Mini Lesson Plan: A Mediation Session for Ellen and Her Mother (Grades 3-6)

Here is a lesson you can use to help teach about how the Mediation process works for grades 3 to 6. It is also a lesson that teaches a way to compromise with each other so you can come up with a WIN-WIN solution that pleases both disputants. Third-grader Ellen wanted to eat chocolate chip waffles for breakfast. Her mother insisted on serving her a more nourishing breakfast. Ellen was so disappointed about her breakfast choice that she only ate a few bites, glared at her mother, and refused to give her a hug and kiss good-bye before leaving for school. At lunchtime, Ellen visited the guidance counselor to request a Mediation session after school that day with her mother. The guidance counselor called up Ellen's mother. She definitely agreed to come. Read the story to hear what WIN-WIN agreement got worked out between mother and daughter.

Section 1: Read the Mediation story called "A Mediation session for Ellen and her Mother."

A. Tale Hub page for "A Mediation session for Ellen and her Mother" (Grades 3-6)

B. Story Description: Third-grader Ellen wanted to eat chocolate chip waffles for breakfast. Her mother insisted on serving her a more nourishing breakfast. Ellen was so disappointed about her breakfast choice that she only ate a few bites, glared at her mother, and refused to give her a hug and kiss good-bye before leaving for school. At lunchtime, Ellen visited the guidance counselor to request a Mediation session after school that day with her mother. The guidance counselor called up Ellen's mother. She definitely agreed to come. Read the story to hear what WIN-WIN agreement got worked out between mother and daughter.

Section 2: Mediation role-play: A Mediation session for Ellen and her Mother

A. Students participate in scripted role-play called "A Mediation session for Ellen and her Mother."

B. Story Description: Third-grader Ellen wanted to eat chocolate chip waffles for breakfast. Her mother insisted on serving her a more nourishing breakfast. Ellen was so disappointed about her breakfast choice that she only ate a few bites, glared at her mother, and refused to give her a hug and kiss good-bye before leaving for school. At lunchtime, Ellen visited the guidance counselor to request a Mediation session after school that day with her mother. The guidance counselor called up Ellen's mother. She definitely agreed to come. Read the story to hear what WIN-WIN agreement got worked out between mother and daughter.

Section 3: Have class participate in discussion questions about this story.

Let's Discuss Grades 3-6 Tale: A Mediation session for Ellen and her Mother