself with “I” statements, and brainstorm solutions together.
Talking Points:
- State objectives: define conflict; learn four strategies.
- Emphasize why these skills matter for a respectful school climate.
What Is Conflict?
Definition:
- A disagreement or clash between people with different needs, goals, or ideas.
Example:
- Two classmates arguing over sharing a computer during free time.
Introduce the concept of conflict and why it’s important to handle it well.
Talking Points:
- Ask students for examples of conflicts they’ve seen or experienced.
- Explain that conflict is a normal part of relationships that can be handled constructively.
Strategy 1: Active Listening
• Give full attention (no distractions)
• Paraphrase: “So you’re saying…?”
• Ask clarifying questions
• Reflect feelings: “It sounds like you feel…”
Discuss Active Listening as the foundation for understanding others’ perspectives.
Talking Points:
- Emphasize full attention: eye contact, nodding.
- Paraphrase what you heard to check understanding.
- Ask clarifying questions.
Strategy 2: Calm Tone
• Speak softly and clearly
• Slow down your words
• Pause to think before responding
• Use a neutral, steady volume
Explain how tone of voice can escalate or calm a conflict.
Talking Points:
- Model an aggressive vs. calm tone.
- Encourage students to notice their volume, speed, and pitch.
- Practice pausing before responding.
Strategy 3: “I” Statements
Formula:
I feel (emotion) when (action) because (reason).
Example:
“I feel upset when you interrupt me because I lose my train of thought.”
Teach “I” statements to express feelings without blaming others.
Talking Points:
- Show formula: I feel _____ when _____ because _____.
- Contrast with “You” statements that blame or accuse.
- Practice creating an “I” statement as a group.
Strategy 4: Collaborative Brainstorming
• List all possible solutions (no judging)
• Discuss pros & cons of each idea
• Agree on a solution together
• Assign roles to carry out the plan
Highlight working together to find win-win solutions.
Talking Points:
- Explain brainstorming rules: no criticism, welcome all ideas.
- Show how to evaluate and choose the best solution.
- Emphasize collaboration and creativity.
Summary & Next Steps
Today you learned:
• Active Listening
• Calm Tone
• “I” Statements
• Collaborative Brainstorming
Next: Practice these in our mediation role-plays!
Summarize the four strategies and transition to role-play activity.
Talking Points:
- Review each strategy quickly.
- Explain that in small groups, students will practice mediating using these tools.
- Encourage everyone to try each role: mediator, disputant, observer.
Activity
Mediation Role-Play Scenarios
Use these scenarios and steps during the “Student Mediation Role-Plays” segment of your lesson. Print each scenario on its own card.
Instructions for Triads (15 minutes)
- Form groups of three. Assign roles:
- Mediator 1
- Mediator 2
- Disputant (the student with the “conflict”)
- Disputant reads the scenario card aloud (no more than 1 minute).
- Mediators work together to:
- Identify the heart of the conflict.
- Choose and apply at least two strategies from Resolution Strategies Slide Deck (active listening, calm tone, “I” statements, collaborative brainstorming).
- Guide disputant to a workable solution.
- Observer (rotate roles so one student is observer each round) uses the Resolution Skills Rubric to score and note:
- Use of active listening cues
- Tone and pace of voice
- Clarity of “I” statements
- Creativity and fairness of brainstormed solutions
- After 5 minutes, pause. Observers share feedback (2 minutes).
- Rotate roles so each student practices every role; repeat with a new scenario.
Scenario Cards
-
Group Project Deadlock
Two teammates disagree on who should lead the presentation. One feels they’ve done more work; the other feels overlooked. -
Locker Space Conflict
Two students want to use the same locker. One moved in first; the other’s books won’t fit elsewhere. -
Lunch Table Feud
A student always sits at the same spot at lunch and feels upset when someone new takes it without asking. -
Gym Equipment Grab
During P.E., two classmates reach for the same basketball. They both claim they called “mine first.” -
Spreading Rumors
One student heard that a friend is telling rumors about them on social media. They want the rumors to stop and an apology. -
Hallway Bumping
A student with heavy books accidentally bumps another in the hallway. One says it was rude; the other says it was an accident.
(Feel free to duplicate, mix, or adapt these to fit your group.)
Rubric
Resolution Skills Rubric
This rubric helps observers score peer mediators on four key conflict-resolution strategies. Circle or record the score for each criterion (1–4), then provide constructive feedback.
| Criterion | 1 – Beginning | 2 – Developing | 3 – Proficient | 4 – Exemplary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | • Rarely makes eye contact | |||
| • Interrupts speaker | ||||
| • Does not paraphrase or ask questions | • Sometimes maintains eye contact | |||
| • Occasionally paraphrases but misses key details | ||||
| • Asks basic questions | • Consistent eye contact & attentive body language | |||
| • Accurately paraphrases | ||||
| • Asks clarifying questions | • Fully engaged (nods, reflects feelings) | |||
| • Summarizes accurately | ||||
| • Asks insightful, open-ended questions | ||||
| Calm Tone & Pace | • Harsh or loud tone | |||
| • Rapid, clipped speech | ||||
| • Tone escalates conflict | • Occasionally calm but reverts to harsh tone | |||
| • Inconsistent pace | • Steady, neutral volume & moderate pace | |||
| • Pauses before responding | • Models calmness | |||
| • Uses tone to de-escalate | ||||
| • Invites open dialogue | ||||
| “I” Statements | • Uses blaming “you” statements | |||
| • Focuses on accusations | • Attempts “I” statements but vague (e.g., “I’m mad…”) | • Clear “I feel… when… because…” statements | ||
| • Focuses on personal feelings | • Empathetic “I” statements that invite solutions | |||
| • Encourages speaker to share their view | ||||
| Collaborative Brainstorming | • Offers few/no ideas | |||
| • Rejects others’ suggestions | • Offers limited ideas | |||
| • Minimal discussion of pros/cons | • Generates multiple ideas | |||
| • Discusses pros & cons | ||||
| • Includes most voices | • Facilitates equal participation | |||
| • Builds on others’ ideas | ||||
| • Guides group to a win-win solution |
Total Score: _____ / 16
Observer Comments:
Cool Down
Takeaway Reflection Form
As you wrap up today’s session, reflect on the conflict-resolution strategies you’ve learned and plan how you will use them.
-
Strategy I plan to use (choose one): Active Listening / Calm Tone / “I” Statements / Collaborative Brainstorming
-
How this strategy will help me handle conflicts in the future:
-
Describe a specific situation at school where you will use this strategy:
-
One personal goal for improving my conflict-resolution skills: