Objective: to introduce students to different ways of dealing with conflict.
Identify conflict and discuss different kinds of conflicts. Define and discuss conflict resolution. Write on the board the words:
AVOIDANCE, DIFFUSION, CONFRONTATION . Ask your students how they interpret these words. Then define them as shown in the Definitions section. Explain the consequences and adaptability of each approach.
Distribute this "Responses to Conflict" Tree to your students. The tree is available as a full page GIF file
( tree.gif
) 23 K. Next, describe a conflict mentioned in the introduction or use the following : Fran and
Alice are classmates. Fran worked hard on a plaster of paris sculpture. Alice, without asking, picked it up to look at it, and it fell and smashed.
Using the words, "avoidance," "diffusion" and "confrontation," ask your students to think about their own conflict styles and how they fit into the chart. Ask them: What are some ways that Fran and
Alice can avoid a conflict? What might Fran say? What might Alice say? What are some diffusion techniques? What are some violent or nonviolent confrontation techniques? of Peace?