The ABCs of Conflict Resolution

Grade Levels: Adaptable for grades 6 and up

• Students will read and interpret quotes to their peers
• Students will learn to paraphrase
• Students will grow more comfortable sharing with their peers
• Students will increase their listening, summarizing and paraphrasing skills

• One class period
• Teacher cuts quotes (below) into individual strips of paper

As a comprehension check to see if students understand these lessons, have students paraphrase these quotes on conflict, conflict resolution and peacemaking.

Step One
When students enter the room, have these quotes cut into slips of paper and placed on individual desks. Write on the board that they are to read the quote on their desk and put it into their own words.

Step Two
Have students stand and say, "In 30 seconds, when I say ‘go,' take five steps and share with a classmate what your quote is and then tell them what it means to you."

Step Three
To increase listening skills, a major component of culturally responsive conflict mediation, after one student shares their peace quote with another student, the second student then paraphrases back what they believe they have heard. This not only increases students' skills in listening, but also checks for comprehension.

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. — Marie Curie

Don't ever let them pull you down so low as to hate them.— Booker T. Washington

A solid rock is not disturbed by the wind; even so, a wise person is not agitated by praise or blame. – Dhammapada

An act of love, a voluntary taking on oneself of some of the pain of the world, increases the courage and love and hope of all. — Dorothy Day

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart. — Nelson Mandela

I swore never to be silent whenever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. — Elie Weisel

Gandhi once declared that it was his wife who unwittingly taught him the effectiveness of nonviolence. Who better than women should know that battles can be won without resort to physical strength? — Barbara Deming

Let all bear in mind that a society is judged not so much by the standards attained by its more affluent and privileged members as by the quality of life which it is able to assure for its weakest members. — H.E. Javier Perez de Cuellar

Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. — Albert Einstein

Only reverence can restrain violence — reverence for human life and the environment. — Rev. William Sloan Coffin, Jr.

He took over anger to intimidate subordinates, and in time anger took over him. — Milan Kundera

War does not determine who is right - only who is left. — Bertrand Russell

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved. — Helen Keller

There is no time left for anything but to make peace work a dimension of our every waking activity. — Elise Boulding

Those for whom peace is no more than a dream are asleep to the future. — Jack DuVall

There are three truths: my truth, your truth and the truth. — Chinese Proverb

The quotes we've used are from around the world. Why not have students find quotes from current people they admire who are famous or from those that they admire in their own communities? Have students bring in the quotes and place them on a Peace bulletin board.

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