Teaching Chumash |Uri Kestenbaum

Conflict Lesson Plan

In Chumash we are learning Parshas Lech Lecha, in which Avraham and Lot
have an irreconcilable disagreement, which forces Lot and Avraham to part
ways. This could be used as a springboard to discuss conflict resolution.
I.

II.

III.

Didactic Instruction (10 min.)

1. The teacher hands out a sheet with four boxes and the word Conflict
at the top. In each of the boxes students are to write where conflict
might occur. Students share their answers and are told that just like
there are many places where conflict might occur, there are also many
ways in which conflict can be dealt with.
2. Students are told that conflict occurs when two people want two
different things. The way we react when meeting someone with a
different want can result in a Win-Win, Win-Lose, or Lose-lose for
each party. Students are prompted to give examples of Win-win
results in a conflict, where each party gets what they want.
3. Students are asked to describe a reaction that might escalate a
conflict, and what actions or words might de-escalate a conflict. This
can be draw on the board as a step ladder (upwards for escalation or
downwards for de-escalation).
Modeling (8 min.)
1. The teacher describes a situation in which one student wants to play
soccer, but another student doesnt want him to play, since he is a
poor soccer player. The teacher asks students to describe the feelings
of both parties in the conflict. Possible resolutions are discussed and
the concept of compromise is introduced.
2. The teacher acts out the side of the student who wants to play and
models a proper way to negotiate versus an improper way.
Role-Playing (4 min.)

One student is asked to volunteer to clench his fist. Other students are
offered the chance to try and get the student to unclench his fist. Students try
out different strategies and see which is the most effective at resulting in a Winwin situation.
IV.

Practicing
Students are encouraged to be on the lookout for situations in which they
either accidentally escalated a conflict or in which they purposely deescalated it. These vignettes can be shared with the class once a day and
posted on the bulletin board underneath the Escalating Reactions or Deescalating Reactions.