Role-Play for Grades 3 to 6: A Mediation Session for Ellen and Her Mother

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

Story Description: Here is a story you can use to help teach about how the Mediation process works for grades 3 to 6. It is also a role-play 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.

Link to story: A Mediation session for Ellen and her Mother

B. Teacher: We will now act out the role-play called "A Mediation session for Ellen and her Mother."

The role-play features one guy actor: Mr. Hamlet the Lunch Monitor.

The role-play also features four girl actors: Ellen, Mrs. Johnson the Math teacher, Mrs. Taylor the Guidance Counselor, and Mrs. Sawyer, Ellen's mother.

The big parts are Ellen, Mrs. Taylor the Guidance Counselor, and Ellen's mother named Mrs. Sawyer. The small-sized parts are Mr. Hamlet the Lunch Monitor and Mrs. Johnson the Math teacher.

The rest of the class will take turns reading the parts of Narrator 1 and Narrator 2.

Who is interested in playing these roles? (Either pull names or accept eager student volunteers.)

C. PDF File - Print about 10 copies for students to share of this scripted Negotiation role-play called "A Mediation session for Ellen and her Mother."

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