Negotiation 101 wellbeing lesson plan
Negotiation 101 is a ready-to-teach Year 12 wellbeing lesson that helps Australian teachers introduce practical negotiation and communication skills students can use at school and beyond. Students learn how to prepare for a conversation, communicate their position clearly, listen to others and work towards outcomes that respect everyone's needs.
Healthy Relationships & Communication
Snapshot
Negotiation 101
This lesson gives teachers a structured way to introduce negotiation as a practical, everyday communication skill.
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Building practical negotiation and communication skills for study, work and relationships
Lesson Format
Teacher-led discussion and structured activities
What students will learn
By the end of the lesson, students will be supported to:
Recognise
recognise situations at school or in daily life that call for negotiation rather than argument
identify the difference between negotiating a position and simply insisting on one
recognise when a conversation needs preparation before it happens
Understand
understand why preparation, listening and flexibility support a fair outcome
understand how respectful negotiation differs from pressure or one-sided compromise
Practise
practise preparing a clear, respectful opening position before a negotiation
practise active listening and asking clarifying questions during a discussion
practise language for reaching an agreement that respects everyone's boundaries
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for Year 12 students who are preparing for the increased independence, workload and relationships they will manage in their final year of school and beyond.
It is suitable for:
senior wellbeing or advisory lessons
Health or PDHPE classes
pastoral care or mentor group sessions
careers or transition to work programs
study skills or academic success programs
Suitability should be based on more than age alone. Teachers should consider the lesson focus, student maturity, cohort needs, classroom culture, existing discussion norms and available support pathways.
Best used when
Use this lesson when students need clear, practical language for recognising unkind behaviour and knowing what to do next.
Introducing negotiation as a life skill Use when students are new to thinking about negotiation as a structured communication skill rather than an argument.
Supporting academic success Use when students are managing workload, deadlines or expectations and need language for negotiating with teachers or peers.
Preparing for group work Use when students are working on shared tasks and need practical ways to work through differing views.
Building senior pastoral care programs Use when embedding communication and self advocacy skills into advisory or mentor group sessions.
Preparing for transition to work or further study Use when students are preparing for job interviews, workplace expectations or independent study conversations.
Reinforcing respectful communication Use when revisiting classroom or school expectations around fair, respectful discussion.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Negotiation is a skill students will use long after they leave school, from workplace conversations to shared living arrangements and everyday relationships. For Year 12 students, negotiation skills also connect directly to academic success. Being able to communicate clearly, listen to others and work towards a fair outcome can help students manage workload, deadlines and group work with more confidence. Teaching negotiation as a structured skill, rather than something students pick up by accident, helps them approach disagreement calmly and respectfully rather than avoiding it or letting it escalate.
How this lesson supports wellbeing
This lesson supports student wellbeing by building practical social and emotional skills students can use in everyday school life. It helps students develop:
Capability How the lesson supports it
Communication skills Students practise expressing a position clearly and respectfully.
Active listening Students practise listening to understand another person's perspective before responding.
Self advocacy Students learn to prepare for conversations where they need to represent their own needs.
Conflict resolution Students practise working through disagreement without it escalating.
Respectful relationships Students consider how negotiation can respect everyone's boundaries and needs.
Academic confidence Students connect negotiation skills to managing workload and expectations.
For teachers and school leaders, the lesson contributes to broader wellbeing, respectful relationships, child safety and pastoral care goals in Australian primary schools.
Teaching notes & Delivery Considerations
This lesson includes content about unkind behaviour, exclusion and asking adults for help. It should be taught with calm, clear discussion norms.
Before teaching
Remind students to use general or hypothetical examples rather than naming classmates or sharing private disputes
Frame discussion around scenarios and skills, not personal disagreements between students
Clarify that negotiation is about finding a fair outcome, not winning an argument
Identify a trusted adult students can speak to if a real situation feels difficult to manage
During delivery
Use everyday examples such as negotiating a deadline, workload or group task
Give students time to prepare a position before practising a conversation
Reinforce that listening and flexibility are as important as stating a position
Allow students to respond through discussion, written preparation or paired practice depending on confidence
Supporting safe discussion
Keep examples general rather than based on real disputes between students
Reinforce that boundaries and respect matter as much as reaching an agreement
Be prepared to follow your school's child safety, wellbeing or child protection procedures if a student discloses harm or says they feel unsafe.
Adaptation options
Use paired role-play for confident groups
Use written preparation or small group discussion for quieter groups
Spend more time on real-life examples such as workplace or study negotiations for students preparing for transition after school
