kp.org/et/ncal

Bonus Lesson: Peace Scenes

A Readers’ Theatre & Improvisation Activity

Grades 3—6 Health Education Standards Correlations

Grade 4: 4.2S, 4.5S Grade 5: 5.1P Grade 6: 4.4M, 7.1S

Objective Students will practice conflict resolution by reading scenes aloud and role-playing peaceful solutions to the conflicts presented.

Time Needed

30—40 minutes

Step 1: Read the Script Gather your Conflict Scenes and choose one to read. Ask for volunteer actors to read the part of each character in the scene. The scene can be read aloud as Reader’s Theatre, or students can act out the parts in front of the class. Step 2: Use the Stoplight Solution As a class or in groups, talk through the steps of the Stoplight Solution:

Stop: How can the characters stop themselves and calm down? Think: How do you think the characters feel? Think of at least 3 choices that the characters have in this situation. Act: Decide on the choice that will make the most peace and do it!

Step 3: Act It Out (optional) This step requires role-playing. Call on the volunteers to stand in front of the class and act out the solution to their conflict. The lines don’t have to be planned ahead of time; tell students that they will improvise (a theatre word for making up a skit as you go along, without knowing the lines beforehand). Alternative to Role-Playing: If your students are not ready for role-playing or would rather not improvise the solution, you can have a discussion about what the students think each character should do next in order to resolve the conflict peacefully. Role-Playing Tips Many students who participate in the program may not have theatre training or experience. That’s OK! Here are a few hints for using theatre concepts in the classroom. • Emphasize that this is a pretend situation, not real life. • If it helps, call the class “the audience,” and call the students who participate

in the role-plays “the actors.” • Make it clear to participants whether they are playing themselves, or playing a

make-believe character, in the scene. • Ask the actors to face the audience and not to turn their backs to the

audience. • Remind students to talk in a loud, clear voice (aka “outside voice”) when

they are “onstage” so that the audience can hear. • Stand near the actors when they are onstage; be available for coaching and

pause/freeze and re-start the scene when help is needed. • Encourage students to keep role-plays safe by not re-enacting, creating, or

encouraging moments of violence. Encourage students to act out the moment before or the moment after the violence, rather than the moment itself. If the scene approaches physical violence, stop the role-play by pausing/freezing the scene and talk about the potential outcomes as a class.

Preparation Copy and cut out the Conflict Scenes (pages 34—35).

Language Arts/Theatre Extension Students write an ending for one of the scenes and perform it for the class, or even at Family Night!

kp.org/et/ncal

Copy one scene for each character in the scene, cut them out, and distribute them to students for Readers’

Theatre or mini-performances. Conflict Scene #1: Garden Decisions Characters: Narrator, Trina, Jessie (3) Level: Easy Narrator: Trina and Jessie are in charge of planting a garden at the new playground. They

are very excited about it. Let’s hear what they are planning!

Trina: Jessie, planting this garden was a great idea! My mom and I went shopping

yesterday, and look at all the tomato plants we bought!

Jessie: Trina, I thought we agreed that we were going to plant sunflowers in memory of

my brother. Plus, I don’t like tomatoes…except in ketchup!

Narrator: This looks like it could be the beginning of a conflict. Can we all help Trina and

Jessie Stop and Think before they Act?

Conflict Scene #2: Bystander Power Characters: Narrator, Alex, Trina, Kid on Playground (4) Level: Medium Narrator: Trina and Alex see a kid on the playground teasing Jessie. They decide to talk

to the person who is teasing her.

Alex: Hi, I’m Alex. I think you were just talking to my friend Jessie.

Kid on Playground: I don’t know her name.

Trina: Were you teasing her?

Kid on Playground: Maybe. So what?

Narrator: How can Trina and Alex talk this out?

"

Conflict Scenes

"

kp.org/et/ncal

Conflict Scene #3: The Challenge Characters: Narrator, Alex, Bo, Basketball Player (4) Level: Medium/Hard Narrator: Bo and Alex are at the playground, about to practice some basketball. They see

another team playing basketball on the court where they usually play.

Bo: (to the other team) Hey guys, can we share the court?

Basketball Player: No way. We were here first.

Alex: But we need to practice.

Basketball Player: What are you gonna do about it? Why don’t you come over here and

make us get off the court?

Narrator: How can Bo and Alex get out of this situation without fighting?

Conflict Scene #4: Wanting Revenge Characters: Narrator, Jessie, Bo (3) Level: Hard Narrator: Jessie is at the playground by herself. She looks really sad.

Bo: Hey Jessie, what’s wrong?

Jessie: I was just thinking about my brother.

Bo: I bet you really miss him.

Jessie: Yeah. I’m so mad at those people who stood around and cheered on that fight.

You know what? I know where they live. I’m gonna get revenge on them. I’m going to their

house tonight after my mom goes to sleep.

Bo: Jessie, I don’t think that’s a safe idea!

Narrator: What can Bo do to help Jessie make a peaceful choice?

"

Conflict Scenes

"