Session 2: Conflict Escalation

The goals of session two are to examine the different stages of conflict and practice methods to inflame a potentially conflictive situation.

I. INTRODUCTION TO CONFLICT: A CASE STUDY

Students learn about conflict and its components, causes and effects.

II. OPENER: TREASURE HUNT

Students go on a Treasure Hunt, searching for students who have attributes similar to those on the provided Treasure Hunt map. Students learn about each other and

III. CONFLICT AS A CASE STUDY.

A role-play in which two teachers act out an argument which ends in a fight. The students then discuss the various actions that make the conflict get worse.

IV. THE CONFLICT STAIRCASE

This activity introduces the idea of conflict progression. It uses the metaphor of a staircase to graphically represent the different stages in the growth of a conflict from a minor dispute to a major conflict or fight.

V. BRAINSTORMING ESCALATORS

Students are introduced to the concept of an escalator as something which worsens a conflict. The students then think up a list of escalators, which will be used in the take home activity.

VI. CHOOSE YOUR OWN ESCALATOR

Teachers and later students role play a conflict in three rounds. In the first round there is no escalation of the conflict, but in successive rounds the teacher and later the students 'throw in' escalators, and the role-players react by incorporating them into the skit, using them to make the conflict worse. Students examine several factors in the conflict, such as the factors that caused the conflict to escalate as it did, what each person did to further the conflict, and what causes conflicts to get worse.

VII. Take home activity: Exploring Descalators

Students are given out cards and assigned an escalator that was generated from the lesson. The students take these home and think up ways in which the escalator can be reversed.

VIII. Closing Activity: Alien Shoe Tie

Students assemble in a group and pretend that the teacher is an 'alien' from another world. The alien needs to tie its shoe, and it needs your help. The alien is very attentive, and very unsure of itself. Therefore, the alien will understand English, but it will do EXACTLY what it is told. The alien can also listen to only one voice at a time: if it hears too many people talking, it will get easily confused. For example, when told to pull the tongue, the alien will reach into its mouth and pull its tongue. Students have to cooperate and work together to give the alien specific instructions so that the alien (and the group) can reach their goals.

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