WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY LESSON PLAN TEMPLATE

Lesson Day Lesson 1: Resolving Conflict

Note: It is important to note that this lesson is designed for periods in a
block schedule (83 minutes) and could be completed over two-to-three-
day span if not in a block schedule.
How will this lesson support the learning goal? In this lesson students will define “conflict” and identify the stages of
(1c: Setting Instructional Outcomes) conflict. Students will identify conflict triggers. Students will analyze
the role of emotions in conflict. Students will set goals for reducing
conflict in their own lives.
PA Standards and Other Appropriate Professional Standards Standard - 13.2.11.E
(1c: Setting Instructional Outcomes) Demonstrate, in the career acquisition process, the application of
essential workplace skills/knowledge, such as, but not limited to:
http://www.pdesas.org/Standard/view or https://www.pdesas.org/Page?
pageId=11 · Commitment
· Communication
List the Pennsylvania Standard(s) relevant for this lesson
· Dependability
· Health/safety
· Laws and regulations (that is Americans With
Disabilities Act, child labor laws, Fair Labor Standards
Act, OSHA, Material Safety Data Sheets)
· Personal initiative
· Self-advocacy
· Scheduling/time management
· Team building
· Technical literacy
· Technology
ISTE (Technology) Standards (IF APPROPRIATE)
(1c: Setting Instructional Outcomes) 2.3. Citizen Teachers inspire students to positively contribute and
responsibly participate in the digital world. Teachers:
www.iste.org / ISTE Standards for Educators
When addressing this section, you should include the standard number and the 2.2.a. Create experiences for learners to make positive, socially
sub-component (e.g., 3a, 4a-c, etc.). Also, explain how the unit or lesson responsible contributions and exhibit empathetic behavior online that
explicitly incorporates at least one standard (standard 3-7 only). Describe build relationships and community
where in the learning plan there will be evidence that the standard selected
will be integrated into the learning experience.

Objective(s)
(1c: Setting Instructional Outcomes) Objectives:
Taking into consideration the learning goal, what is the objective(s)
of this lesson that will support the progress toward the learning goal?  Students will define “conflict” and identify the stages of conflict.
The statement should be directly observable (use verbs that can be measured).
 Students will identify conflict triggers.

 Students will analyze the role of emotions in conflict.

 Students will set goals for reducing conflict in their own lives.

Academic Language Relationship skills - The ability to establish and maintain healthy and
(1a: Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy) rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. This
includes communicating clearly, listening actively, cooperating,
resisting inappropriate social pressure, negotiating conflict
constructively, and seeking and offering help when needed. [14]

Responsible decision-making - The ability to make constructive and

respectful choices about personal behavior and social interactions based
on consideration of ethical standards, safety concerns, social norms, the
realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions, and the well-
being of self and others. [15]

Empathy - The capacity to understand or feel what another person is

experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity
to place oneself in another's position. [18]

Collaboration - The process of two or more people, entities or

organizations working together to complete a task or achieve a
goal. [21]

Communication skills - This is defined as the transmission of a

message that involves the shared understanding between the contexts in
which the communication takes place. Communication skills involve
listening and speaking as well as reading and writing [23]
SEL: Relationship Skills Website (teacher created)
Materials/Resources Google Slides (teacher created)
(1d: Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources) A dictionary or computer with internet access (Part I)
One copy of a current news article describing a conflict for each student
 (Part II)
One copy of “The Stages of Conflict” activity sheet for each student
(Part II)
One copy of the “Vocabulary of Feelings” activity sheet for each
student (Part III)

Anticipatory Set
(1a: Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy) *Bell Ringer: Conflict Resolution Question
____ minutes
*Would you rather have everyone you know be able to read
How will you set the purpose and help students learn why today’s lesson is your thoughts or for everyone you know to have access to your
important to them as learners? Internet history?
How will you pique the interest or curiosity regarding the lesson topic? (10 minutes)
How will you build on students’ prior knowledge?
Starter:
How will you introduce and explain the strategy/concept or skill?
Provide detailed steps Read the following scenario to students:

Tatiana and Desmond are the top students in their grade. They have
competed against each other for the highest grades in every subject, and
they both want to be the class valedictorian. They try to outdo each
other. They try to impress their teachers. They taunt each other before
tests. One day before a test, the teasing between Tatiana and Desmond
escalates into a full-blown shouting match.

