Home›Lesson Plans›Social-Emotional Learning›Relationship Skills · Grade 8

Resolving Conflict

Eighth graders build relationship skills by learning a step-by-step way to resolve conflict — staying calm, listening, sharing feelings with “I” statements, and finding a solution together.

Grade 8CASEL: Relationship Skills40 minutes1 class periodCASEL SELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain conflict resolution.
  • ✓Use “I” statements.
  • ✓Order the steps.
  • ✓Solve problems together.
Essential Question

Conflict happens — with friends, family, everyone. What matters is how you handle it. What are the steps to resolve a conflict calmly?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Put in Order · Interactive

Order the Conflict-Resolution Steps

Project this and have students put the conflict-resolution steps in order — from staying calm to agreeing.

🤝 Put the conflict-resolution steps in order!Try it
Tap the first step!
The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Check-In — Conflict Happens

5 min

Conflict happens with everyone — how do you handle it well?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Do a check-in.
  • Pose a conflict.
  • Be caring.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Check in.
  • Reflect.
  • Get ready.
2

Learn — Conflict Resolution

10 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain staying calm and listening.
  • Explain “I” statements.
  • Explain finding a solution.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn it.
  • Learn I-statements.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Order the Steps

11 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Order the Conflict-Resolution Steps.
  • Order them.
  • Say an “I” statement.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order them.
  • Say one.
  • Explain.
4

Apply — Apply

9 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Role-play a conflict.
  • Use the steps.
  • Find a solution.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Role-play.
  • Use them.
  • Solve it.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a step.
  • Explain “I” statements.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Explain it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL 5 Social & Emotional Learning Competencies.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Resolve conflicts constructively.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Communicate with “I” statements.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Negotiate solutions.

CASEL
Social Awareness

Consider others in a conflict.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Step cards + “I”-statement frames.
  • Sentence frame: “I feel ___ when ___.”
  • Role-play resolving.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with calm and listen.
  • Order two at a time.
  • Use one “I” statement.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Mediate a peer conflict.
  • Explain compromise.
  • Practice a hard conversation.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🤝Conflict scenario cards
  • 💻Order the Conflict-Resolution Steps
  • 📓“I”-statement frames
  • ✏️Pens
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

conflicta disagreementresolveto solve itcalmsteady and not angry“I” statementsaying how you feellistento hear the other sidesolutiona way to fix itcompromiseboth sides give a littleagreeto reach a deal
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a good FIRST step in a conflict?
Stay calm — take a breath before reacting.
QUESTION 2
What is an “I” statement?
Saying how you feel, like “I feel ___ when ___.”
QUESTION 3
What is the goal of resolving a conflict?
To find a solution that works for both people.

Reflect: resolve it calmly.

Have students use one conflict-resolution step — like an “I” statement — the next time a disagreement comes up. A printable conflict sheet is in the SEL library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Relationship Skills: Resolving ConflictFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Relationship Skills: Resolving ConflictQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Relationship Skills: Resolving ConflictPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: agree, calm, compromise, conflict, listen, resolve, solution, “I” statement
  1. to reach a deal
  2. both sides give a little
  3. steady and not angry
  4. saying how you feel
  5. to hear the other side
  6. a disagreement
  7. to solve it
  8. a way to fix it

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a good FIRST step in a conflict?
  2. What is an “I” statement?
  3. What is the goal of resolving a conflict?
Answer key — Part A: 1) agree · 2) compromise · 3) calm · 4) “I” statement · 5) listen · 6) conflict · 7) resolve · 8) solution
Part B: 1) Stay calm — take a breath before reacting. 2) Saying how you feel, like “I feel ___ when ___.” 3) To find a solution that works for both people.