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Relationship Skills: Handling Conflict

Sixth graders build relationship skills by learning a step-by-step way to handle conflict — calming down, listening, using “I feel” statements, and working together on a solution — so disagreements can be solved without damaging friendships.

Grade 6CASEL: Relationship Skills40 minutes1 class periodCASEL SELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain healthy conflict resolution.
  • ✓Use “I feel” statements.
  • ✓Order the resolution steps.
  • ✓Solve a conflict fairly.
Essential Question

Everyone has disagreements — it’s a normal part of any friendship. What matters is HOW you handle them. Is there a calm, fair way to work through a conflict?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Put in Order · Interactive

Order the Conflict-Resolution Steps

Project this and have students put the steps for resolving a conflict in order — from calming down to agreeing on a solution.

🤝 Put the conflict-resolution steps in order!Try it
Tap the first step!
The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Check-In — Disagreements Happen

5 min

Everyone has conflicts — what matters is HOW you handle them. Is there a fair way?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Do a check-in.
  • Ask how conflicts feel.
  • Set a caring tone.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Check in.
  • Reflect.
  • Get ready.
2

Learn — Resolution Steps

11 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain calming down first.
  • Explain “I feel” statements.
  • Explain finding a solution.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn calming.
  • Learn “I feel.”
  • Learn solving.
3

Practice — Order the Steps

11 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Order the Conflict-Resolution Steps.
  • Order them.
  • Practice “I feel.”

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order them.
  • Practice.
  • Explain them.
4

Apply — Apply

8 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Role-play resolving a conflict.
  • Use the steps.
  • Find a fair solution.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Role-play it.
  • Use steps.
  • Solve it.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name the first step.
  • Explain “I feel” statements.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name it.
  • Explain it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CASEL 5 Social & Emotional Learning Competencies.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Resolve conflicts constructively.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Communicate clearly and listen actively.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Use “I” statements to express feelings.

CASEL
Relationship Skills

Negotiate and compromise fairly.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Step cards + “I feel” frame.
  • Sentence frame: “I feel ___ when ___.”
  • Role-play the steps.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with “calm down first.”
  • Order two at a time.
  • Practice “I feel.”

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Mediate a peer conflict.
  • Explain compromise.
  • Handle peer pressure.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🗣️“I feel” sentence strips
  • 💻Order the Conflict-Resolution Steps
  • 🎭Role-play scenarios
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

conflicta disagreement between peopleresolutionsolving a problemrelationship skillsskills for getting along“I feel” statementsaying how you feel without blamingcompromisea solution both sides acceptactive listeningfully listening to understandnegotiateto work out an agreementrespecttreating others well even in disagreement
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What is a good FIRST step when a conflict starts?
Calm down first — take a breath and cool off.
QUESTION 2
What is an “I feel” statement? Give an example.
Saying how you feel without blaming — like “I feel upset when I’m interrupted.”
QUESTION 3
What is a compromise?
A solution that both people can accept.

Reflect: work it out.

Have students role-play resolving a common conflict using all five steps, focusing on “I feel” statements and finding a compromise. A printable conflict sheet is in the SEL library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Relationship Skills: Handling ConflictFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Relationship Skills: Handling ConflictQuiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Relationship Skills: Handling ConflictPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: active listening, compromise, conflict, negotiate, relationship skills, resolution, respect, “I feel” statement
  1. skills for getting along
  2. fully listening to understand
  3. treating others well even in disagreement
  4. a solution both sides accept
  5. saying how you feel without blaming
  6. solving a problem
  7. to work out an agreement
  8. a disagreement between people

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is a good FIRST step when a conflict starts?
  2. What is an “I feel” statement? Give an example.
  3. What is a compromise?
Answer key — Part A: 1) relationship skills · 2) active listening · 3) respect · 4) compromise · 5) “I feel” statement · 6) resolution · 7) negotiate · 8) conflict
Part B: 1) Calm down first — take a breath and cool off. 2) Saying how you feel without blaming — like “I feel upset when I’m interrupted.” 3) A solution that both people can accept.