Topic: NEGOTIATING AND COMPROMISING
Learning Intention:
- We are learninghow to negotiate and compromise to meet our needs and solve problems
Success Criteria:
- We know we are successful when we can identify the problem
- We know we are successful when we can listen to another’s perspective
- We know we are successful when we can propose a compromise to solve the problem
Materials for Activity:
- Large post it paper/easel/chalkboard/whiteboard
- Markers/Chalk
- Pens for Students
- Note cards for Students
- Check-In Check-Out Rubric
Standard Circle Set-Up:
- Chairs in a circle (preferable without desk attached)
- Center Piece in center of circle
- 3-4 talking pieces laying around the center piece
- 2-4 Copies of the Group’s Shared Agreements
Group Procedure
Welcome
Greet students, get in circle. If needed, seat students strategically. Notice how the group is doing today (e.g. high or low energy, high or low motivation). If needed, remind students of the shared agreements. You can ask a student to volunteer to read them or read them yourself.
Ice Breaker
Facilitator, give definitions for negotiation and compromise thenask, which profession do you think requires the MOST negotiating skills and why?*Try to choose the first person that volunteered. *If he/she begins speaking without a talking piece, remind him/her to choose one. *If he/she does not pass it to the left when done, remind him/her to do so. *Remember who started so you know who will be the last person to speak.
Prior Week Reflection
Pass out the prior week CICO rubric on values. Have students reflect on their performance by stating: Let’s take some time to review our goal for the week. Take some time to determine if you achieved your goal, what worked, and what didn’t work so well. Then we will send the talking piece around for everyone to share. After a minute has passed, assess group to determine if everyone is ready to start. Then ask: who would like to start?
Topic of the Week
Today we are going to talk about negotiating and compromising.
Inspiring Word
“Nothing will work unless you do.” -Maya Angelou
Lesson
To begin our discussion on negotiating and compromising, let’s think about what makes a problem. What is a problem?
- What ingredients do you need to make a problem? Go around sharing responses. Facilitator may want to write down ingredients that are shared. Talk through the ingredients. What themes and similarities do we notice? In general, a problem results when 2 people have different opinions, wants or needs. Problems are just part of life. How we solve problems is important. We already discussed the ingredients we need to make a problem.
- Now let’s discuss what is needed to solve a problem. What ingredients do you need to solve a problem? Go around sharing responses. Facilitator may want to write down ingredients that are shared. Talk through the problem-solving ingredients. What themes and similarities do we notice?
- When solving problems, three things need to happen: 1) you need to tell the other person what you think about the problem. 2)you need to give the other person time to explain what he/she thinks about the problem. 3) you need to suggest a compromise, or solution to the problem that takes into account YOUR thoughts and feelings and THE OTHER PERSON’S thoughts and feelings and together you must agree on a compromise.
Activity to Practice Skill
Hand out pens and notecards.
- Think of a time in the last month where you could have negotiated or compromised better. Take a minute to write down what the problem was and what you thought of the problem. Importantly, take a minute to think about what the OTHER PERSON likely thought of the problem. Give students 2-4 minutes to write down a problem and what he/she thinks of the problem.
- Now pass your notecard to the right 2 people. When you get your neighbor’s note card, read the problem and what the involved people thought about the problem. Now, suggest a compromise that takes into account BOTH people’s thoughts on the problem. Write down your idea for the compromise. Give students 2-4 minutes to write down their compromise ideas.
- Now, we will go around sharing out your compromises. Students will read the problem and thoughts and then their suggested compromise. If desired, original cardholder can weigh in on whether they feel like that compromise would be helpful in the situation.
- In your opinion, what is the hardest part of negotiating or compromising? What is one strategy that you could use to make that difficult part a little bit easier?
Check-In Check-Out Rubric
Pass out new weekly CICO rubric. Have students make a new SAIG driven goal for the upcoming week. (SAIG driven goal idea: think of one person (adult or peer) or one situation (home, school, friends) that you could practice the skill of negotiating or compromising with.)
Closing Circle Question
Pass a smile: The person that starts smiles at the person to their left. Process continues around the circle until everyone has gotten a smile.
Student Agenda
Topic: Negotiating and Compromising
Welcome
Icebreaker
Which profession do you think requires the MOST negotiating skills and why?
Prior Week Reflection
Pass out prior week CICO rubric. Have students reflect on their performance.
Inspiring Word
“Nothing will work unless you do.” -Maya Angelou
Lesson
Today we are going to talk about negotiating and compromising.
Activity to Practice
- Think of a time in the last month where you could have negotiated or compromised better.
- Take a minute to write down what the problem was and what you thought of the problem. Importantly, take a minute to think about what the OTHER PERSON likely thought of the problem.
- Now pass your notecard to the right 2 people. When you get your neighbor’s note card, read the problem and what the involved people thought about the problem. Now, suggest a compromise that takes into account BOTH people’s thoughts on the problem. Write down your idea for the compromise.
- Share out your compromises.
- In your opinion, what is the hardest part of negotiating or compromising? What is one strategy that you could use to make that difficult part a little bit easier?
Check-In Check-Out Rubric
Make a new goal for the upcoming week. (Idea: Think of one person (adult or peer) or one situation (home, school, friends) that you could practice the skill negotiating or compromising with.)
Closing Circle Question
Pass a smile: The person that starts smiles at the person to their left. Process continues around the circle until everyone has gotten a smile.