Counselora · Classroom lesson
Disagreeing without insulting someone
Grades 6–8 · Ready-made original
Learning goal
Name a disagreement and suggest a fair way to decide.
Materials
The student page below and a pencil.
Opening question · 3 minutes
“What would help them decide without insults?”
A school situation · 5 minutes
A project group must choose between a comic and a short video. Alex wants the comic because it can be completed in class. Drew wants the video because the group has already filmed one scene. They begin saying the other idea is stupid. The deadline is tomorrow.
One possible response · 4 minutes
“We have two ideas and one day. Which can we finish with the time and materials available?”
Practice · 10 minutes
What would help them decide without insults?
1. Two students want different poster designs. One calls the other design silly.
2. A group cannot agree because the assignment's format rule is unclear.
Possible answers
1. “Let's compare what each design needs without insulting either idea.”
2. “Before we decide, let's ask which formats are allowed.”
Student page · 5 minutes
Use the ready-to-print student page at the end of this lesson. Students may write, draw, or give an answer aloud.
Exit question · 3 minutes
“Choose one of the stories. What could the student say or do first?”
Student page to print
Disagreeing without insulting someone
Write, draw, or say your answer. You may pass.
An example
A project group must choose between a comic and a short video. Alex wants the comic because it can be completed in class. Drew wants the video because the group has already filmed one scene. They begin saying the other idea is stupid. The deadline is tomorrow.
What would help them decide without insults?
One possible response: “We have two ideas and one day. Which can we finish with the time and materials available?”
1. Two students want different poster designs. One calls the other design silly.
What would help them decide without insults?
2. A group cannot agree because the assignment's format rule is unclear.
What would help them decide without insults?
One sentence to keep
Choose one story above. Write the first thing the person could say or do.