The Playground Problem Lesson Plan

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Academic Standards

 

Reading Objective:

Children will discuss strategies for conflict resolution

 

SEL Focus:

relationship skills, conflict resolution

 

ELA Skills:

key details, vocabulary, writing

 

Page 4 Skill:

L.2.4 use vocabulary

 

Vocabulary:

conflict

 

CCSS:

SL.2.3, RI.2.1, RI.2.4, RI.2.10, L.2.1

 

Guided Reading Level:

J

 

Lexile level: 

440L

Download TEKS Standards
Download Common Core Standards

Provide students with some background on conflict resolution.

 

Build background knowledge (10 min.)

Watch our video “We Can Work It Out!” After children have finished watching the video, discuss the following question:

  • What is one thing you can do to calm down if you are in a conflict?

 

Preview vocabulary (3 min.)

Next, play the online vocabulary slideshow. This issue’s featured word is conflict.

Set a purpose for reading (5 min.)

  • Pass out the issue, and discuss the cover. Have children ever had a problem like Liam and Ava are having? How did they solve it?
  • Next, read the As You Read prompt on page 3: “Think about what you can do if you have a conflict with someone.” Encourage children to think about this prompt as they read.

Read together (20 min.)

Pass out the Read and Think printable. Use it to check comprehension as you read the issue together, pausing to ask the questions. 

Assessment: Reading Quiz

Pass out the Reading Quiz to review key concepts from the issue and assess students’ proficiency on key nonfiction reading skills.

The “How Do I Feel?” game is a fun way to explore emotions. Children are provided with a variety of faces and asked to choose the feeling word that goes with each one.

You can use our printable worksheets to focus on important SEL and ELA skills. Here's how.

ELA Focus: Vocabulary (15 min.)

  • Use the Word Work printable to deepen students’ understanding of the word conflict.

Editor’s Pick: Role Play (15 min.)

  • The Act It Out skill sheet allows children to apply what they learned in the issue. We’ve provided four situations on cards that you can cut out. Invite children to role-play possible solutions, either as a whole class or in small groups.

SEL Focus: Feelings (15 min.)

  • The I Feel . . . skill sheet invites children to think about what they might say in a conflict by prompting them to write out their feelings. This is both great writing practice and good practice for how to express emotions.

 Here are two past issues you can use to extend your lesson on feelings and classroom situations:

  • “An End to Bullying,” September 2020. This issue introduces children to Marcayah Carter, a little girl who published her own book to help end bullying.
  • “ Second-Grade Citizens,” September 2018. This issue shows kids how to be kind to their classmates and respect their classroom.

You can find a higher-Lexile-level and a lower-Lexile-level version of the article online here:

  • Higher Lexile level: 490L
  • Lower Lexile level: 350L