Teaching Conflict Resolution
Objective:
Students will learn different ways of handling conflict and how they can demonstrate “conscious acts of peace.”
Materials:
Copies of Responses to Conflict Tree Chart
Transparency of definitions
Blank sheets of paper
Procedure:
· Write the following terms on the board: AVOIDANCE, DIFFUSION, CONFRONTATION.
· Ask your students to get into groups and define each word. Write down their answers on the board as they share them.
· After about 5-10 minutes, review the definitions with them on the overhead projector.
· Distribute the "Responses to Conflict Tree” to your students
· Explain the consequences and adaptability of each approach. (i.e. a nonviolent confrontation, and some forms of avoidance and diffusion are conscious acts of peace).
· Break students into 6 groups and pass out two blank sheets of paper to each group.
· Next, read the following “challenging situation” to your students:
1) Fran and Alice are classmates. Fran worked hard on a clay sculpture in her Art class. Alice, without asking, picked it up to look at it, and it fell and smashed.
· Using the words, "avoidance," "diffusion,” and "confrontation," ask your students to think about their own conflict styles and how they fit into the tree chart.
· Designate one of the following questions to each group:
What are some ways that Fran and Alice can avoid a conflict?
What might Fran say?
What might Alice say?
What are some diffusion techniques?
What are some violent or non-violent confrontation techniques?
Which approach would be a Conscious Act of Peace?
· Go around the room to have them share their answers with class.
____________________________________________________________
Sample answers for educators:
HA
Help: ask students and adults to help you /Assert Yourself: Make it clear that you want them to stop
HA
Humor: Find a funny way to respond/Avoid: Steer clear and stay away
SO
Self-talk: Say positive things to yourself/Own-it: “Own the put-down and avoid an argument.
· Read “challenging situation” #2:
2) In the hallway, three students approach you saying, “You said such and such about so and so.” You did not say any of these things.
· Again, using the words, “avoidance”, “diffusion,” and “confrontation,” ask your students to think about their conflict styles and how they fit into the chart.
· Designate one question to each group and have them write their answers on sheet of paper:
What can you do when you are approached with this kind of information?
What might you say to these students?
What will you do when you enter the classroom?
What are some diffusion techniques?
What are some violent and non-violent confrontation techniques?
Which approach would be a Conscious Act of Peace?
· Go around the room again and have them share their answers aloud.
Always remember “ You can’t control the behavior and actions of other people, but you can control how your respond.”