Flipping Over Conflict Resolution

1) Teacher introduces students to conflict resolution by discussing the three strategies to deal with a conflict: ignore it, fight it out, and talk it out. Teacher uses puppets to demonstrate each strategy. Students discuss what was good and bad about each strategy.
2) Students brainstorm conflicts that occur in their lives. (Example: someone taking a ball away from them at recess, someone cutting in front of them in the lunch line, etc.)
3) Students work with a small group to create a skit about one conflict on the list. First they are to create a skit in which they ignore the problem. When the skit is ready, they use a flip camera to record it. Later that day all of the videos are watched. We will watch the videos by using the computer and lcd projector that is already in my classroom. Students will discuss whether or not the conflict was resolved in a "win-win" way. (In other words, where each participant was happy.)
4) The next day, students work with the same small group on the same conflict as the previous day, except this time they are to create a skit using the strategy of "fight it out" (using fighting words, not fists!). When the skit is ready, they use a flip camera to record it. Later that day all of the videos are watched. Students discuss whether or not the conflict was resolved in a "win-win" way. (In other words, where each participant was happy.)
5) The next day, students work with the same small group on the same conflict as the previous day, except this time they use the strategy of "talk it out" to create a skit. When the skit is ready, they use a flip camera to record it. Later that day all of the videos are watched. Students discuss whether or not the conflict was resolved in a "win-win" way. (In other words, where each participant was happy.) Then we go on to compare the three strategies. Which strategy helped the most to allow each participant to feel happy at the end? Which came closest to allowing a "win-win"? (Of course, I am hoping that their skits make it obvious that "talk it out" is the most beneficial strategy to use in most situations.)