Tell students that, at times, conflict can actually produce positive

results. Ask students what positive outcomes might result from this
situation. (Students might respond: Tatiana and Desmond might learn
how to solve their problems, work together to help each other do better,
and begin to recognize their similarities rather than their differences.)

Tell students that in the next few lessons they will practice resolving
conflicts in a way that can produce positive results.

(5 minutes)
 Instructional Activities Part 1: What is Conflict? (15minutes)
(1a: Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy;
1e: Designing Coherent Instruction) 1. Students create a conflict web.
Exploration (Model): How will students explore the new concepts? How will
you model or provide explicit instruction? Ask students what they think of when they hear the word “conflict.”
Encourage them to consider situations that create conflict, how they feel
Guided Practice: How will you provide support to students as they apply the when they are involved in conflict, the results of conflict, and so on.
new concept? How will you allow them to practice (with teacher support)? Write student responses where everyone can see, grouping similar
Independent practice: How will students review and solidify these concepts to responses to create a web or a cluster.
be able to use this new knowledge? How will you monitor and provide
feedback? 2. Students define “conflict.”
Provide detailed steps.
When students have exhausted their ideas, ask them to review the web
or cluster on the board and suggest a definition for “conflict.” Write
student responses.

Then, ask a volunteer to look up the word “conflict” in the dictionary. A

dictionary definition might read “mental struggle resulting from
incompatible or opposing needs, drives, wishes, or demands.” Have
students review their definition and add to it or change it as needed.
Lead students to recognize the important idea that conflict refers
primarily to the mental struggle between two people. Point out that a
physical struggle, according to this definition, is most likely the result of
a mental struggle that escalates out of control.

3. Students consider the relationship between stress and conflict.

Ask students to explain the meaning of the saying, “That was the straw
that broke the camel’s back.” Lead students to recognize that when
people are feeling burdened, a small incident might “break” them.

Explain to students that stress is like a burden and can be the catalyst
that turns a small conflict into an out-of-control situation. Ask students
to recall the sources of stress that they discussed in “Lesson 4:
Improving Well-Being” of the Confidence Building module. (Students
should mention problems at school, problems on the job, and pressure
from friends or family.) Tell students that many sources of stress are
common to conflict situations.

Point out to students that the relationship between conflict and stress is
reciprocal—conflict is stressful and stress can provoke conflict. When
we feel stressed, we are more likely to let conflict escalate. Review with
students the stress management, breathing exercise, and relaxation
techniques they discussed in “Lesson 4: Improving Well-Being” of the
Confidence Building module. Tell students that using these strategies to
reduce stress can help them more effectively manage conflict.

4. Students identify recurring situations of conflict in their lives.

Tell students that conflict is a natural part of life that we can learn from
and, in turn, try to make into a positive experience. One strategy for
managing conflict is to be ready for it.

Ask students to consider the situations in their lives that involve

conflict. Instruct students to write down recurring conflict situations and
to pay close attention to the factors that trigger conflict in their lives.

Tell students to write down several specific conflict situations that they
want to manage more effectively. Explain that they will keep this list
and refer to it at the end of each lesson in this module.

Part 2: Conflict in the News (20 minutes)

1. Students review a conflict in the news.

Tell students that one place where we can almost always find recurring
examples of conflict is in the news. Distribute copies of a current news
article that describes a conflict. Read the article aloud for your students
or give them time to read it independently.

Where all students can see, create an outline of the story. Elicit from
students a step-by-step description of what happened. If details are
missing, have students make inferences as to what probably took place.

2. Students identify the stages of conflict in the news story.

Distribute “The Stages of Conflict” activity sheet to students. Instruct

them to compare the stages of conflict on the activity sheet with the
outline they created for the news article. Point out that these stages do
not always happen in the same order and that the evolution of a conflict
can be recursive (for example, the parties involved can return to
dialogue several times). Have students label each event from the news
article with the corresponding stage of conflict. Explain that one event
might represent more than one stage of conflict.

