Lesson Plan
Facilitator Guide Practice the Peace
Guide educators through a structured 45-minute restorative circle, SMART goal creation, post-assessment, and celebration to build communication, empathy, and accountability.
Restorative circles foster trust, empower student voice, and support conflict resolution. SMART goals and reflection reinforce growth mindset and self-awareness.
Audience
4th Grade
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Circle, goal setting, survey, celebration
Prep
Preparation
10 minutes
- Review facilitators’ steps and roles in this guide.
- Familiarize yourself with the Restorative Flow and SMART Goals slide deck.
- Print or share digitally the Group Peace Playbook and Post-Assessment Likert Survey.
- Have the Restorative Participation Rubric and Growth Report Template ready for quick reference.
Step 1
Opening & Agreements
5 minutes
- Welcome students and briefly restate the objective.
- Review or co-create group agreements (e.g., listen actively, speak respectfully).
- Introduce the talking piece and circle seating format.
Step 2
Restorative Circle Practice
20 minutes
- Introduce roles: speaker, listeners, and facilitator.
- Prompt 1: “What happened?” (Use a neutral scenario or real incident.)
- Pass the talking piece; each speaker shares their perspective (1–2 minutes each).
- Prompt 2: “Who was affected and how?”
- Prompt 3: “What can we do to make things right?”
- Listeners reflect and ask clarifying questions only when the talking piece is passed to them.
- Conclude with a group summary of agreements and next steps.
Step 3
SMART Goal Creation
10 minutes
- Display SMART goal criteria using Restorative Flow and SMART Goals.
- Instruct students to identify one personal action they’ll take (e.g., “I will use ‘I’ statements during conflicts”).
- Students write their goal in the Group Peace Playbook using the SMART format.
- Prompt volunteers to share their draft goals for peer feedback.
Step 4
Post-Assessment Likert Survey
5 minutes
- Distribute the Post-Assessment Likert Survey.
- Students rate their confidence and skill improvement (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree) on communication, empathy, and problem-solving.
- Collect surveys for teacher review against the Restorative Participation Rubric.
Step 5
Celebration & Closing
5 minutes
- Invite students to acknowledge peers (“I noticed when…”) to highlight positive behaviors.
- Share one strength from each student using the Growth Report Template.
- Reinforce next steps: display SMART goals in class and plan a check-in in two weeks.
- End with a brief breathing or gratitude exercise to close.
Slide Deck
Restorative Flow and SMART Goals
Peaceful Pathways: Using restorative practices to build communication, empathy, and accountability in our classroom.
Welcome students. Introduce the purpose of this slide deck: to guide us through a restorative circle process and then create SMART goals for continued growth. Emphasize that participation and respect are key.
What Is a Restorative Circle?
• A safe, structured space for sharing perspectives
• Everyone takes turns speaking and listening
• Focuses on understanding impact and repairing harm
Explain that restorative circles are structured conversations where everyone has a chance to speak and listen. Highlight how this builds trust and helps resolve conflicts constructively.
Circle Roles
- Facilitator: Guides the circle and keeps time
- Speaker: Holds the talking piece and shares perspective
- Listeners: Offer respectful attention and ask clarifying questions when invited
Review each role. The facilitator guides the process, speakers share their views, and listeners practice active listening without interrupting.
Restorative Circle Prompts
- What happened?
- Who was affected and how?
- What can we do to make things right?
Present these prompts one at a time during the circle. Pause between prompts to let students reflect and share.
Talking Piece Guidelines
• One speaker at a time
• Speak respectfully and honestly
• Listen without interrupting
• Use “I” statements to share your feelings
Model how to pass the talking piece and remind students to speak only when holding it. Emphasize speaking from your own experience using “I” statements.
What Are SMART Goals?
SMART goals help us turn ideas into action by making our goals:
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-bound
Transition to goal setting. Explain that after reflecting together, each student will set a personal goal to keep building these skills.
SMART Criteria Explained
Specific: What exactly will I do?
Measurable: How will I track progress?
Achievable: Is it realistic?
Relevant: Does it matter to me?
Time-bound: When will I finish?
Walk through each SMART criterion with an example. Ask students for suggestions on how a goal could be made measurable or time-bound.
Example SMART Goal
“I will use an “I” statement (Specific) every time I feel upset at school and check in with my teacher once a week (Measurable, Time-bound) so I can improve my communication skills (Relevant, Achievable).”
Show a concrete example. Emphasize how it meets each SMART criterion.
Your Turn: Draft Your SMART Goal
- Open your Group Peace Playbook.
- Use the SMART template to write one personal goal.
