Getting into the Right Mindset

Curriculum	Transforming Conflict, p. 55
Lesson Name	Getting into the Right Mindset
Grade Band	Middle School (6-8) High School (9-12)

Curriculum

Transforming Conflict, p. 55

Lesson Name

Getting into the Right Mindset

Grade Band

Middle School (6-8)

High School (9-12)

Required Material/s	Copies of Handout 1: What Do You See? Internet access
Standards / Competencies	CASEL Core Competencies: Relationship skills Responsible decision-making Self-awareness Self-management Social awareness Common Core ELA-Literacy Standards: Speaking and listening Reading Writing NCSS Social Studies Themes: Culture Individuals, groups, and institutions Global connections Civic ideals and practices Individual development and identity
Recommended Time	50 minutes

Required Material/s

Copies of Handout 1: What Do You See?
Internet access

Standards / Competencies

CASEL Core Competencies:

Relationship skills
Responsible decision-making
Self-awareness
Self-management
Social awareness

Common Core ELA-Literacy Standards:

Speaking and listening
Reading

Writing

NCSS Social Studies Themes:

Culture
Individuals, groups, and institutions
Global connections
Civic ideals and practices

Individual development and identity

Recommended Time

50 minutes

Essential Question	How do personal differences like mindset and perception shape how we engage with conflict?
Learning Objectives	Students will: Define mindset and explain how it shapes how we engage with conflict. Define perception and explain how it shapes how we engage with conflict. Recognize how differences in mindset and perception can contribute to conflict.
Important Vocabulary	Mindset Perception Confrontational Compromising Collaborative Empathic Prejudiced

Essential Question

How do personal differences like mindset and perception shape how we
engage with conflict?

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Define mindset and explain how it shapes how we engage with conflict.
Define perception and explain how it shapes how we engage with conflict.
Recognize how differences in mindset and perception can contribute to conflict.

Important Vocabulary

Mindset
Perception
Confrontational
Compromising
Collaborative
Empathic
Prejudiced

Activating Prior Knowledge	Display the following statement: “In a conflict, a person’s mindset can be 90 percent of the problem or 90 percent of the solution.” Ask: What is mindset? After getting student ideas, display the definition of mindset: “A fixed attitude, disposition, or mood.” Ask: Keeping this definition in mind, what does this statement mean? Can you relate to it? If relevant, refer to previous lessons about factors that shape conflict and how we approach it—identity, empathy, and the value we place on diverse identities and perspectives (Unit I, Lessons 4 and 5, pp. 27, 29). Say: Our approach to conflict is shaped by many personal factors that may be less obvious and more complicated than the facts of the situation or the party’s interests. We are going to look at two of these personal factors today – mindset and perception.
Core Instruction	Ask students to think of conflicts they have seen or experienced when someone’s mindset was “90 percent of the problem.” Ask: What words would you use to describe these mindsets? (Answers might include confrontational, stubborn, antagonistic, combative, angry, accusatory, prejudiced, defensive, irritable, obstinate, inflexible, or judgmental.) Ask students to think of conflicts they have seen or experienced when someone’s mindset was “90 percent of the solution.” Ask: What words would you use to describe these mindsets? (Answers might include: compromising, collaborative, open, flexible, empathic, sympathetic, nonjudgmental, or receptive.) Ask: How do you feel if you are in a conflict with someone whose mindset is “90 percent of the problem?” How might this affect your response to the situation? Ask: How would you respond differently to someone whose mindset is “90 percent of the solution?” How does mindset affect your ability to achieve a constructive resolution to a conflict? Explain that another personal factor that affects the way we approach and engage with conflict is perception. Ask: What is perception? After getting student ideas, display the definition of perception: “The unique way individuals view and interpret the world around them, which is influenced by previous experiences, beliefs, and motivations.” Review the definition with students. Explain that different people can have different perceptions of the same experience or thing based on a variety of factors. Distribute Handout 1 and give students three minutes to write a brief description of each of the images on the handout in the space provided. When all students have completed the assignment, divide the class into pairs and ask the partners to share their perceptions with one another. Then give each pair a chance to share their perceptions, and whether their perceptions are the same or different, with the class. For each image, you can keep track of students’ perceptions on a white board, smart board, or chart paper. Ask: What can our differing perceptions about these pictures tell us about how perception affects what we believe we see or know?
Wrap-up	Ask: What have we learned about the impact of mindset and perception on conflict? How can differences in mindset and perception make conflict more likely, or make it more difficult to resolve? Can understanding these differences in mindset and perception help us deal with conflict more constructively? How?

Activating Prior Knowledge

Display the following statement: “In a conflict, a person’s mindset can be 90 percent of the problem or 90 percent of the solution.”

Ask: What is mindset? After getting student ideas, display the
definition of mindset: “A fixed attitude, disposition, or
mood.”

Ask: Keeping this definition in mind, what does this statement
mean? Can you relate to it?

If relevant, refer to previous lessons about factors that shape conflict and how we approach it—identity, empathy, and the value we place on diverse identities and perspectives (Unit I, Lessons 4 and 5, pp. 27, 29).

Say: Our approach to conflict is shaped by many personal factors
that may be less obvious and more complicated than the facts of the
situation or the party’s interests. We are going to look at two of these
personal factors today – mindset and perception.

Core Instruction

Ask students to think of conflicts they have seen or experienced when someone’s mindset was “90 percent of the problem.” Ask: What
words would you use to describe these mindsets? (Answers might include confrontational, stubborn, antagonistic, combative, angry, accusatory, prejudiced, defensive, irritable, obstinate, inflexible, or judgmental.)

Ask students to think of conflicts they have seen or experienced when someone’s mindset was “90 percent of the solution.” Ask: What words
would you use to describe these mindsets? (Answers might include: compromising, collaborative, open, flexible, empathic, sympathetic, nonjudgmental, or receptive.)

Ask: How do you feel if you are in a conflict with someone whose
mindset is “90 percent of the problem?” How might this affect your
response to the situation?

Ask: How would you respond differently to someone whose mindset
is “90 percent of the solution?” How does mindset affect your ability to
achieve a constructive resolution to a conflict?

Explain that another personal factor that affects the way we approach and engage with conflict is perception. Ask: What is
perception?

After getting student ideas, display the definition of perception: “The unique way individuals view and interpret the world around them, which is influenced by previous experiences, beliefs, and motivations.” Review the definition with students. Explain that different people can have different perceptions of the same experience or thing based on a variety of factors.

Distribute Handout 1 and give students three minutes to write a brief description of each of the images on the handout in the space provided. When all students have completed the assignment, divide the class into pairs and ask the partners to share their perceptions with one another. Then give each pair a chance to share their perceptions, and whether their perceptions are the same or different, with the class. For each image, you can keep track of students’ perceptions on a white board, smart board, or chart paper.

Ask: What can our differing perceptions about these pictures tell
us about how perception affects what we believe we see or
know?

Wrap-up

Ask: What have we learned about the impact of mindset and
perception on conflict? How can differences in mindset and perception
make conflict more likely, or make it more difficult to resolve? Can
understanding these differences in mindset and perception help us deal
with conflict more constructively? How?

Learning Beyond Classroom Walls

Taking Informed Action:

Create a short essay, presentation, or video to illustrate the following concept:

What techniques or skills can you use to maintain a “90 percent of the solution” mindset, even when you’re dealing with someone with a “90 percent of the problem” mindset? How can recognizing where the other person is coming from help you keep your cool?

Download this lesson to access handouts.

Register For This Site

Getting into the Right Mindset

Sign up for updates.

Follow us