Tell students that at each stage of conflict, there is the potential for the
situation to be resolved. Say, “Controlling emotions at each stage is
essential to ensuring that the conflict does not get out of control.”

Part 3: Freeze Frame (20minutes)

1. Students develop conflict-situation role plays.

Brainstorm with students examples of conflict situations that they have

encountered in school. Write the situations in a place where everyone
can see. Encourage students to describe the situations using the stages of
conflict from Part II.

Divide the class into groups of four or five. Tell students that each group
is going to prepare and perform a role play of a conflict situation.
Assign each group a scenario from the class suggestions or use one of
the following:

 A student is watching television with a family member. The

family member wants to watch a different show.
 Two friends go out to eat. When the check comes, one of the
friends says that he doesn’t have enough money and asks to
borrow some. This has happened many times before.
 A younger sibling wants to join in an older sibling’s activities.
 The older sibling wants to be left alone.

Allow the groups several minutes to prepare their role plays.

2. Students perform the role plays.

When students are finished preparing, explain that they are going to
perform the role plays. Also explain that while the groups are
performing, you will tell them to freeze at certain points. When you do,
the group will stop acting to participate in a class discussion.

Distribute one copy of the “Vocabulary of Feelings” activity sheet to

each student. Tell them that they are going to observe the effect that
emotions have in each role play and that they can refer to the activity
sheet to specifically describe what they are seeing.

Ask the first group to present its role play. While the group is
performing, watch for evidence of the different stages of conflict. When
a stage of conflict arises, tell the group to freeze and elicit students’
observations regarding the buildup of the conflict. Have students use the
“Vocabulary of Feelings” activity sheet to identify the specific emotions
involved. Have the students performing identify the emotions that they
are portraying and what they will do next. Discuss with the class
alternative reactions to those emotions that might have better results. As
the role play proceeds, discuss how the conflict is either escalating or
defusing.

3. Students discuss the effects of inappropriate reactions during

conflicts.

Ask students for examples of inappropriate reactions during conflicts.

(Student responses might include laughing when someone gets hurt,
laughing at someone who is yelling at you, showing anger when
someone has given you a gift.) Elicit from students that inappropriate
reactions are demonstrations of feelings that do not fit a situation. Ask
students if they think that a conflict escalates or defuses when one party
demonstrates an inappropriate reaction. Point out that being aware of
other people’s emotions at each stage of a conflict will help to avoid
 demonstrating inappropriate reactions.

4. Students apply their observations from the role plays to

determine real-life conflict resolution goals.

Tell students to refer to the lists that they created at the end of Part I, in
which they identified recurring situations of conflict in their lives. Tell
students to choose three of their recurring conflicts to focus on.

Direct students to think about these situations in light of the role plays
that they just conducted. Guide them to think about the following:

 Are any of these situations similar to the situations in the role

plays?
 Are the emotions discussed in the role plays related to situations
in their lives?
 What alternative reactions might reduce conflict?

Guide students to set appropriate goals for reducing conflict in the areas
that they have identified. Remind them that effective goals are specific,
measurable, realistic, and include a deadline. Remind students that they
will refer to their conflict resolution goals several more times in this
module.
Ask the class to recall the stages of conflict. Elicit from students the
Closure following key points that were taught in this lesson:
(1e: Designing Coherent Instruction)
 Conflict is a mental struggle that results from opposing needs.
 One strategy for managing conflict is to know what situations
trigger conflict for you.
 Controlling emotions is essential to defusing conflict.
 Demonstrating inappropriate reactions escalates conflict.

*Student paced activities

Differentiation *Audio and closed captions provided
(1e: Designing Coherent Instruction) *Google Translate available during activity

Accommodations:
 Accommodations *Extended time as needed
(1e: Designing Coherent Instruction) *Read aloud
*Movement Breaks
*Cues to remain on-task
Modifications:
Modifications *Different exit card
(1e: Designing Coherent Instruction) *Reduced questions
*Movement Breaks

Assessment (Formal or Informal). Formative Assessment: N/A

(1f: Assessing Student Learning)
Informative assessment:
Conflict Resolution Exit Card