Don’t Fight, Mediate! (Secondary)

Activity

Don’t Fight, Mediate! (Secondary)

Duration: 2 period(s)
Suggested level: Secondary Cycle Two
Subject: Culture and Citizenship in Québec, English Language Arts

Description

Students are asked to take on specific roles in a simulated mediation session to resolve a conflict between two teens and their families. The activity calls on students’ cooperation skills to find a solution they can all live with.

The suggested level for this activity is Grade 6, but it can be adapted easily for high school students.

Educational objectives

  • To raise awareness of the use of cooperation and dialogue to manage and resolve disputes
  • To become familiar the mediation process and its advantages
  • To put into practice: cooperation, listening skills, empathy, respect for the other person in a dispute-resolution situation

Subjects and subject-specific competencies

Culture and Citizenship in Québec - Secondary IV

Cultural realities and compulsory main concepts: Justice and the law - Legal and judicial institutions.

Compulsory specific concepts: Courts and legal recourse, Mediation.

  • Competency 1: Studies cultural realities:
    • Establishes the scope of the object of study:
      • Collects information.
    • Demonstrates an enriched understanding:
      • Integrates different perspectives into an interpretation.
      • Compares interpretations.
  • Competency 2: Reflects on ethical questions:
    • Engages in dialogue:
      • Becomes aware of own feelings, reactions and initial point of view.
      • Takes into account points of view, feelings and experiences of others.
    • Examines a variety of points of view:
      • Considers points of view and experiences.

English Language Arts

  • Competency 1: Uses language/talk to communicate and to learn

Duration

Two periods

Broad areas of learning

  • Citizenship and Community Life: Promotion of the rules of social conduct and democratic institutions

Cross-curricular competencies

  • Solves problems: Tests possible solutions
  • Cooperates with others: Interacts with an open mind in various contexts

Related content

External pedagogical tools

  • Équijustice offers a conflict-management program for schools: Passerelles (French only)
  • L’Institut Pacifique provides several programs concerning social mediation and dispute resolution (French only).
  • Video (French only) prepared by the organization Cliquez Justice on alternative dispute-resolution methods. (Cliquez Justice is a website that offers legal information for francophones outside Quebec).