Solving People Problems Script

Introduction & Warm-Up: What is Conflict? (10 minutes)

(Teacher displays Solving People Problems Slide Deck - Slide 1)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Look at the title of our lesson today: Solving People Problems: Let's Talk It Out!

Has anyone ever had a time when they disagreed with a friend, a brother or sister, or even a grown-up? Maybe you both wanted to play with the same toy, or you had different ideas about how to play a game?

(Pause for student responses)

"It happens to everyone! These disagreements are what we call conflicts. And guess what? Learning how to solve these 'people problems' is a super important life skill. It helps us have better friendships and feel happier."

(Distribute the Conflict Scenarios Warm-Up and give students a few minutes to think or jot down ideas.)

"Let's quickly look at our warm-up sheet. Take a minute to think about the situations. What would you do?

(Call on a few students to share their initial thoughts, guiding them gently without immediately providing answers.)

"Great ideas! We're going to learn some tools today that will help us navigate these situations even better."

Our Goals Today: (Briefly after warm-up)

(Teacher displays Solving People Problems Slide Deck - Slide 2)

"So, what are we hoping to achieve today? Our goals are to learn how to:

• Identify what a conflict is.
• Understand that people can see things differently, and that's okay!
• Learn how to use peaceful ways to solve problems."

Understanding Conflict: Reading and Discussion (15 minutes)

(Teacher displays Solving People Problems Slide Deck - Slide 3)

"To help us understand conflict even better, I have a short reading for you called Understanding Conflict Reading. Please take one and find a comfortable spot to read it quietly, or if you prefer, you can read it with a partner. You have about 5-7 minutes for this."

(Allow students time to read. Once done, bring the class back together.)

"Alright, now that we've read about conflict, let's talk about it. As the slide says, conflict is when two or more people have different ideas, feelings, or needs that clash."

"What are some things that the reading mentioned can cause conflicts? (e.g., different ideas, not sharing, misunderstandings, strong feelings)

(Facilitate a discussion using the How to Solve It Discussion Guide. Encourage students to share examples they've observed, reminding them not to name specific individuals.)

"It's important to remember that everyone has different perspectives, meaning they see things from their own point of view. Just like you might see a number as a 6, and someone across the table might see it as a 9! Both are right from their own perspective."

Strategies for Resolution: Role-Play Activity (20 minutes)

(Teacher displays Solving People Problems Slide Deck - Slide 4)

"Now for the exciting part! We're going to learn some superpowers for solving problems peacefully. Let's look at the slide together.

"1. Stop and Think: Before you do anything, take a deep breath. Count to three. This helps you calm down.
2. Listen Carefully: Instead of just waiting to talk, really try to hear what the other person is saying. What are their feelings? What do they need?
3. Use 'I Feel' Statements: This is a big one! Instead of saying, 'You always take my toys!', try 'I feel sad when my toys are taken without asking.' This helps explain how you feel without blaming.
4. Look for Solutions: Once you both understand each other, work together to brainstorm ideas. What could you both do?
5. Compromise: This means finding a solution where everyone gets a little bit of what they want. Maybe you play with the toy for 10 minutes, and then your friend gets to play for 10 minutes.
6. Ask for Help: If you've tried everything and still can't solve it, it's okay to ask a trusted adult – like a teacher or parent – for help."

"Now, let's put these strategies into action! We're going to do a Role-Play Resolution Activity. I'll divide you into small groups, and each group will get a scenario. Your task is to act out the conflict and then act out how you would resolve it peacefully using these steps. Remember, have fun and be creative!"

(Divide students into groups, distribute scenarios, and circulate to assist. Provide guidance on using 'I statements' and brainstorming solutions.)

Practice & Application: Worksheet (5 minutes)

"Excellent role-plays, everyone! You're all becoming conflict resolution experts! Now, to solidify your understanding, I'm handing out the My Conflict Resolution Worksheet. You'll read a few more short scenarios and write down how you would solve them using the strategies we just discussed. You have about 5 minutes for this, and then we'll wrap up."

(Distribute worksheets and monitor students as they work.)

Assessment & Wrap-Up: Quiz and Cool-Down (10 minutes)

(Collect worksheets.)

