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Drama Detox

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Lesson Plan

Conflict Role-Play Guide

Students will engage in theater games and peer mediation role-plays to practice empathy, active listening, and collaborative problem-solving for real-life conflicts.

Equipping students with conflict resolution strategies fosters a respectful classroom culture, reduces peer tension, and builds lifelong communication skills.

Audience

7th Grade Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive theater games and structured role-plays

Materials

Prep

Gather and Review Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Theater Game

5 minutes

  • Have students form a circle and introduce the “Pass the Conflict” game
  • Each student states a mild conflict scenario (e.g., “I forgot my homework”) and passes an imaginary token
  • Emphasize clear expression and attentive listening

Step 2

Introduce Conflict Skills

5 minutes

  • Briefly define key skills: empathy, active listening, calm communication
  • Ask volunteers to give examples of when they’ve used these skills

Step 3

Drama Detox Scenes Role-Play

10 minutes

  • Divide students into pairs and assign each a scenario from Drama Detox Scenes Slide Deck
  • In each pair, one plays each role; act out the scene twice switching roles
  • After each role-play, pairs note what communication strategies they used

Step 4

Mediation Skits in Groups

15 minutes

  • Form groups of four: two in conflict roles, two mediators
  • Distribute Mediation Skits Activity to each group
  • Mediators guide the conflict parties step-by-step: establish ground rules, listen, propose solutions
  • After 7 minutes, rotate roles so all practice mediation

Step 5

What Worked? Reflection

5 minutes

  • Reconvene as a whole class and use What Worked? Discussion Prompts
  • Ask: Which strategies felt most helpful? How did empathy change the outcome?
  • Encourage students to share one insight

Step 6

Peace Pledge Cool-Down

5 minutes

  • Hand out Peace Pledge Template
  • Students write a personal pledge committing to respectful conflict resolution
  • Invite volunteers to read their pledges aloud
  • Display pledges on a classroom bulletin board
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