Lesson Plan
Cool Down, Talk It Out!
Students will be able to identify three basic steps for conflict resolution (Cool Down, Think, Talk It Out) and practice applying them to simple scenarios.
Learning to resolve disagreements peacefully helps students build stronger friendships, feel safer at school, and communicate their needs effectively.
Audience
7th Grade Students (low cognitive abilities)
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Visual aids, guided discussion, and interactive scenario practice.
Materials
Smartboard or Projector, Conflict Resolution Slide Deck, Conflict Scenario Cards, My Conflict Plan Worksheet, and Markers or Pencils
Prep
Preparation Steps
15 minutes
- Review the Conflict Resolution Slide Deck and familiarise yourself with the content.
* Print and cut out the Conflict Scenario Cards (one set).
* Make copies of the My Conflict Plan Worksheet for each student.
* Ensure projector/smartboard is set up.
* Arrange desks for small group work if desired, or keep a whole group discussion setup.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What is a Conflict?
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "What is a conflict? Has anyone ever had a disagreement with a friend or family member? How did it feel?" Encourage simple responses and acknowledge all contributions. (Slide 1 & 2)
Step 2
Introducing the 3 Steps: Cool Down, Think, Talk
15 minutes
- Using the Conflict Resolution Slide Deck, introduce the three simple steps for conflict resolution: Cool Down, Think, and Talk It Out (Slides 3-5).
* For each step:
* Explain what it means in simple terms.
* Demonstrate or ask students to show how they would do it (e.g., deep breath for Cool Down).
* Provide clear, concise examples.
* Emphasize that these steps help solve problems peacefully.
Step 3
Practice with Scenario Cards
15 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (2-3 students per group) or facilitate as a whole class.
* Distribute the Conflict Scenario Cards. Read one scenario aloud.
* Ask students to identify the conflict and discuss how they would use the "Cool Down, Think, Talk It Out" steps to solve it. Guide their responses to ensure they apply each step. Repeat with 2-3 other scenarios based on time. (Use the Script for prompts)
Step 4
Wrap-Up & Reflection: My Conflict Plan
10 minutes
- Distribute the My Conflict Plan Worksheet.
* Guide students to draw or write one thing they learned about each step (Cool Down, Think, Talk It Out).
* Conclude by reiterating that everyone has conflicts, but we can learn to solve them peacefully using our new steps. (Slide 6)
Slide Deck
Cool Down, Talk It Out!
Solving problems when you don't agree.
Welcome students. Introduce the idea that sometimes people don't agree. Ask if they've ever had a problem with a friend. This lesson will help them learn how to solve problems.
What is a Conflict?
When people have a disagreement or a problem.
It's okay to have conflicts, but we need to know how to solve them peacefully!
Ask students what 'conflict' means to them. Explain in simple terms that a conflict is when people have different ideas or want different things. Give a very simple example (e.g., 'Two friends both want to play with the same ball.').
Step 1: Cool Down
When you feel upset, angry, or frustrated:
- Take a deep breath.
- Count to 3 or 5 slowly.
- Give yourself a moment to calm down.
Introduce the first step: Cool Down. Explain that when you're upset, it's hard to think clearly. Give examples of cooling down: taking a deep breath, counting slowly, walking away for a moment. Have students practice a deep breath together.
Step 2: Think
Once you are calm, think about the problem:
- What happened?
- How do I feel? (e.g., "I feel sad because...")
- What do I want to happen now?
Introduce the second step: Think. Explain that once they are calm, they need to think about the problem. Guide them to consider: What happened? How do I feel? What do I want to happen now? Emphasize thinking about their own feelings first.
Step 3: Talk It Out
Talk to the other person:
- Use kind words.
- Say "I feel..." (e.g., "I feel sad when...")
- Listen to their side of the story.
- Work together to find a solution.
Introduce the third step: Talk It Out. Explain that this means telling the other person what happened and how they feel, and also listening to the other person. Emphasize using 'I feel' statements (e.g., 'I feel frustrated when...') and listening carefully without interrupting.
Cool Down, Think, Talk It Out!
Remember these steps:
- Cool Down
- Think
- Talk It Out
Practice makes it easier!
Summarize the three steps. Encourage students to try these steps next time they have a disagreement. Reiterate that it takes practice and it's okay to ask for help from an adult.
Activity
Conflict Scenario Cards
- Print and cut out these cards. Use them for the scenario practice activity.
Scenario 1
You and your friend both want to play with the same toy. You both grab it at the same time.
Scenario 2
Someone accidentally bumps into you in the hallway and makes your books fall.
Scenario 3
Your group is working on a project, and one person keeps talking over everyone else.
Scenario 4
You lent your pencil to a classmate, and now they say it's theirs and won't give it back.
Scenario 5
You want to play a game during free time, but your friends want to watch a video. You can't agree.