- Share with a partner for feedback.
Guide students to open their Peace Playbook and draft a SMART goal. Circulate to support and give feedback.
Next Steps & Reflection
• Display SMART goals in our classroom
• Check-in on progress in two weeks
• Complete the Post-Assessment Likert Survey
• Keep using restorative practices daily
Summarize next steps: display goals in class, check back in two weeks, and complete the post-assessment survey after the circle. Encourage students to keep practicing.
Project Guide
Group Peace Playbook
Name: ________________________ Date: ___________
Section 1: Group Agreements
As a group, work together to create 3–5 agreements that will help us keep our circle safe and respectful. Write each agreement below.
- Agreement 1: ________________________________
- Agreement 2: ________________________________
- Agreement 3: ________________________________
- Agreement 4 (optional): _____________________
- Agreement 5 (optional): _____________________
Section 2: Your SMART Goal
Use the SMART criteria to write one personal goal. Fill in each part below.
Specific: What exactly will I do?
_____________________________________________
Measurable: How will I know I’m making progress?
_____________________________________________
Achievable: Is this goal realistic for me right now?
_____________________________________________
Relevant: Why does this goal matter to me and our group?
_____________________________________________
Time-bound: By when will I accomplish this?
_____________________________________________
My SMART Goal (combine all parts):
______________________________________________
Section 3: Reflection Prompts
After our restorative circle, take a moment to reflect on the process and your growth. Answer the prompts below.
- What went well for me during the circle?
______________________________________________ - What was challenging for me?
______________________________________________ - What can I do differently or improve next time?
______________________________________________ - One thing I want to remember from today:
______________________________________________
Keep this playbook in a safe place. We will revisit our agreements, SMART goals, and reflections in our next circle to celebrate progress and set new intentions!
Rubric
Restorative Participation Rubric
Use this rubric to assess each student’s engagement and skill demonstration during the restorative circle and SMART goal creation.
| Criteria | 1 – Beginning | 2 – Developing | 3 – Proficient | 4 – Exemplary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circle Participation | Rarely speaks or stays off-topic in discussions. | Contributes only when prompted; comments lack depth. | Regularly shares relevant ideas and perspectives. | Consistently offers thoughtful insights that build the discussion. |
| Active Listening | Often interrupts or shows distraction. | Sometimes listens; needs reminders to focus. | Listens respectfully; waits for talking piece to speak. | Demonstrates attentive listening; asks clarifying, respectful questions. |
| Empathy & Respect | Shows minimal regard for others’ feelings. | Occasionally acknowledges peers’ perspectives. | Shows understanding of peers’ feelings and viewpoints. | Actively affirms and validates others; fosters a safe space. |
| SMART Goal Quality | Goal is vague or missing key SMART elements. | Goal includes some SMART elements but lacks clarity. | Goal meets all SMART criteria; clear and realistic. | Goal is exceptionally specific with strong alignment to personal growth and timeline. |
Scoring instructions:
- Assign each student a level (1–4) per criterion.
- Calculate a total score by summing across criteria (maximum 16).
- Use totals to guide feedback, target areas for growth, and monitor progress over time.
Quiz
Post-Assessment Likert Survey
Answer Key
Growth Report Template
Use this template to give each student personalized feedback at the end of the restorative circle lesson. Refer to the Restorative Participation Rubric and post-assessment survey to inform your comments.
Student Name: ________________________ Date: ___________
1. Strengths Observed
List at least one specific strength in each area:
Communication:
______________________________________________
Active Listening:
______________________________________________
Empathy & Respect:
______________________________________________
SMART Goal Quality:
______________________________________________
2. Evidence & Examples
Write a brief description of evidence supporting each strength (1–2 sentences per area):
______________________________________________
3. Areas to Grow
Identify one area where the student can improve in our next circle:
______________________________________________
4. Action Steps / Next Steps
Suggest concrete strategies or check-in points to support continued growth. (e.g., “Practice using ‘I’ statements in at least one conversation this week.”)
______________________________________________
5. SMART Goal Follow-Up
Note any modifications or supports needed for the student’s SMART goal (e.g., adding measurable checkpoints or adjusting the timeline):
______________________________________________
Sample Feedback Statements (Teacher Reference)
- “You communicated your perspective clearly using ‘I’ statements—this helped everyone understand how you felt.”
- “I noticed you waited patiently and listened to your classmates without interrupting—that’s strong active listening.”
- “Your SMART goal is specific and time-bound. Next, let’s add a weekly check-in to track your progress.”
Teacher Reflection & Follow-Up
Based on today’s circle and survey results, I will support this student by:
______________________________________________