Conflict Resolution Curriculum

DeJong (1994) describes how conflict resolution can be incorporated into the elementary and secondary school curricula:

"The RCCP curriculum stresses the modeling of nonviolent alternatives for dealing with conflict, teaching negotiation and other conflict resolution skills, and demonstrating to students that they can 'play a powerful role in creating a more peaceful world.'

Elementary School Curriculum

RCCP's newly revised elementary school curriculum is built around 51 lessons called workshops, a term that calls attention to the fact that the teacher acts as a facilitator, leading students through a series of experiential learning activities. Each lesson has the same structure: (1) warm-up exercise ('gathering'), (2) review of the class agenda, (3) workshop activities, (4) student evaluation of the workshop, and (5) closing activity. The curriculum, which is divided into 12 units, presents separate lessons for grades K-3 and 4-6.

Unit 1: Setting the Stage
Unit 2: Peace and Conflict
Unit 3: Communication
Unit 4: Affirmation
Unit 5: Cooperation
Unit 6: Acknowledging Feelings
Unit 7: Resolving Conflict Creatively
Unit 8: Appreciating Diversity
Unit 9: Bias Awareness
Unit 10: Countering Bias
Unit 11: Peacemakers
Unit 12: The Future--A Positive Vision



Secondary School Curriculum

The secondary school curriculum covers material similar to that of the elementary school curriculum but with an additional focus on ways of de-escalating volatile situations that might lead to violent confrontations. The lessons are divided into three major units.

Unit 1: Engaging the Students
Unit 2: Concepts and Skills of Conflict Resolution
Unit 3: Concepts and Skills of Intergroup Relations and Bias Awareness" (p. 4-8)

References