"To see what you've learned today, please complete the Conflict Resolution Quiz. Do your best, and remember what we discussed."

(Distribute quizzes and allow time for students to complete them. Collect quizzes.)

"Fantastic work today, everyone! Before you go, we have one final quick activity, our Peace Path Cool Down. Please take one, write down one new thing you learned about solving problems, or one way you plan to use these skills.

"Finally, I want to introduce our exciting Community Conflict Project Guide! This is a project you can work on at home or in class over the next week. It's a chance to think about how you can bring peace and good problem-solving to your own community, whether that's your family, your neighborhood, or even your classroom. You can look at the Conflict Resolution Project Rubric to understand how you'll be assessed. I'll explain more about this project next time, but feel free to start thinking about your ideas!"

"Remember, learning to solve problems peacefully makes our lives and the lives of those around us much happier!"

Note to Teacher on Lecture Video: This script, combined with the Solving People Problems Slide Deck, provides a comprehensive narrative. You can use these materials to record a lecture video for students to watch at home or as a supplementary resource.

Conflict Scenarios Warm-Up

Instructions: Read each scenario below. Think about what is happening and how the people involved might be feeling.

Scenario 1: The Shared Toy

Liam and Mia both want to play with the same red truck during recess. Liam grabbed it first, but Mia says she had it yesterday. They are both pulling on the truck and starting to get upset.

• What is the problem here?
  
  
  
  
• How do you think Liam is feeling?
  
  
  
  
• How do you think Mia is feeling?
  
  
  
  

Scenario 2: Different Game Ideas

Sarah and David are playing outside. Sarah wants to play tag, but David wants to play hide-and-seek. They can't agree on which game to play, and now they are just standing there, not playing anything.

• What is the problem here?
  
  
  
  
• How do you think Sarah is feeling?
  
  
  
  
• How do you think David is feeling?
  
  
  
  

Understanding Conflict: It's Okay to Disagree!

Have you ever been playing with a friend, and suddenly, you both want to do different things? Maybe you want to play with the blocks, and your friend wants to play with the dolls. Or maybe someone accidentally bumps into you, and you feel a little upset. These are all examples of conflict.

What is Conflict?

Conflict is simply when people have different ideas, feelings, or needs that don't quite match up. It's a normal part of life! Everyone experiences conflict, even grown-ups. It doesn't mean anyone is bad; it just means there's a problem that needs a solution.

Why Do Conflicts Happen?

Conflicts can happen for many reasons:

• Different Ideas: You might think one way is best, and your friend thinks another way is best.
• Not Sharing: Sometimes, there's only one of something, and two people want it.
• Misunderstandings: Someone might say something, and you hear it differently than they meant it.
• Strong Feelings: When people are feeling angry, sad, or frustrated, it can be harder to agree.
• Accidents: Sometimes, conflicts start because of something unintentional, like bumping into someone by mistake.

Everyone Sees Things Differently

Imagine you and a friend are looking at a picture. You might notice the bright red apple, but your friend might notice the tall green tree. You're both looking at the same picture, but you're seeing different things! It's the same with conflicts. Each person has their own perspective, which means they see the situation from their own point of view.

Understanding that others have different perspectives is the first step to solving a problem. It helps us to be patient and try to understand how the other person feels.

Learning to Solve Conflicts

It might feel tricky at first, but learning how to solve conflicts peacefully is a super skill! It helps you keep your friends, make new ones, and feel good about yourself. In this lesson, we're going to learn some easy steps to turn those tricky situations into happy solutions. Keep reading and get ready to become a conflict resolution superstar!

Role-Play Resolution Activity: Act It Out!

Instructions: In your small groups, you will receive a scenario. First, act out the conflict exactly as described. Then, use the 6 Steps to Peaceful Problem Solving we learned to act out how the characters would resolve the conflict. Be creative and have fun!

Remember our 6 steps:

1. Stop and Think: Take a deep breath.
2. Listen Carefully: Hear what the other person is saying.
3. Use 'I Feel' Statements: Explain your feelings without blaming.
4. Look for Solutions: Brainstorm ideas together.
5. Compromise: Find a solution where everyone gets a little bit of what they want.
6. Ask for Help: If you can't solve it, ask a trusted adult.

