Conflict Escalation and Resolution
![Picture](/uploads/9/2/4/9/9249025/3994037.jpg)
This section of the toolkit is dedicated to teaching about conflict escalation and resolution in the Primary grades. Conflict escalation is an important concept for primary students to learn because they will often become upset and want the help of a peer mediator or teacher at the very early stages of a conflict. In teaching conflict resolution skills, students may be able to resolve conflicts which are on the lower end of the escalation scale on their own and will know when a situation needs a mediator or a teacher to intervene. There are many great resources out there with classroom activity ideas, posters and songs to help teach about conflict escalation and resolution.
Teacher Prompts
1. What does the word conflict mean?
2. What are some feelings that could happen when a problem occurs?
3. What is the difference between a social conflict and a physical conflict?
4. What are appropriate ways of handling anger?
5. Have you ever been in a conflict with someone else? What was it like?
6. When do you need help to deal with a conflict?
7. What is a mediator?
8. What is an I-Statement?
9. What are some peaceful ways to end an argument?
10. How do you make compromises with your friends?
11. Why is it important to apologize when you have hurt someone's feelings?
2. What are some feelings that could happen when a problem occurs?
3. What is the difference between a social conflict and a physical conflict?
4. What are appropriate ways of handling anger?
5. Have you ever been in a conflict with someone else? What was it like?
6. When do you need help to deal with a conflict?
7. What is a mediator?
8. What is an I-Statement?
9. What are some peaceful ways to end an argument?
10. How do you make compromises with your friends?
11. Why is it important to apologize when you have hurt someone's feelings?
Classroom Activities
Activity One: Creating a Conflict Resolution Protocol for the Classroom
Paula Denton and Roxann Kriete have created a great model to follow for establishing a conflict resolution protocol in the primary classroom. Their approach involves teaching four main steps to resolve conflicts. The first step would be calming down. Next comes explaining why someone is upset. The third step is discussion and resolution. The final step is some kind of acknowledgement that the conflict has ended, such as a handshake. |
Activity Two: Practice Making I-Statements
To help primary students learn how to make I-Statements the teacher could write the following formula on the board or on chart paper: "When you _________, I feel __________, because ________, so what I would like is ___________________." You could give the student scenarios to work through using I-statements to discuss feelings in an assertive way. |
Activity Three: Friendship Stories
PBSKids.com has provided the following idea for creating friendship stories which deal with conflict: The class will be divided into three groups which will write a story about friends. One group will write the beginning of the story which will include the characters and setting. Another group will write the middle of the story which includes the character having a problem with another friend. Finally, the last group will resolve the conflict in the ending of the story. 2-3 books will be created when the whole class finishes this activity. |
Book Suggestions
![Picture](/uploads/9/2/4/9/9249025/8647276.jpg)
Drew, Naomi. (1999). "The Peaceful Classroom in Action". Jalmar Press.
The Peaceful Classroom in Action by Naomi Drew has a chapter on conflict resolution for K-2 students. To teach conflict resolution, Naomi Drew suggests using a puppet theatre to act out scenarios involving conflicts and then have the whole class brainstorm solutions. I-Messages are covered in-depth as well and are used as part of a series of lessons to teach primary students about conflict resolution. Something unique about this resource is that it suggests discussing the benefits of peaceful conflict resolution and not just how to resolve conflicts.
The Peaceful Classroom in Action by Naomi Drew has a chapter on conflict resolution for K-2 students. To teach conflict resolution, Naomi Drew suggests using a puppet theatre to act out scenarios involving conflicts and then have the whole class brainstorm solutions. I-Messages are covered in-depth as well and are used as part of a series of lessons to teach primary students about conflict resolution. Something unique about this resource is that it suggests discussing the benefits of peaceful conflict resolution and not just how to resolve conflicts.
![Picture](/uploads/9/2/4/9/9249025/6926788.jpg)
Joosse, Barbara M. (1989). "Dinah's Mad, Bad Wishes". Harper Collins Canada.
In Dinah's Mad, Bad Wishes by Barbara M. Joosse, Dinah and her mother get into a conflict after Dinah has painted on the wall. The book describes how both of them get rid of their anger first (by rocking in a rocking chair and riding a stationary bicycle) before discussing the conflict. Dinah thinks mean things about her mother and hopes that bad things will happen to her. Once she has rocked in her rocking chair heavily for half an hour she begins to realize that her anger over the conflict is what is driving these mad, bad wishes. Eventually both Dinah and her mother come to realize that their love for each other is more important than the conflict and they resolve the conflict peacefully.
In Dinah's Mad, Bad Wishes by Barbara M. Joosse, Dinah and her mother get into a conflict after Dinah has painted on the wall. The book describes how both of them get rid of their anger first (by rocking in a rocking chair and riding a stationary bicycle) before discussing the conflict. Dinah thinks mean things about her mother and hopes that bad things will happen to her. Once she has rocked in her rocking chair heavily for half an hour she begins to realize that her anger over the conflict is what is driving these mad, bad wishes. Eventually both Dinah and her mother come to realize that their love for each other is more important than the conflict and they resolve the conflict peacefully.
![Picture](/uploads/9/2/4/9/9249025/2587414.jpg?129)
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. (1991). "King of the Playground". Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
King of the Playground by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is about a boy who stands up to a bully and uses words to resolve a conflict instead of fists. This book tells a story that many primary students can relate to because conflicts will often happen outside on the playground at recess. At the beginning of the book, Sammy is afraid of Kevin because he keeps intimidating him. After Sammy stands up to Kevin they learn how to get along and work together by talking about how Sammy felt.
King of the Playground by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is about a boy who stands up to a bully and uses words to resolve a conflict instead of fists. This book tells a story that many primary students can relate to because conflicts will often happen outside on the playground at recess. At the beginning of the book, Sammy is afraid of Kevin because he keeps intimidating him. After Sammy stands up to Kevin they learn how to get along and work together by talking about how Sammy felt.
Sample lesson Plan
Resolving Conflicts — Puppet Theatre
Grades K-2
Objectives
Grades K-2
Objectives
- To introduce the basics of conflict resolution
- To guide the students to understand the benefits of resolving conflicts peacefully.
- Puppets
- Chart Paper
- Markers
- Have the students form a circle on the floor. Introduce the puppets. Tell the children that the puppets are having a disagreement or conflict over a toy that they want. Have the puppets act out the conflict: grab at each other, call each other names, cry, or whatever else your imagination comes up with.
- Speak directly to the puppets. Ask each puppet to state the problem. Don't let the puppets interrupt each other. Let them know that each will get a turn.
- Help the puppets understand others' "point of view." Teach them how to use "I-Messages."
- Ask the students to brainstorm solutions to the puppets' conflict. List all their suggestions on the chart paper.
- Talk to the puppets again and have them choose a solution that satisfies them both.
- Have the puppets ask the students why it's better to work it out rather than to fight it out and discuss this.
- Have the puppets ask the students about conflicts they have had. Discuss the brainstorming solutions together. Go over giving "I-Messages" at this time.
- Go over the above chart with the class.
References
Denton, P. Kriete, R. (2000). A Conflict Resolution Protocol for Elementary Classrooms. Retrieved from:
https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/article/conflict-resolution-protocol-elementary-classrooms
Drew, Naomi. (1999). "The Peaceful Classroom in Action". Jalmar Press.
Joosse, Barbara M. (1989). "Dinah's Mad, Bad Wishes". Harper Collins Canada.
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. (1991). "King of the Playground". Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
PBS Teachers. (2003). Conflict Resolution: Activity Ideas. Retrieved from:
http://www.pbs.org/teachers/thismonth/conflict/index1.html