Scenario 6
Someone tells a joke that makes you feel sad.
Worksheet
My Conflict Plan Worksheet
Name:
Date:
1. Cool Down
What can you do to cool down when you feel upset? (Draw or write one idea)
2. Think
What are two things you should think about when you have a problem? (Draw or write two ideas)
3. Talk It Out
What is one kind way to talk about the problem? (Draw or write one idea)
My Plan for Peace!
When I have a conflict, I will:
- Cool Down by:
- Think about:
- Talk It Out by:
Script
Conflict Resolution Script: Cool Down, Talk It Out!
Warm-Up: What is a Conflict? (5 minutes)
Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something really important: solving problems when we don't agree. Has anyone ever had a disagreement with a friend or a family member? How did that feel?"
(Give students a moment to respond. Acknowledge their answers simply, e.g., "Yes, that can feel tricky." or "It's normal to feel that way sometimes.")
Teacher: "Sometimes, when people have different ideas or want different things, it can cause a 'conflict.' A conflict is just a problem between people. It's totally okay to have conflicts, but what's most important is how we solve them. We want to solve them in a way that helps everyone feel better. Let's look at our first slide!"
(Display Conflict Resolution Slide Deck - Slide 1 & 2)
Introducing the 3 Steps: Cool Down, Think, Talk (15 minutes)
Teacher: "When a conflict happens, it's easy to get upset. But when we're upset, it's hard to think clearly. So, our first step is to Cool Down."
(Display Conflict Resolution Slide Deck - Slide 3)
Teacher: "Cooling down means taking a moment to calm your body and your brain. It helps you stop feeling so angry or sad. How can we cool down? Maybe take a deep breath? Let's try it together! Take a big breath in... and let it out slowly. Good! You can also count to three or five in your head. Or maybe you need to walk away for a minute. The most important thing is to give yourself time to feel calm."
(Encourage students to practice a deep breath.)
Teacher: "Once you're calm, the next step is to Think."
(Display Conflict Resolution Slide Deck - Slide 4)
Teacher: "Thinking means asking yourself a few questions about the problem. First, 'What happened?' Try to remember the facts. Then, 'How do I feel?' It's important to know your own feelings. Are you sad? Frustrated? And last, 'What do I want to happen?' What would make the situation better? Thinking helps you understand the problem better."
Teacher: "Finally, after you've cooled down and thought about it, it's time to Talk It Out."
(Display Conflict Resolution Slide Deck - Slide 5)
Teacher: "Talking it out means you talk to the other person involved in the conflict. When you talk, try to use kind words. It's helpful to say, 'I feel...' For example, 'I feel sad when I don't get a turn.' Then, it's very important to listen to the other person. Let them tell their side without interrupting. When you both listen, you can work together to find a solution that works for everyone."
Practice with Scenario Cards (15 minutes)
Teacher: "Now we're going to practice our new steps: Cool Down, Think, Talk It Out! I have some Conflict Scenario Cards. I'm going to read a story about a problem, and we're going to use our steps to figure out what to do."
(Divide students into small groups or keep as whole class, as planned in the lesson plan. Distribute scenario cards or read them aloud.)
Teacher: "Here's our first story: Scenario 1: You and your friend both want to play with the same toy. You both grab it at the same time."
(Pause for students to process.)
Teacher: "First step: Cool Down. What can you do to cool down if you're pulling on the toy?"
(Listen for answers: deep breath, let go, step back. Guide if needed.)
Teacher: "Great! Now, second step: Think. What happened? (You both want the toy). How do you feel? (Frustrated, a little angry). What do you want to happen? (You want to play with the toy)."
Teacher: "And the third step: Talk It Out. What could you say to your friend? Remember to use 'I feel...' statements."
(Listen for answers: "I feel frustrated when we both grab the toy. Maybe we can take turns?" or "I feel sad because I really want to play with that toy now." Guide students to suggest solutions like sharing, taking turns, or playing with a different toy.)
(Repeat with 2-3 more scenarios from the Conflict Scenario Cards as time allows, consistently guiding students through Cool Down, Think, and Talk It Out for each.)
Wrap-Up & Reflection: My Conflict Plan (10 minutes)
Teacher: "You all did a wonderful job practicing! Conflicts happen to everyone, but now we have some great tools to help us solve them peacefully. We learned to Cool Down, Think, and Talk It Out."
(Display Conflict Resolution Slide Deck - Slide 6)
Teacher: "Now, I have a special My Conflict Plan Worksheet for each of you. On this sheet, I want you to draw or write one thing you remember about each step: Cool Down, Think, and Talk It Out. Think about what we practiced today."
(Distribute worksheets and provide support as students work. Circulate and check for understanding.)
Teacher: "Excellent work today, everyone! Remember, using these steps helps us be good friends and solve problems. It's okay to ask for help from a teacher or another adult if a conflict is too big to solve by yourselves."