Resolving Disagreements wellbeing lesson plan
A primary wellbeing lesson for Years 1 to 2 that helps Australian teachers introduce practical ways to resolve friendship disagreements through a structured, ready-to-teach lesson. Students learn to recognise common friendship problems, use respectful language to work through disagreements and practise simple steps for repairing a friendship after things go wrong.
Healthy Relationships & Communication
Snapshot
Resolving Disagreements
This lesson gives teachers a structured way to introduce friendship disagreements using simple, age-appropriate language. Feedback: 4.1/5 average rating from 11 teacher and student responses
Prep time:
5 to 10 minutes
Lesson length:
45 to 50 minutes
Key Focus
Practical ways to resolve friendship disagreements and communicate respectfully
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 common disagreements that can happen between friends, such as not taking turns or disagreeing about a game
recognise when a friendship problem needs a fair solution rather than one person getting their way
recognise that both people in a disagreement can have different feelings about what happened
Understand
understand that disagreements are a normal part of friendships
understand why listening to a friend's point of view helps solve a problem fairly
Practise
practise using simple, respectful words to explain how they feel during a disagreement
practise listening to a friend's side of a disagreement
practise finding a fair way to fix a friendship problem
Who this lesson is for?
This lesson is designed for younger primary students in Years 1 and 2 who are learning to manage everyday friendship disagreements and build early communication skills.
It is suitable for:
primary wellbeing lessons
Health or PDHPE teaching
pastoral care, circle time or advisory sessions
class culture and friendship skill building
early respectful relationships work
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 friendship skills Use when students are learning early language for working through disagreements with friends.
Building classroom culture Use when reinforcing respectful communication and shared respect as part of everyday class expectations.
Practising fair problem solving Use when students need practice finding fair solutions during disagreements, rather than one person getting their way.
Supporting students after friendship issues Use to support structured discussion after a disagreement about turn taking, sharing or a game.
Reinforcing respectful communication Use when revisiting how to use kind, clear words during a disagreement.
Preparing for group or partner work Use when students are about to work in pairs or small groups and may need a refresher on resolving disagreements fairly.
The lesson can be used proactively with the whole class. It does not need to follow a specific incident.
Why this lesson matters
Young students need simple, practical language for working through friendship disagreements as they happen, rather than avoiding them or waiting for an adult to step in every time. Learning to resolve disagreements is not only about stopping arguments. It is about helping students build early skills in listening, sharing their point of view and finding fair solutions together. This lesson supports a calmer, more respectful classroom by helping students understand that disagreements can be worked through with shared respect, and that trusted adults are there to help when a situation feels too hard to sort out alone.
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 using clear, respectful words to explain how they feel during a disagreement.
Empathy Students consider how a friend might feel during a disagreement.
Problem solving Students practise finding fair solutions to friendship disagreements.
Self regulation Students think about calm ways to respond when a disagreement happens.
Relationship skills Students practise listening and taking turns during a disagreement.
Help seeking Students recognise when to ask a trusted adult for support with a friendship problem.
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 not to name classmates or share stories about other people
Frame the discussion around general examples and scenarios, not personal disagreements happening in the class
Make clear that the lesson is about learning fair, respectful ways to sort out disagreements
Be prepared to follow your school's child safety, wellbeing or child protection procedures if a student discloses harm or says they feel unsafe.
During delivery
Use simple examples such as disagreeing about a game, not taking turns or feeling left out
Give students time to practise respectful phrases aloud
Reinforce that disagreements do not need to be solved by one person getting their way
Allow students to respond through discussion, drawing or partner talk depending on confidence
Supporting safe discussion
Keep examples general rather than referring to specific classmates
Reinforce that asking a trusted adult for help is a sensible choice, not a last resort
Follow school procedures if any concerns arise during discussion
Adaptation options
Use partner talk for confident groups
Use drawing or simple sentence starters for students who need more support
Spend more time practising respectful phrases if students need extra confidence
