Types of Conflict

Students will learn about the four major types of conflict. They will use children's books to identify the types of conflict used, as well as create their own narratives using one of the types of conflict. 

Duration
1-2 hours
Lesson Type
Traditional Lesson

Essential Question

How can I incorporate conflict in my own writing?

Grade(s):

  • 5

Subject(s):

Recommended Technology:

Other Instructional Materials or Notes:

Lesson Progression

  • Ask students: what is a conflict?
  • Allow students to think, pair, share the answer
  • Go over four different types of conflict
    • Man Vs. Self
    • Man. Vs. Man
    • Man. Vs. Nature
    • Man vs. Society
  • Break students up into four different groups
  • Give each group a different book to read
    • Tell students that while they are reading, it is their job to uncover which type of conflict is the MAIN conflict in each book.
    • The group will present their findings and explain their answer with evidence from the text

*Potential books:

  1. “The Name Jar” by Yangsook Choi-Man Vs. Self       

   ​the name jar.jpg

2. “Each Kindness” by Jacqueline Woodson- Man Vs. Man
 ​each kindness.jpg

3 “Hello, My Name Is Octicorn” by Justin Lowe and Kevin Diller- Man Vs. Society

4. “The Great Kapok Tree” by Lynne Cherry


 

  • Students will create their own short narratives that include one of the types of conflict.
    • They will then work with a partner and read their narrative
    • The audience member will listen and guess which conflict was used
    • Both students will share

Rubric

Rubric that can be used to grade final writing assignment

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The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest

One day, a man exhausts himself trying to chop down a giant kapok tree. While he sleeps, the forest’s residents, including a child from the Yanomamo tribe, whisper in his ear about the importance of trees and how "all living things depend on one another" . . . and it works.

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Hello, My Name Is Octicorn

Meet Octicorn, the funny, sweet, and disarming character who is a champion for anyone who has ever felt a little bit different. And isn’t that everyone?

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The Name Jar

Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it—Yoon-Hey.

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Each Kindness

Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward Maya.

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Assessments

Use rubric to grade final writing