Handling Disagreements - 3

Continued Growth

Lesson Plan

Goal: In social situations, the student will disagree politely with another in 8 out of 10 observable opportunities, as measured by a teacher assessment tool.

Objectives:
1. Use active listening to hear the other person’s perspective.
2. Ask clarifying questions to help understand the other person’s views or opinions.
3. Use a rehearsed respectful response to express his/her own opinion on the topic or situation.

Definitions of Key Terms:To disagree is to have differing feelings or opinions from others.

Discussion Points:

  • What does it mean to disagree?
  • Is it okay to disagree?
  • What are the consequences of disagreeing?
  • How do we disagree respectfully and politely?

Some thoughts about disagreeing

  • Refrain from putting others down or using hurtful words when disagreeing.
  • Listen to other points of view.
  • Avoid using abusive language when disagreeing.

Review Discussion Points:

Possible activities to review the discussion points or use your own:

Think. Pair. Share: The teacher will pose questions related to the discussion points. Explain to students that the purpose of the activity is to think about the question and activate prior knowledge. The teacher will model the procedure to facilitate student understanding.

  • T (Think): Teacher begins by asking a specific question using the discussion topics.
  • P (Pair): Each student should be paired with another student, small group or work with a teacher. Pairs write brief answers on sticky notes or scrap paper.
  • S (Share): Students share their thinking with their partner. Teacher then leads a whole-group conversation using students’ answers.

SEL Categories Activity:

  • Ask students to create a list of words associated with the topic (give them 2-5 minutes to complete).
  • Once time is up, ask each student to share a word or thought from their list.
  • Other students must cross that word or thought off their list.
  • Continue the process until all words or thoughts have been listed.

Directions for In-Person or Virtual Learning: You have three options for students to complete this lesson.

  • Option 1: Print the Student Activity Sheet for each student. Complete the lesson as a group and assign the activity sheet to the students.
  • Option 2: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and post to your Learning Management System (if your school has one) or send the link to the student. The student may complete the activity sheet electronically within the classroom on a shared computer or device.
  • Option 3: Click the Student link to access the activity sheet electronically and send the link to the student. The student may access the link from a home computer, chromebook, iPad or other device.

Activity 1: How to Respectfully Disagree

Prep the video prior to starting the activity with the students by queuing it up on the interactive board or other electronic device. Hand out the Student Activity Sheet A to each student prior to starting the video and ask them to use the Student Activity Sheet A to take notes.

Materials Needed:
  • Youtube video: https://youtu.be/Y6EPw2FOEZA
  • Interactive board or other electronic device to show the video
  • Student Activity Sheet A - 1 per person
  • Pencil for each person

When the video is finished, discuss as a group. Record the tips discussed in the video on the board or chart paper.

Save Student Activity Sheet A for future activities.

Student Activity Sheet A

Directions: After watching the video, list the five tips given when disagreeing.

Activity 2: Personal Narrative

Review the key points from Activity 1 with the students. Ask students to think about a time when they disagreed with someone.

Materials Needed:
  • Student Activity Sheet B - 1 per person
  • Pencil for each person

Be sure to have them describe the issue or topic of the disagreement, the other person’s viewpoint, the student’s viewpoint, and any strategies used to discuss the disagreement politely. If comfortable, share your own personal experience of disagreeing with someone.

Allow students time to complete Student Activity Sheet B. Ask for volunteers to share their work when all students have finished.

Student Activity Sheet B

Directions: Think of a time you were in a situation in which you disagreed with someone. Answer the questions below:

1. How did you handle it?

2. Did you use any of the tips in Activity 1? If so, which?

Activity 3: Scenarios

Review the key points from Activities 1 and 2 with the students.

Tell students to listen to the situation as you read it out loud. Ask the students to think of how they could respectfully/politely respond to disagree.

Materials Needed:
  • Sample situations or create your own
  • Student Activity Sheet C - 1 per student
  • Pencil for each student

Sample Situations

  1. Pizza is the greatest food ever invented.
  2. Playing video games is the best way to spend time with your friends.
  3. The legal age to drive a car should be 12.

Allow students time to complete Student Activity Sheet C. Discuss their answers when all students have finished.

Student Activity Sheet C

Directions: Read each statement. How could you respectfully disagree? Keep in mind the five tips for disagreeing from Activity 1.

1. My dog is the cutest dog ever!

2. Max did a better job on his science fair project than you did.

3. I am the fastest runner in the class.

Application Activity

Script Prompt: Develop a script and create an animation that includes two characters in a setting related to the script prompt:

Materials Needed:

The dialogue between the characters must include:

  • A scenario in which characters are having a disagreement.
  • An explanation for why they are disagreeing and how they are feeling.
  • Suggestions on how to handle the disagreement.
  • What strategy the characters use to settle the disagreement.

Script Extensions: Click the following hyperlinks to have students choose their Characters, Background and Props prior to writing scripts. For examples of script writing accommodations, click Here.


Methods for completing this activity include (choose one or a few, depending on your students’ levels and abilities):


Script Writing Practice: Teacher-led discussion of script creation. As a group, write both an appropriate and inappropriate version of the script. In small groups or individually, have the students independently create scripts that demonstrate the script prompt. Use the script sheet to create students' scripts.


Independent Script Recording: Pair students together to complete two scripts using the same script prompt detailed above. Direct each student to take turns being character one and character two.


Animation Creation: Have students record their scripts using the SiLAS software. Remind students to name and save their work. Premiere the movies with the group members at the end of each session.


Lesson Extension: Incorporate ELA standards by discussing both spoken and written grammar rules (dialogue punctuation, correct verb tense, sentence structure, character, setting, problem, solution). Consider using both the final animation and written script as an ELA grade/assignment.

Topic Checkout

Review the key points from previous activities with the students. Allow students to complete the Student Topic Checkout. Discuss their answers when all students have finished.

Materials Needed:
  • Student Topic Checkout - 1 per student
  • A pencil for each student

Student Topic Checkout

Directions: In your own words, explain how you can respectfully disagree with someone.