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Mending Fences

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Lesson Plan

Mending Fences

Students will identify two actions to repair a relationship after a conflict.

Learning how to repair relationships after conflict is a crucial life skill. It helps students maintain healthy friendships, resolve disagreements constructively, and build stronger social connections, leading to a more positive and supportive environment.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Through brainstorming, discussion, and personal reflection.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Mending Fences Slides, Repair Menu Worksheet, and My Repair Plan Journal

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Has a friendship ever been hurt by conflict?

5 minutes

  • Begin by displaying Slide 1 of the Mending Fences Slides: "Has a friendship ever been hurt by conflict?"
    * Have students do a Think-Pair-Share: Think individually about the question, then discuss with a partner.
    * Bring the class back together and ask a few students to share their thoughts (without sharing specific details of personal conflicts). Focus on the feelings associated with conflict hurting a friendship.

Step 2

Brainstorm Repair Actions

5 minutes

  • Transition to Slide 3 of the Mending Fences Slides: "Brainstorming Repair Actions".
    * Ask the class: "When a friendship is hurt, what can we do to make it better?"
    * Write student responses on the board or chart paper. Guide them towards ideas like apologizing, listening, talking it out, making amends, giving space, etc.

Step 3

Create a 'Repair Menu'

10 minutes

  • Display Slide 4 of the Mending Fences Slides: "Your Friendship 'Repair Menu'".
    * Distribute the Repair Menu Worksheet to each student.
    * Go through Slides 5-8, discussing each repair tool (Apology, Active Listening, Making Amends, Time & Space / Setting Boundaries). Have students fill in the corresponding sections on their Repair Menu Worksheet with notes and their own ideas.
    * Encourage students to add any other repair actions they brainstormed earlier to their menu.

Step 4

Choose and Plan a Repair Action

8 minutes

Step 5

Wrap-Up & Reflection

2 minutes

  • Display Slide 10 of the Mending Fences Slides: "Mending Fences, Building Bridges".
    * Briefly review why repairing relationships is important (stronger friendships, learning from mistakes, positive community).
    * Reinforce that they now have tools to mend fences.
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Slide Deck

Has a friendship ever been hurt by conflict?

Think-Pair-Share: Reflect on a time a friendship felt broken.
How did it feel?

Greet students and start with the warm-up question. Encourage them to think about their own experiences.

Conflicts Happen, Repairs Help!

Conflicts are a part of life, even in the best friendships.
What we do AFTER a conflict can make all the difference.

Today's Objective: Identify two actions to repair a relationship after a conflict.

Introduce the idea that conflicts are normal but repairing is key. Explain the objective for the lesson.

Brainstorming Repair Actions

When a friendship is hurt, what can we do to make it better?
(Think about what you'd like someone to do for you, or what you've done that worked.)

Lead a brainstorming session. Write student ideas on the board. Guide them towards concepts like apology, listening, making amends.

Your Friendship 'Repair Menu'

Just like a restaurant menu has options, we can create a 'Repair Menu' for friendships!
Different conflicts might need different repair actions.

Let's explore some options and add your own ideas to your Repair Menu Worksheet.

Introduce the concept of a 'Repair Menu'. Explain that different situations might call for different repair actions. Distribute the Repair Menu Worksheet.

Repair Tool #1: The Apology

An apology isn't just saying 'sorry'.
It's about:
* Acknowledging the hurt
* Taking responsibility
* Expressing regret
* Promising to do better

(Fill in your Repair Menu Worksheet)

Go over the first few items on the worksheet: Apology and Active Listening. Discuss what these look and sound like. Have students fill in their worksheets.

Repair Tool #2: Active Listening

Truly hearing the other person can be powerful.
Active listening means:
* Giving full attention
* Not interrupting
* Trying to understand their feelings
* Summarizing what you heard to check understanding

(Add to your Repair Menu Worksheet)

Discuss active listening. Emphasize really hearing the other person's perspective without interrupting or planning a response.

Repair Tool #3: Making Amends

Sometimes words aren't enough. Actions speak louder!
Making amends could be:
* Offering to help
* Replacing something
* Spending quality time to rebuild connection
* Doing something kind

(Add to your Repair Menu Worksheet)

Introduce the idea of making amends. Give examples like offering help, replacing something broken, or spending quality time.

Repair Tool #4: Time & Space / Setting Boundaries

Sometimes a little distance helps heal.
* Allowing time for emotions to cool down.
* Giving each other space.
* Discussing new rules or boundaries for future interactions.

(Add to your Repair Menu Worksheet)

Discuss the importance of giving space and time if needed, and setting new boundaries. Emphasize that repair isn't always instant.

Your Personal Repair Plan

Look at your Repair Menu Worksheet.
Choose one repair action that you think is important or that you might need to use.

Use your My Repair Plan Journal to write about it.

Guide students to choose one action from their menu to think about applying or practicing. Distribute the My Repair Plan Journal.

Mending Fences, Building Bridges

Repairing relationships takes effort, but it's worth it!
It helps us:
* Build stronger friendships
* Learn from our mistakes
* Create a more positive community

Remember, you have the tools to mend fences!

Conclude by reiterating the importance of repair for healthy relationships. Answer any final questions.

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Worksheet

Repair Menu: Mending Fences

Sometimes friendships hit a bumpy road. This menu is designed to help you think about different ways to repair relationships after a conflict.

## Appetizers: Warming Up to Repair

* Self-Reflection: Before talking to the other person, what do you need to think about or understand about your own role in the conflict?




* Understanding the Other Side: What do you think the other person might be feeling or thinking?




## Main Course: Actions for Repair

Below are some common repair actions. Think about what each one means and how you would do it. Add your own ideas!

### 1. The Sincere Apology
What does a sincere apology really include? (It's more than just

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Journal

My Repair Plan: Reflecting on Repairing Relationships

Think about the "Repair Menu" we discussed. Choose one repair action that you believe is most important, or one that you might need to use in the future. It could be sincere apology, active listening, making amends, or another idea you had.

Journal Prompt:

  1. Which repair action did you choose from the menu and why? Explain what makes this action effective or important to you.






  2. Describe a hypothetical (imaginary) situation where you might use this repair action. What happened in the conflict, and how would you apply your chosen repair action step-by-step?










  3. What do you hope the outcome of using this repair action would be? How do you think it would help the relationship?








  4. What is one challenge you might face when trying to repair a relationship, and how could you overcome it?




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Mending Fences • Lenny Learning