Conflict Resolution Lesson Plan: A Better Happily Ever After

Grade Levels: K-3

In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades K-3, students watch the BrainPOP Jr. movie Conflict Resolution and explore related resources to learn effective strategies for resolving conflict. In pairs or small groups, they rewrite a fairy tale’s ending to resolve the conflict in a way that uses these strategies.

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Students will:

  1. Brainstorm conflicts they’ve had and ways they resolved them.
  2. Watch the BrainPOP Jr. Conflict Resolution movie to learn strategies for resolving conflicts.
  3. Review fairy tales and discuss how characters didn’t use conflict resolution strategies.
  4. Collaborate with peers to rewrite the end of a fairy tale in which characters use conflict resolution strategies.

Materials:

  • Internet access for BrainPOP Jr.
  • Interactive whiteboard
  • Optional: Selection of classic fairy tales, including “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”, “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Puss in Boots,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” etc.

Preparation:

  • Display classic fairy tales in the classroom.  

Lesson Procedure:

  1. Ask students to think of an argument they’ve had recently with a friend, sibling, teammate, etc. Maybe it was over rules of a game or what TV show to watch — it could be anything. If necessary, you can give an example. Jot down students’ responses on the whiteboard. Tell students that conflict is another word for an argument. Then have students share how the argument ended, or what resolution they come up with. Explain that a resolution is like a solution to a problem. Note their resolutions on the board.
  2. Show the BrainPOP Jr. movie Conflict Resolution on an interactive whiteboard for the whole class. Pause as needed to  to reinforce student understanding of key concepts and vocabulary.
  3. After the movie, bring the class together. Retell or read a fairy tale that everyone is familiar with, such as “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” Discuss the conflict in the tale (Goldilocks coming into the bears’ home and using all their stuff). Then discuss the resolution (the bears scaring Goldilocks away). Now ask how the characters could resolve the conflict in a better way. Remind them to think about the three steps from the movie: calm down, share feelings, and choose a solution.
  4. Now divide the class into pairs or small groups. Allow each group to choose a fairy tale, or choose one for them. Distribute the fairy tales to class — either the books or printouts. Or students may feel that they’re familiar enough with the story. Ask students to think about the conflict in the story and how it’s resolved. Then have them consider a new, better ending that uses the conflict resolution steps from the movie.
  5. Distribute paper and crayons or markers for students to write and/or illustrate the story with the new ending. Remind them to make a book cover and add their names as the authors and illustrators. Invite each pair or group to share their fairy tales with the class. Finally, put all the books together on display in the classroom or in the school library.

Extension Activities:

 
  • Ask students to review the conflicts with family or friends they discussed at the beginning of class. How would they address these conflicts differently based on what they’ve learned?
  • If you have class access to BrainPOP, have students open Conflict Resolution Make-a-Movie and turn their storybooks into movies
 
Filed as:  BrainPOP Jr., CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.9, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.1.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.K.5, Conflict Resolution, K-3, Lesson Plan