Action Research
Ask youth to conduct research on various conflicts by visiting peace education websites or multiple media sources. After researching the dimensions and various perspectives of
Conflict Resolution
The tools have been grouped according to the “Ceed” or skill that they are attempting to guide, teach, or practice. Many of the tools in this toolkit correspond to more than one ceed and are therefore listed in multiple places.
Conflict Resolution: A way for two or more parties to find a peaceful and mutually agreed upon solution to a disagreement among them, using the skills of negotiation, courtesy, and calm reactions.
All about Activists
Youth brainstorm a list of activists, leaders, philosophers, philanthropists, and others who have made a difference in their communities and/or the world. They identify the
Being Responsible Online
Starting in the pre-teen years, many people use electronic devices and social media, and it is critical that we teach them how to behave appropriately
Bigger Than or Less Than
Using bigger than, less than, or equal signs, role-play different scenarios the youth face on a day to day basis to evaluate whether or not
Buddy Bench
A simple idea to eliminate loneliness and isolation and foster friendship and inclusion on the playground or in any public space. They work best when
Change the Ending
Revisit an event that ended with a less than desirable outcome. Encourage youth to create their own alternative endings. Why did they make the choices
Character Lenses
While doing creative writing, have youth investigate the people involved in their storyboards. What types of people were involved? What do you think they were
Collaborative Leadership
Includes four steps: 1) Connect, 2) Ground, 3) Practice, and 4) Reflect. Group members must be as diverse as possible, there must be a shared
Community Care
Establish age appropriate shared jobs that rotate throughout the year and that will help build the classroom or home environment. Create a classroom or family
Compass Points
An interactive activity that increases awareness of our own and others’ preferences and opens doors to empathy. Create four signs on large chart paper –
Consensus Building
Help everyone in a group to get to a decision that they can be satisfied with by brainstorming and writing out a list of outcomes
Deflating Anger
Teach youth that anger can be a healthy emotion, and that it informs us about the importance of an issue. Teach them to remain calm
Design Thinking
Map out the larger system within which a conflict or an issue resides. Discover how the system might be reinforcing the conflict or issue. Identify
Expository Writing Structures
Although narrative structures are more easily remembered and come more naturally to youth, ask them to try these expository writing structures: Compare & Contrast (discuss
Family Meetings
Plan meetings as a whole family (try for weekly) where members discuss the upcoming week. Identify where family members might need some help. Family Meetings
Fight or Flight
When people are upset, they access the fight/flight part of their brain. Do not try to solve problems if you or the youth are angry
Group Conflict Challenge
Research and examine the different contemporary and indigenous systems for resolving conflicts. Form teams of problem-solvers representing the various systems. Each team is given a
How does it feel?
After analyzing the information surrounding a problem or challenge, what is your reaction? Were the systems fair? Why or why not? Identify one or two
Ho‘oponopono
Learn about Ho‘oponopono, the Hawaiian system for ‘setting it right,’ and restoring individual and community harmony and balance. It promotes acts of healing interpersonal conflicts
I Am Here For You
When a young person is in the throes of anger, panic, or emotional outburst, often their minds and bodies are experiencing a stress response whereby
I Statements
Used to confront a behavior without placing blame on another. . Also used to recognize one’s emotions. Another use is to state a point of
Identify Needs & Interests
More likely than not, when people are angry or upset, they are expressing their “position” or a hardline stance on something. It’s important to teach
If/Then Game
A basic tool to think through consequences, “If this happens, then what do you think will happen next?” or “If we decided to do this,
Kind and Firm
It is the AND that brings kind AND firm together to avoid extremes. Begin by validating feelings and/or choices when possible. Examples, “I know you
Land Management Systems
Mauka (mountain) to makai (ocean) management. In teams, draw an ahupua‘a (Hawaiian term for a large traditional socio-economic/geologic/climatic subdivision of land that was cooperatively managed).
