Bridge Builders Activity Sheet
Afterschool Club • Peace Skills Level: Elementary (Grades 2-5)
Bridge Builders Activity Sheet
Name:
Date:
The Bridge Builder Secret: When conflicts heat up at club time, blaming words act like walls. Calm communication words build a bridge so both friends can solve the problem together!
1
The 4 Peace-Building Moves
(Read and memorize these club tools)
Move 1: Cool Down First
Take three slow "pizza breaths" (smell the warm pizza, gently cool it down) before speaking.
Check: Is my body in the Yellow or Red zone?
Move 2: Use an "I-Statement"
Speak without pointing fingers or calling names. State your feeling and request clearly.
“I feel ____ when ____. Next time, could we ____?”
Move 3: The Echo Listen
No interrupting! Show you heard their feeling by repeating it in your own words.
“So you felt ____ because ____. Did I get that right?”
Move 4: The Win-Win Deal
Find an answer where both people get some of what they want (take turns, timer, or team up).
Fair Fixes: 5-Min Timer • Flip a Coin • Team Share
2
Warm-Up Lab: Wall Words → Bridge Words
Transform each statement
Model Example Art Station Situation
Wall Words (Blame): “You're greedy! You've been hoarding the glitter pens all afternoon!”
Bridge Words (I-Statement): “I feel frustrated when I wait a long time. Can we split the pen colors or take 5-minute turns?”
Challenge A • Gym / Four-Square Court Write your I-statement below
Wall Words: “You always cheat! You bounced it twice and you're lying!”
Bridge Words: “I feel when .”
Challenge B • Game Corner / LEGO Bin Write your I-statement below
Wall Words: “Get away! We already started building this castle without you!”
Bridge Words: “I feel because .”
Turn page to start the Partner Resolution Lab! Page 1 of 2
Interactive Partner Activity Step-by-Step Resolution
The Two-Way Talk Lab
Mission Solve Together
1
Pick Your Scenario & Team Up
Partner A: • Partner B:
Scenario 1: The Board Game
Partner A says the game rules say you get a bonus roll. Partner B says that rule is made up.
Check to select
Scenario 2: Snack Table
There is only one strawberry milk carton left. Both partners reached their hand out at the exact same moment.
Check to select
Scenario 3: Outside Playground
Partner A wants to play tag. Partner B wants to play soccer, and both say the other friend never compromises.
Check to select
2
Walk the Bridge Together
(Complete all 4 steps together)
A Partner A's Calm "I-Statement": Use feeling word & clear need
“I felt when
What would help me is: ”
B Partner B's Echo Check (Show Active Listening): No debating yet • Just listen
“What I hear you saying is that you felt
because ”
C Brainstorm 2 Win-Win Solutions: Both people must agree
Idea 1 (e.g. Taking turns / Timer):
Idea 2 (e.g. Sharing / New rule):
Our Official Peace Agreement: Final Resolution
We both agreed that today we will:
Partner A Signature:
Partner B Signature:
High-Five! You resolved a real conflict using communication. Page 2 of 2
Peace Builders Facilitator Guide
Educator Resource Afterschool Staff & Leaders
Peace Builders Facilitator Guide
Pacing: 35–45 Mins
Group Size: 8–25 Kids
The Golden Afterschool Rule: Coach, Don't Referee
When kids run to staff shouting “They're cheating!” our instinct is to deliver a quick verdict. Resist playing judge! Instead, say: “It sounds like you two have a puzzle to solve. Let's walk the Peace Bridge together.”
1
Session Pacing Guide (40-Minute Workshop)
Time Phase Facilitator Action & Key Prompts
00–08 min Warm-up & Hook Physical thermometer check: “Show me with your hands how high conflict feels when games get heated.” Introduce “Wall Words vs. Bridge Words.”
08–18 min The 4 Moves Demonstrate the 4 Moves with a staff co-leader or peer volunteer. Model the Pizza Breath and the fill-in I-Statement formula (Page 1 of handout).
18–32 min Partner Lab Pair students up. Distribute Page 2. Have each pair choose a scenario or use an actual recent afterschool argument to write out and practice aloud.
32–40 min Debrief & Seal Reconvene on the carpet. Celebrate pairs who signed their agreements. Introduce the permanent club “Peace Bridge Station.”
2
Live Intervention Scripts for Staff
High Emotions / Shouting
When students are heated and ready to fight:
“I care about what happened, but we can't solve this with high adrenaline. Let's do 3 pizza breaths together before either of us speaks.”
Silent / Shut Down
When a child crosses their arms and refuses to talk:
“Take your time. You don't have to talk right now, but your words matter. Give me a thumbs-up when you're ready to share your side.”
“He Did It First!” Blame
When both kids stay stuck in finger-pointing:
“We aren't here to find who is guilty. We are here to fix the game so everyone gets to play. What is one thing you can both agree on?”
Turn page for debrief questions, adaptations & troubleshooting! Page 1 of 2
Program Toolkit Classroom Management & SEL
Debrief, Adaptations & Station Setup
Afterschool Best Practices
3
Restorative Circle Debrief Prompts
Q1
Physical Signals
“How does your body tell you that you're about to explode into 'Wall Words'? (Clenched fists, hot cheeks, stomach knots)”
Q2
The Hardest Move
“Which of the 4 moves was hardest today? Why is listening without interrupting so difficult when we are angry?”
