My Conflict Resolution Plan — I Statements Activity Kit
Most conflicts reach you after they have already escalated.
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About this resource
Most conflicts reach you after they have already escalated. My Conflict Resolution Plan is an “I” statements activity kit for Grades 2–4 that teaches students to say how they feel before the next one arrives, so they have something to say besides blame. It is a conflict resolution SEL lesson that builds Relationship Skills through writing, role-play and a journal.
What students practice
- Writing “I” statements for everyday conflicts
- Saying how they feel without blaming
- Role-playing a calm response with a partner
- Staying calm and reflecting afterward
- Keeping a record of real conflicts
What’s inside
- A teacher guide with a detailed script and a flexible outline: three steps, about 25 minutes
- A Conflict-Resolution Worksheet with 22 everyday scenarios, each with a line for an “I” statement
- 24 Role-Playing Cards for partner practice, in color and black-and-white
- A Reflection Questions Sheet (five questions, 2 versions) and a Conflict-Resolution Journal (2 versions)
- An “I” Statement Reminder Poster with a worked example; 20 pages in all
A look inside
- From the teacher script: “An ‘I’ statement helps us say how we feel without blaming the other person. It keeps the conversation calm and kind.”
- Worksheet, Scenario 14: “Someone in your group project didn’t do their part of the work.”
- Role-Playing Card: “Your classmate teased you about your handwriting.”
How to use this conflict resolution plan kit
- Name conflict as a normal part of being around people, then contrast a blaming “you” sentence with an “I” statement
- Students write an “I” statement for each worksheet scenario, and volunteers share
- Use the Role-Playing Cards for partner practice, then the Reflection Questions sheet
- Use it as a proactive lesson, a follow-up to a classroom conflict or the skills introduction before a restorative conversation
Grade fit
Scenarios such as a sibling changing the TV channel or a group-project partner suit Grades 2–4 in elementary school. It is one of the SEL activities that works best before a conflict, since students practice while calm.
Pairs well with
Younger students can start with The I Statement Game, and Polite Communication Practice adds tone and body language.
Questions teachers ask
Can students use it after a real conflict?
Yes. The Conflict-Resolution Journal asks what happened, how they felt, their “I” statement, whether it helped and what they would do differently.
How long does it take?
About 25 minutes across three steps.
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