Let It Settle
A great visual tool to show the imbalance of a brain that is experiencing anger or rage, and how it is possible for the anger
Logical Consequences
Use discipline to develop character and not to punish. Discipline means “to teach” and should not be punitive but should help a child to grow
Mediation/Facilitation
Provide spaces for youth to practice the skills of mediation between them as well as facilitation of group discussions and problem solving. Hone their skills
Mindful Breathing
Teach youth how to belly breathe by having them lie down and put their hands on their bellies. See how deep they can breathe in
Mistakes & Learning
Establish a culture in your classroom or home where mistakes are welcomed and used as learning opportunities. Normalize mistakes by discussing them at mealtime or
Modeling
Rather than just telling children and youth how they should act, show them. Show them in your own daily actions and words with them. Intentionally
My Community
Focusing on wants and needs, have youth each draw their own classroom, school and/or family. How would they meet their needs? They will most likely
Name it to Tame It
Help youth to get more specific and expand their emotional vocabulary, replacing basic feeling words with more sophisticated terms. They graduate from using words like
Next Time Commitments
After going through a resolution process, have youth make commitments to one another and to their community about how they will do things differently next
Peace Flower
A strategy for youth to problem-solve themselves. Between two children, they pass a flower back and forth. The first child begins by saying, “I felt
Peace Table
Providing a space for problem solving is important. A peace table designates expectations for where and how youth will engage with each other. Peacebuilding literature,
Peer Mediation
Train youth to be peer mediators. Use video to demonstrate what mediation looks like (i.e.: community heroes who help others and provide basic mediation skills).
Peer Messaging
Youth and adults tend to “take sides” when conflicts erupt. It is important that when resolution is achieved, those involved in the conflict ensure that
Play It Out
Create an end of the semester or end of the year skit or play on a particular historical event. Each child/student has a role. Play
Pohaku Bowl
Have a public bowl where everyone has his or her own (identified) stone. There should also be a few unidentified stones. All stones are set
Reframing
Use reframing to defuse anger and keep dialogue open and positive. To reframe, take a negative statement and remove the emotionally-charged, damaging, and accusatory words,
Rewind It
Take a current event or an event within the classroom, school, family or community. If we were to rewind this event, how would we rebuild
Rotating Facilitators
A way to build commitment, buy-in and skills is to alternate between facilitators during family meetings or classroom group work. Teach youth the skills of
Safe Spaces
Ensure there is always a safe space for conversation. This is a space to gather, a place that honors, respects and makes people feel they
Saving Face
Teach youth the importance of face-saving in a conflict. Teach them how to calm themselves or another angry person through deep breathing and validation of
Shuttle Diplomacy
A strategy for people to use when they see potential for solutions but don’t feel comfortable or safe bringing their ideas up publicly. A form
Silent Signals
Adults often talk too much and our youth tune out. A silent signal speaks louder than words. Smile and point to the shoes that need
Six Thinking Hats
A simple, effective parallel thinking technique developed by E. de Bono that helps people be more productive, focused, and mindfully involved. It forces people to
Stoplight
To help young people deal with feelings of anger and frustration, try using the visual of a stoplight: green is calm, yellow is frustrated, and
Structured Academic Controversy
An opportunity to explore controversial issues and divergent positions and work to reach consensus on what may have happened– highlighting the complexities of particular perspectives,
Talking Stick
Use a tangible object like a stick, a flower, a ball, or something important to the group to facilitate civil discussions and collaborative activities. Three
Technology Blackouts
Set aside times during the day when no one in the family touches technology. Turn off all cell phones, televisions, computers, etc. Youth who are
The World Peace Game
TWPG is an elaborative hands-on, youth-driven game/exercise. Founded in 2010, TWPG Foundation is dedicated to sharing the global mission of peace, developing self-awareness, and the
Try It On
n exploring conflict, commit to trying on different perspectives in the conflict. Draw out of a bowl a particular role with an attached explanation. Play
Upstander
A person who recognizes when something is wrong and then acts to make it right; doing one’s best to help support and protect someone who
What Should We Do?
Show pictures and/or video of certain situations at school and in the surrounding neighborhood. Examples include: seeing garbage on the floor, an elderly person dropping
Where Were Women and Girls?
Explore what role females played in various events in providing leadership for problem-solving, collaboration and working together. How is that different or similar from today?
Yes, But to Yes, And
A great way to foster collaboration and validate the opinions of all people in a discussion. Try this: With a partner, choose a topic to