Unit V: Conflict and Conflict Resolution
Goal: Students will apply conflict resolution skills to various situations struggling with the many different types of
conflict.
Big Idea(s):
Conflicts are long-term, deep-rooted problems that involve seemingly non-negotiable issues and are resistant to
resolution.
There are significant benefits to conflict. Conflict is often driven by a sense of grievance, be it scarcity, inequality,
cultural or moral differences, or the distribution of power. Thereby, engaging in the conflict provides one means of
addressing these concerns. Without conflict, attitudes, behavior, and relationships stay the same, regardless of whether
they are fair. Conflict reveals problems and encourages those problems to be dealt with. Whether they are dealt with
constructively or destructively depends on how the conflict is handled.
Conflict has many costs including but not limited to human costs, economic costs, and organizational costs.
People underestimate the costs of continuing the conflict, and overestimate their chances of winning. People know that
the conflict is doing great harm, but they see no way out and they fear that the costs of resolving the conflict will be
even higher.
There are many nonviolent and violent strategies for resolving conflicts.
Essential Question(s):
What is conflict? Are conflicts ever helpful? What factors influence or change a conflict? What considerations should
be weighed when resolving a conflict?
Students will:
Literacy 1. Define and apply key
vocabulary/concepts. Suggested
strategies:
 Paraphrase/summarize
 Compare/contrast
 Classify
 Categorize
 Discuss/explain
 Illustrate
 Demonstrate
 Reflect/relate
 Infer
Identify conflict and its different
forms:
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War
o International
o Civil
Arguments
o Man vs. Himself
o Man vs. Society
Physical fights
o Man vs. Man
Discussion
Debate
Learning Outcomes
As evidenced by written, oral and/or performance:
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Vocabulary journals
Narrative descriptions
2-3 Column Notes (i.e. term/definition/illustrate/paraphrase/relate)
Lincs/Frayer
Visual representation (i.e. concept diagram/map, graph, chart, drawing,
poster, comic strip, cartoon)
Discussion
Oral presentation
Short answer
Essay

Two Column Notes
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Venn Diagram
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Role Playing
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“Dilemma – Dispute – Conflict” activity and PowerPoint Presentation
o http://msct.beyondintractability.org/gateways/msct/1conflicts/l1_problem_scenarios.pdf
o http://msct.beyondintractability.org/gateways/msct/1conflicts/l1_drawing_a_conflict.pdf
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Man vs. Nature
Evaluate the factors or influences
that change conflict:
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Money
Power
Gender
Age
etc.
Compare and contrast the positive
and negative aspects of conflict.
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Think-Pair-Share
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Class Discussion
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Cost of Conflict jigsaw activity
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o
http://msct.beyondintractability.org/essay/costs_benefits/
o
http://msct.beyondintractability.org/gateways/msct/2harmful_helpful/l2_costs.pdf
Iraq Case Study
o
http://msct.beyondintractability.org/gateways/msct/2harmful_helpful/l2_iraq.pdf
Analyze the steps of Conflict
Resolution
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Graphic Organizer
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Case Study
Apply Conflict Resolution skills to
real-life situations.
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PowerPoint Presentation discussing a:
o
Current conflict and the available options for resolution
o
Past conflict and the +/- consequences of the resolution
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Research Project
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Essay
Resources:
1. http://msct.beyondintractability.org
Common Formative Assessment(s)
Teacher generated
Summative District Assessment(s)
To be determined