Scenario Card 1: The Playground Push

• Characters: Marco and Lily.
• Conflict: Marco and Lily are both running for a playground ball. They both reach it at the same time and accidentally bump into each other. Lily falls down and starts to cry, yelling, "You pushed me on purpose!"

Scenario Card 2: The Block Tower Trouble

• Characters: Ben and Chloe.
• Conflict: Ben has been working very hard on a tall block tower. Chloe comes over and accidentally knocks it down while reaching for a different block. Ben gets very angry and shouts, "You ruined it!"

Scenario Card 3: The Lunchtime Swap

• Characters: Maya and Noah.
• Conflict: Maya brought her favorite cookies for lunch and offered one to Noah. Noah took two without asking and then bragged about having more. Maya feels upset and ignored.

How to Solve It: Discussion Guide

Instructions for Teacher: Use these questions to facilitate a class discussion after students have read the Understanding Conflict Reading and before introducing specific resolution strategies. Encourage students to share their ideas and listen respectfully to others.

Part 1: Identifying Conflict

1. Based on the reading, what is conflict in your own words? How would you describe it to a friend?
   
   
   
   
2. Can you think of a time when you saw a conflict happen? (Remember, don't use real names, just describe what happened.) What was it about?
   
   
   
   
3. The reading talked about different reasons why conflicts happen. What were some of those reasons? (e.g., different ideas, not sharing, misunderstandings, strong feelings)
   
   
   
   
4. Is conflict always a bad thing? Why or why not?
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Understanding Perspectives

1. The reading said everyone sees things from their own perspective. What does that mean? Can you give an example?
   
   
   
   
2. If you and a friend both want to play with the same toy, how might you both see the situation differently?
   
   
   
   
3. Why is it important to try and understand how another person is feeling or what they are thinking when there's a disagreement?
   
   
   
   
4. What happens if we only think about our own side of the story during a conflict?
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Moving Towards Solutions (Pre-Strategy Introduction)

1. Before we learn specific steps, what are some things you already try to do when you have a problem with someone?
   
   
   
   
2. What makes it hard to solve problems sometimes?
   
   
   
   
3. What do you hope to learn today about solving conflicts?

My Conflict Resolution Worksheet

Instructions: Read each scenario. Then, write down how you would solve the problem using the 6 Steps to Peaceful Problem Solving. Remember to use "I Feel" statements and look for fair solutions!

Scenario 1: The Broken Crayon

You are coloring with your friend, Alex. You accidentally press too hard on his favorite blue crayon, and it snaps in half! Alex looks really sad and says, "Now I can't finish my drawing!"

1. Stop and Think: What is your first thought or feeling?
   
   
   
   
2. Listen Carefully: What is Alex feeling? What does he need?
   
   
   
   
3. Use 'I Feel' Statements: What could you say to Alex to explain how you feel and what happened?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Look for Solutions: What are some ways you and Alex could solve this problem together?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Compromise: What might be a fair solution that helps both of you?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Scenario 2: The Loud Game

It's quiet time in class, and you are trying to read your book. But your classmates, Sam and Jesse, are playing a really loud game of rock-paper-scissors at their table, and it's hard to concentrate. You're starting to feel frustrated.

1. Stop and Think: What is your first thought or feeling?
   
   
   
   
2. Listen Carefully: What do you think Sam and Jesse are feeling? What do they need?
   
   
   
   
3. Use 'I Feel' Statements: What could you say to Sam and Jesse to explain how you feel without blaming them?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Look for Solutions: What are some ways you, Sam, and Jesse could solve this problem together?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Compromise: What might be a fair solution that helps everyone get what they need?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Conflict Resolution Quiz Answer Key

Question 1: What is conflict?

• Correct Answer: When people have different ideas or needs that clash.
• Thought Process: Conflict is defined as a disagreement or clash between individuals due to differing ideas, needs, or perspectives. The other options describe agreement, individual play, or a constant positive state, which are not definitions of conflict.

Question 2: Why is it important to listen carefully during a conflict?

