3FN22 – Social Studies – Working Together

How do FreeNode lessons work?

FreeNodes are instructor-led schooling lessons with a unique approach, granting you the freedom to independently teach using a personalized lesson plan. This autonomy enables you to tailor your lessons to suit students’ individual needs, learning styles, and interests.

To use a FreeNode, read the provided class outline & follow the formatting provided for each class. Make sure to touch on the Theocratic Connection in each class. Follow the outline closely so it is aligned with our main at-home curriculum.

How Do I Use the FreeNode?

Read this lesson plan before class to familiarize yourself with the ideas and concepts you’ll be teaching the students. You may print this page out if you need to use it as a reference point during live classes.

This lesson is a guide, but feel free to expand on the content or decrease/increase what you teach depending on the learning levels of the students in your class or the amount of time you have to cover the material.

Can I show videos in FN classes?

Yes, feel free to include additional material to supplement the class lesson material. Videos, Physical Objects, Games, Activities, etc. are okay to share in live classes.

Videos should have no advertisements or logos and should be viewed by you before showing them to the students to ensure no offensive or questionable content is included.

The video should make up only 1-3 minutes of the live class and should not take the place of instructor-led instruction. Videos should be supplementary only.

How do bookmarks work?

Bookmarks help you keep track of lessons you’re going to teach in future live classes. The bookmarks you see are for all your bookmarked lessons across all grades.

You can bookmark a lesson by visiting the lesson you want to bookmark and clicking the “bookmark” button in the bookmark section.

You can remove a single bookmark by visiting a lesson you’ve bookmarked and clicking the “bookmark” button again to unbookmark it.

You can clear all of your bookmarks by clicking the “clear all bookmarks” button. Be careful, this will erase all of your bookmarks.

Class Lesson Plan

Objectives:

Students understand what conflict is and its causes.
Students learn how consensus and compromise can resolve conflicts.
Students explore how courts help individuals resolve conflicts.
Students recognize how nations solve conflicts through treaties and organizations.

Materials:

Whiteboard
Visual aids (illustrations of consensus and compromise, courtroom scenes, treaty signings)
Interactive online resources such as videos and games (optional)

Introduction (2 minutes):

Begin by asking:

“Have you ever disagreed with someone about what game to play or what to watch on TV? How did you solve it?”

Introduce the lesson:

“Today, we’ll learn what conflict is, how we can solve it, and how even nations work together to resolve their disagreements.”

Theocratic Connections:

Discuss how Jehovah loves peace and unity. Highlight Matthew 5:9, “Happy are the peacemakers,” to show how solving conflicts benefits everyone. Explain that resolving conflict reflects Jehovah’s qualities of wisdom, humility, and love.

Activity 1 – What is Conflict? (8 minutes):

Explain:

Conflict happens when people or groups can’t agree.
It can involve friends, family, or even nations.
Imperfection makes conflict a part of life, but it doesn’t have to ruin relationships.

Discussion Question: Ask students to share examples of conflicts they’ve experienced and how they were resolved.

Activity 2 – Consensus and Compromise (8 minutes):

Define:

Consensus: Everyone agrees on a decision as a group.
Compromise: Finding a middle ground that satisfies all parties involved.

Explain:

Compromise requires humility and love for others.
When we compromise, we show we value peace over being right.

Explain:

Compromise requires humility and love for others.
When we compromise, we show we value peace over being right

Interactive role-play:

Create a simple scenario (e.g., two students want different snacks for a party) and have the class work together to find a compromise

Activity 3 – How Courts Help Solve Conflicts (8 minutes):

Explain:

Courts step in when people can’t resolve conflicts.
A judge listens to both sides and makes a final decision (ruling).

Discuss:

Court cases can be expensive and time-consuming.
Resolving issues directly is often better for maintaining relationships.

Optional Activity: Share a simplified example of a court case where both parties benefited from a resolution.

Activity 4 – How Nations Solve Conflicts (8 minutes):

Explain:

Nations disagree over resources, borders, or political differences.
Treaties and negotiations help nations resolve conflicts peacefully.
Organizations like the United Nations mediate disputes.

Discussion Question: Ask students why it’s important for nations to work together peacefully.

Conclusion (4 minutes):

Recap the key points:

Conflict is a natural part of life, but it can be resolved with humility and teamwork.
Courts and nations use structured methods to solve disagreements.
As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we strive to be neutral and peacemakers, reflecting Jehovah’s love.

Reflection Question: “How can you be a peacemaker in your family or among friends this week?”

Assessment:

Evaluate students’ understanding through their participation in discussions and role-playing activities. Ensure they can explain the importance of compromise and how conflicts are resolved at different levels.