Conflict

Causes and Types of Conflict

The following activity is intended for elementary students in grades 3 to 6. The purpose of this lesson to help students to understand the different causes or reasons of conflict and become aware of the types of conflict we deal with in the different areas of our lives. This is a second of four consecutive activities on conflict resolution.
Materials Needed:

The transparency entitled, “Causes of Conflict” (page 68 of book) and handouts on different types of conflict, such as school-based conflicts or conflicts with friends or family members, so each small group will have on to write on, blank transparencies and overhead markers.
Activity:

Begin by saying…
“Now that we have an understanding of what conflict is (possible review needed), we want to understand why conflict happens and what kinds of conflicts we have to deal with in our own daily lives.”
Ask the students to share some of the reasons they think that conflict and sometimes more physical conflict like fighting occurs.

Ask…
“Why do people fight?”
Show them the transparency “Causes of Conflict” and state that… “Many conflicts are started for the following reasons: conflict over objects, things, or possessions; conflict over opinions or beliefs, and conflict over needs we have.”
Ask your students to give an example of each of the three main reasons.

Next, divide your students into small groups of 4 or 5, and give each one of them a category and handout such as: Family, Home, School, Class, Lunchroom, Playground, or After school Activities. In their small groups have them list on their handout as many conflicts as they can think of that go in their category (such as Family- You and your brother are fighting over which TV show to watch). Give them approximately 10 minutes and then go around to see how the groups are doing. Next, have them report to the class the types of conflict they have come up with and how they acted. If the results of the way they acted did not get them what they wanted, different examples can be explored. A discussion of alternative ways of acting/behaving if the situation comes up again can then be conducted.
Closure:

Have the students review what was discussed and ask them how what they learned today might help them if they are faced with a conflict or are about to get in a fight with someone.