Teacher Script: Cool Heads, Clear Choices

Warm-Up: What's Conflict? (2 minutes)

(Display Slide 1: "Cool Heads, Clear Choices!")

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today we're going to talk about something super important: how to make good choices when we have disagreements. Our lesson is called 'Cool Heads, Clear Choices!' What do you think that might mean?"

(Listen to a few student ideas.)

Teacher: "To get us started, let's talk about what conflict means. Take a moment to think: What does it mean when people have a conflict or disagree? Turn and share your ideas with a partner for about 30 seconds."

(Allow brief partner discussion. Call on a few students to share using Discussion Prompts: Talking It Out.)

Teacher: "Great ideas! A conflict is simply when people have different ideas or want different things. It happens to everyone, even grown-ups! And it's totally okay to disagree. What's most important is how we handle it."

Introduction & Strategies (4 minutes)

(Display Slide 2: "What is Conflict?")

Teacher: "Now, let's watch a short video that will help us understand what conflict is and why it's okay to disagree."

(Play the video on Slide 2.)

Teacher: "As you saw in the video, conflict is when we have different ideas or want different things. Like when two friends both want the last apple, or when you and a classmate want to play different games at recess."

(Display Slide 3: "Why Do Conflicts Happen?")

Teacher: "Conflicts happen for lots of reasons. Maybe we want different things, or have different ideas, or sometimes we just don't understand each other. But here's the big secret: when a conflict starts, our bodies can feel hot, or tense, or even shaky. Our heads might feel a little fuzzy."

(Display Slide 4: "Cool Heads = Calm Bodies")

Teacher: "When we have a 'cool head,' it means we're trying to stay calm. What are some things you can do to stay calm when you start to feel upset?"

(Encourage answers like deep breaths, counting, stepping back.)

Teacher: "Exactly! Taking a deep breath, counting to three, or just trying to stay calm helps us keep a 'cool head.' And when our heads are cool, we can make 'clear choices' to solve problems."

(Display Slide 5: "Clear Choices = Peaceful Solutions")

Teacher: "Today we're learning three amazing ways to solve problems without hitting, pushing, or yelling. These are our 'Clear Choices' for peaceful solutions. They are: 'Talk it Out,' 'Walk Away,' and 'Ask for Help.' Let's look at each one."

(Display Slide 6: "Strategy 1: Talk it Out")

Teacher: "The first clear choice is to 'Talk it Out.' This means using your words to say how you feel and what you need. It's really helpful to use 'I feel...' statements. For example, instead of 'You always take my stuff!', you could say, 'I feel frustrated when you take my crayon without asking.' What's the difference between those two sentences?"

(Allow a brief discussion.)

Teacher: "Yes! One sounds like blaming, and the other tells how you feel. It's important to use a calm voice when you talk it out."

(Display Slide 7: "Strategy 2: Walk Away")

Teacher: "Our second clear choice is to 'Walk Away.' Sometimes, you might be too upset to talk, or maybe talking isn't working. It's totally okay to take a break! You can walk away to a safe space until you feel calm. This isn't giving up; it's being smart about managing your feelings and giving everyone space."

(Display Slide 8: "Strategy 3: Ask for Help")

Teacher: "And our third clear choice is to 'Ask for Help.' If you've tried talking, or walking away, and the problem still isn't solved, or if you ever feel unsafe, it's time to ask an adult for help. Teachers, parents, and other grown-ups are here to help you find a solution. Who are some adults you could ask for help?"

(Listen to student responses.)

Role Play Resolutions Activity (5 minutes)

(Display Slide 9: "Time to Practice!")

Teacher: "Fantastic! Now that we know our 'Cool Heads, Clear Choices' strategies, it's time to practice! We're going to do an activity called Activity: Role Play Resolutions. I'm going to give you a few scenarios, and in your small groups or pairs, I want you to act out how you would solve the problem using 'Talk it Out,' 'Walk Away,' or 'Ask for Help.' Remember to keep a cool head and make a clear choice."

(Divide students into small groups or pairs. Provide a scenario, either verbally or using the activity sheet if printed. Give them 2-3 minutes to practice. Circulate and provide support and positive feedback.)

Teacher: "Let's try this scenario: You and a friend both want to use the same swing at recess. How would you use a 'Clear Choice' to solve this without pushing or yelling?"

(After a minute or two, call on one or two groups to briefly demonstrate or share their solution.)

Teacher: "Great job practicing using your words and making a clear choice!"

Peaceful Path Puzzles Game (3 minutes)

Teacher: "Now for a quick game called Game: Peaceful Path Puzzles! I'll describe a conflict, and I want you to quickly show me which 'Peaceful Path' you would choose: 'Talk it Out,' 'Walk Away,' or 'Ask for Help.' You can do this by raising 1 finger for Talk, 2 for Walk, or 3 for Ask. Or, if we have space, you can quickly move to one side of the room I've designated for each choice!"

(Designate areas or use finger signals. Present scenarios quickly.)

Teacher: "Scenario 1: Someone accidentally bumps into you and your books fall. You feel annoyed."



Teacher: "Scenario 2: You and a friend are building with blocks, but your friend keeps knocking down your tower. You've tried asking them to stop, but they don't listen."



Teacher: "Scenario 3: A classmate is saying unkind things to another student on the playground, and you see they're getting upset."



