Conflict is when a person or group experiences resistance in relation to a desired outcome. Visualizing different conflict scenarios that impact one person can be an effective way to learn. Students may be familiar with these concepts from their literary class, but not be aware that they extend to real life! As an introductory activity, have students create a spider map that defines and illustrates each type of conflict that someone can encounter. You can provide them with the list below, or have them identify them on their own.
An individual has an internal struggle.
An individual or group face opposition or resistance from another person or group or people.
An individual or group faces opposition to traditions, cultural norms, or laws.
An individual or group faces opposition to the forces of nature.
An individual or group face resistance from technology.
The actions or intentions of one individual conflict with the intended outcomes of the relationship.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard describing and illustrating each type of conflict.
Role-playing helps students apply conflict management strategies in a realistic, engaging way. By acting out scenarios, students gain confidence and practice respectful communication skills.
Select situations that match your students' age group and classroom dynamics. Use examples from school life, such as group projects or playground disagreements, to make the activity more meaningful.
Designate students as participants, observers, or mediators. Clarify rules for respectful behavior and remind students the goal is to practice solutions, not to win an argument.
Facilitate the scenario, stepping in as needed to prompt students or keep the discussion on track. Pause occasionally to discuss choices, emotions, and possible outcomes.
Encourage students to share what strategies worked and how they felt. Discuss how these approaches can help them handle conflict outside the classroom.
The main types of conflict students should know are: Person vs. Self (internal struggle), Person vs. Person (disagreement with others), Person vs. Society (conflict with societal norms), Person vs. Nature (challenges from natural forces), Person vs. Technology (issues with technology), and Conflict of Interest (clashing intentions in relationships).
Teachers can introduce conflict management by having students create a spider map or storyboard to define and illustrate each type of conflict. This helps students visualize scenarios and relate them to real life, not just literature.
Person vs. Self involves an individual’s internal struggle or decision-making, while Person vs. Person is an external conflict with another person or group. Both challenge the individual but in different ways.
Recognizing different types of conflicts helps students understand situations in literature and real life, improves problem-solving skills, and prepares them for effective conflict resolution in school and beyond.
A simple classroom activity is to have students create a visual vocabulary board or storyboard that defines, describes, and illustrates each type of conflict using scenes and characters. This engages students and reinforces understanding.