Responsibility · Activity

Conflict Resolution Skills "Talking Stick"

1st & 2nd Grade

  Activity: Students review conflict resolution skills with the aid of a posted chart. They each make a “talking stick” to use in an activity in which they practice talking about a problem.    Materials: popsicle sticks (or any kind of stick), one for each student; decorating materials for the “talking stick” (feathers, glitter, magic markers, construction paper, etc.); a teacher made “talking stick” (example); a chart - Conflict Resolution Skills (see below)    Conflict Resolution Skills Chart
  • Step away and calm down, take some deep breaths
  • Get someone (teacher or parent) to help you talk about the problem
  • Suggest to the other person - Can we talk about this? 
  • Use an “I statement” to say how you feel about what happened without blaming, such as “I feel upset when someone pushes me.” 
  • Let the other person speak (maybe it was an accident, you don’t know until you listen to their side)
  • Find common ground - what can we both agree on? 
  • Brainstorm solutions
  Directions: Explain that today’s activity is about our responsibility to resolve conflict and solve problems in our relationships with one another. Show your model talking stick and tell students that they will each make their own today. Ask them what they think the purpose of a talking stick is, then explain that it will help them take turns when talking about a problem or a situation. Review and discuss the “Conflict Resolution Chart.” Model using the talking stick with a student helper. Create a scenario like this: What if two friends want the same seat on the bus? Use a few chairs as props and guide the student helper to share the talking stick with you. Take turns to talk about the problem and reach a compromise. Ask students to help make a class list of possible conflict scenarios. Guide students to make their own “talking stick” using materials you’ve provided. Pair up students, tell them to pick a scenario from the list and act it out, sharing one talking stick. Observe their interactions and provide prompts when needed. Students can keep their talking sticks and use them in the classroom with or without teacher’s guidance  when there’s a conflict.    Wrap it up: Conclude the activity: “I really like the talking sticks you made and I hope you can learn to use them here at school. If you have a conflict with someone, you can offer a talking stick conversation with them, and try to solve the problem. If you need my help, let me know. I’ll keep the Conflict Resolution Skills chart on the wall so you can use that, too.”
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