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Friendship Puzzle Solvers

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Lesson Plan

Friendship Puzzle Solvers

Students will be able to demonstrate a simple strategy for resolving minor conflicts with a peer.

Learning to resolve conflicts peacefully helps students build stronger friendships, feel happier at school, and develop important communication skills they'll use their whole lives.

Audience

1st Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through direct instruction, modeling, a game, and a worksheet, students will practice conflict resolution.

Materials

Whiteboard or Chart Paper, Markers, Solving Little Problems Slide Deck, Problem-Solving Puppets Game, and Peace Path Worksheet

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Connect & Introduce: The Friendship Puzzle

5 minutes

  • Display the first slide of the Solving Little Problems Slide Deck titled 'What's a Friendship Puzzle?'.
    - Ask students: 'Have you ever had a disagreement with a friend? It's like a friendship puzzle, where things get a little mixed up!'
    - Introduce the lesson objective: 'Today, we're going to learn how to solve these friendship puzzles using a special strategy!'

Step 2

Model & Practice: 'I Feel' and Solutions

10 minutes

  • Use slides 2-4 of the Solving Little Problems Slide Deck to explain and model the conflict resolution strategy (e.g., 'I feel ______ when you ______ because ______.' and then 'Can we ______?').
    - Model a simple conflict scenario and demonstrate how to use 'I feel' statements and suggest a solution.
    - Have students practice with a partner, using a simple scenario provided by the teacher.

Step 3

Role-Play Game: Problem-Solving Puppets

10 minutes

  • Introduce the Problem-Solving Puppets Game.
    - Divide students into small groups and provide them with puppets (or have them draw simple stick figures).
    - Present different minor conflict scenarios. Students use their puppets to role-play the conflict and practice applying the 'I feel' strategy and finding a solution. Encourage creative solutions.
    - Circulate and provide support and feedback.

Step 4

Summarize & Close: Peace Path Promise

5 minutes

  • Bring the class back together.
    - Distribute the Peace Path Worksheet.
    - Review the key steps of conflict resolution using the worksheet as a visual aid.
    - Ask students to draw or write one way they will use the 'Friendship Puzzle' strategy this week.
    - Conclude by emphasizing the importance of solving friendship puzzles to keep friendships strong.
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Slide Deck

What's a Friendship Puzzle?

Have you ever had a disagreement with a friend? It's like a puzzle where things get a little mixed up!

Welcome students and introduce the idea of disagreements as 'friendship puzzles'. Encourage them to think about times they've had small conflicts.

Step 1: Say How You Feel

Use 'I feel' statements:

  • I feel sad...
  • I feel mad...
  • I feel frustrated...

Introduce the 'I feel' statement. Explain that it helps express feelings without blaming. Give a simple example.

Step 2: Tell Why

Tell your friend why you feel that way:

  • ...when you take my toy.
  • ...when you interrupt me.
  • ...when you don't share.

Explain why they feel that way. Connect their feelings to a specific action. Emphasize not to call names or make assumptions.

Step 3: Suggest a Solution

Ask for what you need or suggest a solution:

  • Can we share the toy?
  • Can I talk now?
  • Can we take turns?

Guide them to suggest a fair solution. Encourage brainstorming different ideas. Ask: 'What could we do instead?'

Friendship Puzzle Solved!

  1. Say how you feel.
  2. Tell why.
  3. Suggest a solution.

Good job solving friendship puzzles!

Summarize the steps and remind students that solving friendship puzzles makes friendships stronger. Reiterate that it's okay to have disagreements, but important to solve them kindly.

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Game

Problem-Solving Puppets Game

Objective

Students will practice using "I feel" statements and suggesting solutions to resolve minor conflicts through role-playing with puppets.

Materials

  • Puppets (can be simple paper puppets, socks, or even students drawing faces on their hands)
  • Small slips of paper with conflict scenarios

Instructions

  1. Introduce the Puppets: Explain that the puppets are here to help them practice solving friendship puzzles. Each student or pair will get a puppet.
  2. Scenario Time: The teacher will provide a simple conflict scenario. (Examples below)
  3. Role-Play: In small groups (2-3 students), one student will act out the problem, and the other student(s) will use their puppet to practice the "I feel" statement and suggest a solution.
  4. Switch Roles: After one scenario, students should switch roles so everyone gets a chance to practice.
  5. Teacher Support: Circulate around the room, listening to the role-plays and offering guidance and positive feedback.

Example Scenarios

  • Your friend took your favorite crayon without asking.
  • Two friends want to play with the same ball at recess.
  • A friend keeps interrupting you while you are talking.
  • Your friend is building a tower and accidentally knocks down your blocks.
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Worksheet

My Peace Path Worksheet

Name: _________________________

Solving Friendship Puzzles!

Sometimes, friends have little disagreements. These are like friendship puzzles! We can solve them to keep our friendships strong.

Step 1: How do you feel?

Draw a picture or write words about how you feel when there's a problem with a friend.











Step 2: What happened?

What did your friend do that made you feel that way? Try to use an "I feel... when you..." sentence.











Step 3: What can we do to solve it?

Draw or write one idea for how you and your friend can solve the problem and make things better.











My Peace Path Promise

I promise to use my "I feel" words and try to find solutions to my friendship puzzles!

Signature: _________________________

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Friendship Puzzle Solvers • Lenny Learning