• Correct Answer: To understand the other person's feelings and perspective.
• Thought Process: Active listening is crucial in conflict resolution because it allows individuals to gain insight into the other person's point of view, their emotions, and their needs. This understanding is essential for finding a mutually acceptable solution. The other options suggest self-serving or disingenuous reasons for listening.

Question 3: What is an "I Feel" statement?

• Correct Answer: A statement that describes how you are feeling without blaming.
• Thought Process: "I Feel" statements are a key communication tool in conflict resolution. They focus on one's own emotions and experiences, rather than making accusations or generalizations about the other person's behavior, which can escalate conflict. The alternatives are examples of blaming or commanding language.

Question 4: What does it mean to compromise?

• Correct Answer: To find a solution where everyone gets a little bit of what they want.
• Thought Process: Compromise involves each party in a conflict giving up something they want in order to reach a solution that is acceptable to everyone. It is about mutual concession rather than one person getting everything or nothing. The other options represent extreme or uncooperative outcomes.

Question 5: Name one situation that could cause a conflict. Then, describe one step you could take to try and solve it peacefully.

• Correct Answer: Answers will vary but should reflect understanding of conflict causes and resolution steps (e.g., stopping and thinking, listening, using "I feel" statements, looking for solutions, compromising, or asking for help).
• Thought Process: This is an open-response question designed to assess the student's ability to recall and apply concepts from the lesson. Look for a plausible conflict situation (e.g., wanting the same toy, different game ideas, accidental damage) and one of the taught resolution strategies (e.g., taking a deep breath, asking how the other person feels, saying "I feel...", suggesting a shared solution, or involving an adult). Partial credit may be given for identifying a conflict or a step without both.

Peace Path: Cool Down Reflection

Instructions: Think about everything we learned today about solving problems. On the path below, write down one important thing you learned or one way you will try to use your new conflict resolution skills this week.

My Peace Path Step:

Share and Reflect (Optional):

If you'd like, share your peace path step with a partner or the class. How will this help you navigate 'people problems'?

Community Conflict Project: Bringing Peace to Our World!

Objective: To observe and identify conflicts in your everyday life (without naming specific people!) and propose peaceful solutions using the strategies we learned.

Due Date: [Teacher will insert date]

What to Do:

1. Observe Conflicts (No Naming Names!): Over the next week, pay attention to disagreements you see happening around you. This could be at home, on the playground, in a TV show, or even in a book.

   • Important: DO NOT use real names of people you know. If you are writing about something that happened, describe the situation generally, e.g., "Two friends disagreed about a game." or "Characters in my book had an argument."

2. Choose ONE Conflict: Pick one conflict you observed that you think you could have helped solve using our steps.

3. Describe the Conflict:

   • What was the disagreement about?
   • Who were the people (or characters) involved?
   • How do you think each person was feeling?

4. Plan Your Peaceful Solution: Use our 6 steps to peaceful problem-solving to imagine how you would help solve this conflict.

   • Step 1: Stop and Think – What would you tell the people to do first?
   • Step 2: Listen Carefully – How would you encourage them to listen to each other?
   • Step 3: Use "I Feel" Statements – What "I feel" statements could the people use?
   • Step 4: Look for Solutions – What ideas could they brainstorm to solve the problem?
   • Step 5: Compromise – What would be a fair compromise?
   • Step 6: Ask for Help (if needed) – If they couldn't solve it alone, who could they ask?

5. Present Your Project (Choose ONE way to present):

   • Option A: Write a Story: Write a short story (1-2 paragraphs) about the conflict and how it was solved peacefully.
   • Option B: Draw a Comic Strip: Create a comic strip with 3-4 panels showing the conflict and its peaceful resolution.
   • Option C: Create a Mini Skit: With a partner (or by yourself), create a short skit (1-2 minutes) to act out the conflict and its resolution.
   • Option D: Design a Poster: Make a poster that illustrates the conflict and your proposed solution using drawings and words.

Remember: The goal is to show how you can use our conflict resolution skills to make situations better and bring more peace to your community!

Conflict Resolution Project Rubric

Student Name: ________________________

Project Type: ________________________

Teacher Comments:

Total Score: ________ / 24