Students will learn to use "I" statements, practice active listening, and find win-win solutions through guided role-plays, demonstrating basic conflict resolution skills.
Teaching these skills empowers 2nd graders to manage disagreements kindly, build empathy, and create a positive classroom community.
Audience
2nd Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, modeling, partner role-play, and reflection.
Materials
Printed Conflict Scenario Cards, - Speaker’s Rock or Talking Piece, - Printed Scenario Reflection Worksheets, - Feeling Faces Chart, and - Timer or Stopwatch
Remind students who struggle with writing that they can draw pictures instead.
Step 5
Debrief and Assessment
5 minutes
Invite volunteers to share their scenario and solution with the class.
Use a quick thumbs-up/thumbs-down check: "Do you feel ready to use these skills on the playground?"
Collect worksheets to assess understanding and note students who need more practice.
Reinforce how each step built on key skills: "I" statements, active listening, empathy, and collaboration.
Slide Deck
Peaceful Playground Pals
In this lesson, we will learn to:
• Use “I” statements
• Practice active listening
• Find win-win solutions
Let’s make our playground a friendlier place!
Welcome students! Introduce the lesson name and today’s goals. Explain that we will learn skills to solve playground disagreements kindly.
What Is a Conflict?
A conflict is when two people:
• Disagree about something
• Feel upset or frustrated
Use our Feeling Faces Chart to help name emotions during a conflict.
Ask: “What does conflict mean?” Invite a few student examples (e.g., two friends wanting the same toy). Point to the Feeling Faces Chart and connect emotions to conflicts.
Using “I” Statements
Formula: I feel [feeling] when [situation] because [reason].
Example:
I feel sad when someone takes my marker because I can’t finish my drawing.
Explain the I-statement formula step by step. Model on the board: “I feel sad when someone takes my marker because I can’t finish my drawing.” Then ask a student volunteer to try one.
Active Listening
Face the speaker and make eye contact.
Nod or use small words (“uh-huh,” “I see”).
Paraphrase: “You’re saying that…?”
Active listening shows you care and understand.
Demonstrate active listening with a volunteer. Emphasize eye contact, nodding, paraphrasing. Then ask another volunteer to model paraphrasing aloud.
Win-Win Solutions
• Brainstorm ideas that help everyone.
• Use “and” to combine ideas: “You can use the swings next, and I’ll pick first for the slide.”
• Aim for a solution that makes both people feel good.
Explain how brainstorming helps both people feel happy with the outcome. Offer an example (e.g., sharing blocks by taking turns or building together).
Take turns holding the Speaker’s Rock:
• Use an “I” statement.
• Practice active listening.
• Brainstorm a win-win solution together.
Swap roles and try a new scenario if time allows.
Give each pair one Conflict Scenario Card and the Speaker’s Rock. Circulate to prompt students needing help with sentence starters.
Reflection Time
On your Scenario Reflection Worksheet, draw or write:
• The “I” statement you used
• How the other person felt
• The win-win solution you agreed on
Distribute the Scenario Reflection Worksheet. Encourage students who struggle with writing to draw pictures instead.
Debrief & Thumbs-Up
• Who’d like to share their scenario and solution?
• Thumbs-up if you feel ready to use these skills on the playground!
Great job! Remember:
I statements, active listening, empathy, collaboration.
Wrap up by inviting a few volunteers to share. Use a thumbs-up/thumbs-down check: “Are you ready to use these skills on the playground?” Collect worksheets for assessment.
Worksheet
Scenario Reflection Worksheet
Use this worksheet to think about the conflict scenario you practiced. You can draw pictures or write words.
1. My “I” statement:
2. How do you think the other person felt?
3. What win-win solution did you agree on?
4. How did active listening help you understand each other?
5. If you could try this again, what would you do differently?
6. Draw or write a picture of you and your friend solving the conflict:
