Conflict Resolution
Conflict Resolution
ACTIVITIES
Pink Bubble
Sit in a circle with backs straight, hands resting on knees. Students can sit criss cross or with knees bent, feet under their bottoms. Encourage students to close their eyes, think about a disappointment or a feeling that is bothering them. Instruct students to imagine putting that thought into the pink bubble. With eyes still closed, watch the bubble float away saying a silent wish as it disappears.
Friendly wishes for difficult people
Sit in a circle. Encourage participants to close their eyes. Have students think of a person they find difficult to be around, but would like to wish well. Use guided visualization: "imagine that you feel happy. Imagine that you're smiling, laughing, and having fun. Don't worry if you don't feel happy right now. Just picture yourself laughing, hanging out with friends, or doing something that you love to do. Then in your own words, silently say something like this: I want to be happy. I want to be healthy and strong. I want to be safe. I want to feel lots of love. I want to feel content and peaceful. Bring back the image of the person you find difficult, but whom you'd like to wish well. remember, you don't need to change your feelings toward them. In your own words, silently say something like this: I want you to be healthy and content. I hope that you're safe and feel peaceful. Choose words and good wishes that you're comfortable saying and repeat them silently." Process: How did you feel before this activity? How did you feel after?
Counting Breaths
Sit in a circle with a straight back, criss cross works well or sitting with knees bent, bottom resting on heels. Close eyes if you feel safe enough to do so. Breath in naturally and silently say "one" in your mind. Then, as you breathe out, relax your forehead. Breath in and say "two" in your mind. Then, relax your shoulders as you breath out. Again, say "three" silently. Relax your stomach. Again, say "four" silently. Relax your hips. "Now let's try it again. Slowly breath in and out counting as you go. We'll count to 10 silently to ourselves." Processing: How easy was it to focus only on your breathe? Often other thoughts come into our heads when we're practicing. This is normal. Just allow your brain to accept those thoughts and regain focus. Let's try again.
QUESTIONS
Share a time when you were trying to talk with someone and you felt they weren’t listening to you. How could you tell that they weren’t listening? How did that make you feel?
Share a time when you experienced conflict at recess.
Share a time when you experienced conflict in our classroom.
Share a time when you experienced conflict at home.
How is conflict handled at your house?
Share five adults in your support network whom you might seek help from in a conflict.
How does it feel for you to be involved in conflict? Why? How does it feel when the conflict is resolved?
Share a conflict you’ve had where you gave yourself time to calm down before you addressed the conflict. How did you calm your body? How did a calm body help resolve the conflict?
When we witness/see conflict happening, how do we know when you step in and when to keep out? Share a time when you had to make this decision.
Share one reason why you should step in and help solve a conflict. What might keep you from stepping in? What might make it easy?
Share a time when you felt defensive and struggled to hear what someone else was trying to say about a conflict. How did that help resolve the conflict? How did you feel about the conversation?
Talk about a time when even after a conflict was resolved, you still had hurt/angry feelings. How did you deal with those hurt/angry feelings?
Hurt and anger often go together. Share a time when you felt both hurt and angry.
Share a time when you felt that others were talking about you. How did that feel? How were those rumors and gossip dealt with?