Teacher: "You're all doing wonderfully at choosing peaceful paths!"

Cool Down: One Big Idea (1 minute)

(Display Slide 10: "Your Choices Matter!")

Teacher: "Excellent work today, everyone! You've shown that you can keep 'Cool Heads' and make 'Clear Choices.' Before we finish, I want everyone to think of just 'one big idea' or one strategy they learned today about resolving conflicts without physical contact. Share it with your elbow partner."

(Allow a few seconds for sharing. Call on one or two students to share with the class.)

Teacher: "Fantastic! Remember, you have the power to choose peaceful solutions. Cool heads lead to clear choices, and that helps everyone feel safe and happy. Thank you!"

Discussion Prompts: Talking It Out

Use these prompts to facilitate a class discussion about conflict and resolution.

Warm-Up Questions:

1. What does it mean when people have a conflict or disagree?
   
   
   
2. Can you think of a time when you disagreed with someone? What happened?
   
   
   
3. Why is it important to solve problems without hitting, pushing, or yelling?
   
   
   

During the Lesson (as needed):

4. What does it mean to keep a "cool head" when you're upset?
   
   
   
5. When might "Talking it Out" be the best choice?
   
   
   
6. When might "Walking Away" be a good idea?
   
   
   
7. When should you "Ask for Help" from an adult?
   
   
   

Reflective Questions:

8. What is one thing you learned today about solving problems peacefully?
   
   
   

Activity: Role Play Resolutions

Objective: Students will practice using the "Cool Heads, Clear Choices" strategies (Talk it Out, Walk Away, Ask for Help) to resolve conflicts without physical contact.

Instructions for Teacher:

1. Divide students into small groups or pairs.
2. Present one scenario at a time to the groups.
3. Instruct students to act out the scenario and demonstrate how they would use one of the three strategies to resolve the conflict peacefully.
4. Circulate among the groups, offering guidance, positive feedback, and prompting deeper thinking (e.g., "Why did you choose to talk it out here?").
5. After each scenario, briefly bring the class back together to share a few examples or discuss challenges.

Role Play Scenarios:

Scenario 1: The Shared Toy

• Conflict: You and a friend both want to play with the same popular toy during free play time. You both grab for it at the same time.
• Challenge: How can you resolve this without pulling or fighting over the toy?

Scenario 2: Different Game Ideas

• Conflict: You and your friends are deciding what game to play at recess. You want to play tag, but your two friends really want to play soccer, and they say they won't play tag with you.
• Challenge: How can you find a solution so everyone feels heard and can still have fun?

Scenario 3: Accidental Bump

• Conflict: You are walking in the hallway, and another student accidentally bumps into you, causing you to drop your books and papers. You feel a little angry and embarrassed.
• Challenge: How do you react with a cool head and make a clear choice, even though it was an accident?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Game: Peaceful Path Puzzles

Objective: Quickly identify and choose appropriate non-physical conflict resolution strategies for various scenarios.

Instructions for Teacher:

1. Explain the three "Peaceful Paths" again: Talk it Out, Walk Away, Ask for Help.
2. Tell students you will read a scenario. After you read it, they should quickly choose which "Peaceful Path" they would take.
3. You can have students show their choice in one of these ways:
   • Finger Signals: 1 finger for Talk it Out, 2 fingers for Walk Away, 3 fingers for Ask for Help.
   • Designated Areas: Assign different areas of the room for each path (e.g., left side = Talk, middle = Walk, right side = Ask) and have students move quickly to their chosen area.
   • Whiteboards/Paper: Students write down their chosen strategy.
4. After each scenario, briefly ask one or two students to explain why they chose that path.

Peaceful Path Puzzles: Scenarios

1. Scenario: You and your friend are building a tall tower with blocks, but your friend keeps using all the blue blocks, and you wanted to use some too.
   
   
   

   • Possible Path: Talk it Out (e.g., "I feel left out when you use all the blue blocks. Can we share them?")

2. Scenario: You are trying to read quietly, but the student next to you is making loud noises and distracting you. You feel annoyed.
   
   
   

   • Possible Path: Talk it Out (e.g., "I'm finding it hard to read with the noise. Could you please try to be a bit quieter?") or Walk Away (if talking doesn't work or you need to cool down).

3. Scenario: During a game outside, another student keeps pushing you slightly when they pass by. It's not hard, but it makes you feel uncomfortable.
   
   
   

   • Possible Path: Talk it Out (e.g., "Please stop pushing me; it makes me feel uncomfortable.") or Ask for Help (if it continues after talking or you feel unsafe).

4. Scenario: You get a bad grade on a test, and you feel really frustrated and want to rip up your paper. You're starting to get angry.
   
   
   

   • Possible Path: Walk Away (take a break to calm down, then maybe Talk it Out with the teacher later about the grade).

5. Scenario: You see two older students arguing very loudly on the playground, and they look like they might start pushing each other.
   
   
   

   • Possible Path: Ask for Help (from a supervising adult, as this situation could be unsafe).

6. Scenario: Your friend borrowed your favorite pencil, and now they say they can't find it. You feel upset that your pencil is lost.
   
   
   

   • Possible Path: Talk it Out (e.g., "I'm upset about my pencil. Can we look for it together?")