US Institute of Peace
Responding to Conflict: Nonverbal Communication
What does your posture say about you? How can it affect the outcome of conflict resolution or negotiation? Show scholars the importance of nonverbal communication during the sixth in a series of 15 peacebuilding lessons. Learners work...
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Interpersonal Communications: Customer Service
High schoolers, who may soon be entering the workplace, read and discuss a case study in which a business service representative has an unpleasant confrontation with a customer that results in a lost sale. Groups review three questions...
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How Are My Social Skills?
An outstanding activity on social skills is here for you. This four-page activity poses 25 skills for learners to consider, and rate themselves on using a 1 - 5 scale. At the bottom of the sheet, they must choose five skills they feel...
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Respect for Self and Others-Giving and Getting the Big R
Seventh graders work in groups of three. They plan scenarios in which they demonstrate inappropriate and appropriate interpersonal skills in a variety of social situations. Students assume the roles of the individuals in their scenario...
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Nonverbal Communication
Students observe a series of role plays by the teacher to illustrate how the body involuntarily shows how a person feels. They identify how certain skills are needed to develop and strengthen interpersonal relationships. Thus, students...
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Working in a Team
Learning how to interact and work cooperatively in a team is an essential skill, both in school and the world beyond the classroom. Pupils use a self-check, group skills worksheet to evaluate their behavior in a recent group situation,...
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True Colors
Here is a fun way for your upper graders to gain self-awareness. They identify and demonstrate how to utilize personality types to improve interpersonal communication. In addition, this exercise helps the students with their career...
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Getting along With Others
Learners examine character traits to find the most positive behaviors. In this getting along lesson, students identify behaviors that are beneficial to getting along. Learners evaluate their own behaviors and target three that could...
US Institute of Peace
Maintaining Trusting Relationships
What role does trust play in diffusing a tense situation? Young social scientists explore trust on a personal and global level during a lesson on peace and conflict. After participating in a trust sit, participants work in groups to...
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Happy, Sad, Scared And Mad: All Belong To Me
Students investigate the basic emotions that are experienced by human beings. They define and differentiate between the feelings of happiness, sadness, and anger. Students complete a feelings worksheet and look at images that represent...
US Institute of Peace
Responding to Conflict: Negotiation—Identifying Wants and Needs
Let's make a deal! Are real negotiations as simple as they are in the game show? Scholars learn the art of negotiation during the 8th lesson in a series of 15. The activity kicks off with a fun group negotiation, then explores the topic...
US Institute of Peace
The Process of Negotiation
What does it take to be a great negotiator? Learners discover the factors that affect the negotiation process through group discussion and brainstorming. An installment in a series of peacebuilding activities compares the needs and wants...
US Institute of Peace
Observing Conflict
Can your class manage conflict? Give them the tools they need to succeed at conflict resolution with the third lesson in a 15-part series of peacebuilding activities. Learners draw from personal conflict experience as they analyze...
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I Like Me and I Like You
Students use the book "I Like Me!" to create a context for investigating self-concept (how one feels about self). They have the objective of realizing their rights and responsibilities. Students work in small groups conducting interviews...
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I Know What You Did this Summer
Students discuss the characteristics of a quality relationship and determine how such a relationship is maintained. After reading a scenario of a relationship, students take one character at a time and place themselves in the character's...
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Communicating with "I Messages", Part I
Third graders watch negative puppet scenario and discuss the dialogue used. They offer ideas and discuss whether their friendship can be saved. They watch a new puppet play and discuss why the second scenario had a more positive outcome...
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Kindergarten Constitution
Students create their own classroom constitution. In this leadership skills lesson, students work together to solve problems. Students discuss why rules are important and brainstorm ways to solve classroom problems. Students vote on the...
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Nonviolent Conflict Resolutions with Cesar Chavez
Third graders investigate nonviolent conflict resolution strategies. In this interpersonal communication lesson, 3rd graders explore conflict resolution. Students construct a newspaper/magazine article detailing nonviolent conflict...
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From Sheep to Rug
Ever wonder where wool comes from? How it is used to make a woven rug? Introduce the Native American craft of rug making to your preschool or kindergarten class with a discussion. Learners examine and discuss images of a Native American...
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Finding Meaning in the Badge
Children who are three to five years old study two rank badges from the Qing dynasty to develop an understanding of social rank, language skills, and symbolism. The instructional activity is discussion-based and requires learners to...
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Breakdown
Students brainstorm the causes of breakdowns in relationships, learn the main factors of interpersonal attraction and discuss these factors through learning from each other. Students also explore how the pressures of having a busy life...
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A Newer, Better, Older Me
First graders engage in a lesson that is concerned with self-respect and interpersonal relationships. They create a character clover as an art project that lists positive character traits and specific attributes of strength. Then...
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GREETINGS AND LEAVE TAKINGS
Students respond with memorized answers to questions that use familiar language. They ask basic memorized questions and imitate sounds and words with age- and stage- appropriate pronunciation. They Use the appropriate interpersonal...
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21st Century Social Skills
Explore communication techniques by using the latest video technology. In this special education lesson, students create a video discussing their own social goals for the future. Students utilize Flip Video cameras to document their...