Conflict in Slow Motion All Grade Levels Objective: Students will understand the causes of conflict and conflict escalation. Preparation: Prepare two students ahead of time to role play a conflict caused by both parties wanting to be first in line at the cafeteria or to come in from recess. Procedure: Set the scene. It is (time) at (school). The recess bell just rang... or The cafeteria just opened... Students role play the struggle to be first from running to line, to pushing, name calling, threats and a punch. Discuss. Have students name the steps of what happened. Ask what will happen next if the conflict is not interrupted. Conflict in slow motion. Speaking in slow motion, introduce the conflict in the same way. "It is (time) at (school). The recess bell just rang... or The cafeteria just opened..." Have students role play the same conflict in slow motion. Stop the action at each point of escalation. Ask the class what the disputants are thinking and feeling as they act it out. For example, "Who does she think she is?" " That hurts." "I can't let a girl get away with that!" " I am so angry at him." "The boys are watching. How can I get out of this without looking like a loser?" Draw an escalator on the board. The feelings under the line are the feeling that escalate the conflict. Fill in the escalator for both the students involved in the conflict. What were they feeling? What did they do? Elicit information: What happens in conflict? Be sure the following points are covered: People have strong feelings during conflict. What they think can make the conflict worse. What the kids who are watching say or do can make the conflict worse. Some people only want to win. Some are only afraid of losing.   Reprinted with permission of Anita Whitely, OSU, Ursuline Academy of Cleveland. CURRICULUM INDEX
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