CONFLICT OR PEACE?
Two classmates disagree about which film to watch but listen respectfully to each other. Is this a conflict even though nobody is shouting?
Yes. A conflict can involve incompatible wishes or a disagreement without shouting or violence.
Two clubs want the only available school hall at the same time. What are they competing over?
A limited resource: access to the school hall / time in the hall.
During a disagreement, one person starts insulting the other. Is this more likely to escalate or de-escalate the conflict?
Escalate it: insults can increase anger and make cooperation harder.
A neutral third person helps two sides talk and reach their own agreement. What is this process called?
Mediation.
Fighting forces families to leave their homes. Name ONE immediate basic need they may have.
Safe shelter, clean water, food, urgent healthcare or protection from further harm. Accept any one.
Two groups agree to stop fighting for a week while talks take place. What is this pause in fighting called?
A ceasefire / truce. It does not necessarily settle the underlying disagreement.
A student thinks a friend deliberately ignored them, but the friend never received the message. What caused this conflict?
A misunderstanding / an incorrect assumption / failed communication.
An unverified post claims a rival school plans to damage your school. Name ONE action that could reduce tension before anyone reacts.
Check the claim with a reliable source or school staff; avoid sharing it as fact; encourage others to wait for verification.
Rewrite “You never do any work!” as a calmer statement that explains a specific problem or need.
For example: “I felt frustrated when I completed the slides alone. Can we agree on who will do each task?” Accept a respectful, specific alternative.
A peace meeting invites political leaders but no local residents. Give ONE reason to include people directly affected by the conflict.
They can explain their needs and experiences, identify practical problems and help shape an agreement that communities are more likely to support.
A town has no fighting, but one community is excluded from schools and jobs. Give ONE reason people might say it has not achieved lasting peace.
Discrimination and exclusion remain. Lasting peace also depends on safety, fair treatment and opportunities to address grievances.
Two communities have disagreed over water access for years. A broken pump starts a new argument. Which is the immediate trigger, and which is the underlying problem?
Trigger: the broken pump. Underlying problem: the long-running disagreement over access to water.
A student posts an embarrassing video of a classmate during an argument. Explain ONE way the audience could make the conflict worse.
Sharing, mocking, commenting aggressively or pressuring someone to retaliate can increase humiliation, spread the conflict or encourage revenge.
Two clubs both want the hall on Friday. They agree that one uses it this Friday and the other next Friday. What conflict-resolution approach does this illustrate?
Compromise: both adjust their original demands to reach an agreement.
A damaged school reopens after a conflict. Explain ONE way this could help the community recover beyond teaching school subjects.
It can restore routine and social support, provide a place to reconnect, or help rebuild relationships and hope for the future.
Students organise a peaceful protest against an unfair rule. Does the existence of this conflict necessarily make the school worse? Explain.
No. Peaceful disagreement can expose unfairness and lead to improvements if concerns are heard and addressed.
One student demands an open window; another demands it closed. One needs fresh air and the other wants to avoid a cold draught. Identify the difference between their demands and their needs.
Their demands are their positions: open or closed. Their underlying needs/interests are fresh air and warmth. Understanding these can reveal other solutions.
Two groups keep saying, “We only did it because they did it first.” What pattern could this create, and why is it difficult to stop?
A cycle of retaliation: each response becomes a new grievance and a reason for further action. Both sides may justify their own behaviour as a response.
A student repeatedly threatens another student, who feels unsafe. Why might asking them to “meet halfway” be an inappropriate first response?
There is a safety concern and unequal power. The priority is to stop the threats and seek help from a trusted adult, rather than pressure the targeted student to compromise over their safety.
Two communities sign a peace agreement but still do not trust each other. Suggest ONE practical way to build trust and explain how it might help.
For example: a joint project with shared decisions and clear responsibilities. Repeated cooperation and fulfilled promises can show that the other side is reliable. Accept another plausible action with an explanation.
Two neighbours stop arguing because one is afraid of the other. Explain TWO reasons why silence does not prove their conflict is resolved.
The underlying problem may remain; fear or unequal power may prevent honest discussion; there may be no freely accepted agreement. Accept any two.
After a fight, a headline says: “These communities have always hated each other.” Give TWO questions you would investigate before accepting this explanation.
Any two relevant questions: What specific events triggered the fight? Are resources or power disputed? What evidence supports the claim? Have the groups cooperated before? What do different community members say?
One group says, “Everyone from that neighbourhood is dangerous.” Explain TWO ways this generalisation could make peace harder.
It blames people for group membership rather than individual actions; encourages fear or discrimination; hides differences within the group; reduces willingness to listen or cooperate. Accept any two.
Two communities agree to share a water supply. Name THREE practical details their agreement needs to reduce future disputes.
Any three: how water is allocated; when each group can access it; who maintains the system; who checks compliance; how shortages are handled; how complaints are resolved; when the agreement is reviewed.
A year after a peace agreement, officials say it worked because there have been no fights. Suggest THREE additional indicators you would check to judge whether peace is lasting.
Any three: whether people feel safe; fair access to services; reduced discrimination; trust between groups; participation in decisions; whether displaced people can return safely if they choose; whether complaints are resolved peacefully.