Hard Conversations about Important Things
TARGET:
9-11 years
INTENSITY:
30 min / 1x per week
LEARNING GOAL
Developing My Ability to Communicate Harmoniously with Others
PEDAGOGICAL INTENTION
Expressing Myself Nonviolently and Respectfully
Target SKILLS
Socio-emotional Intelligence
Co-Intelligence Human-Human
MATERIALS
Brave space norms agreement
Facilitated discussion protocol
Opt-in personal sharing
DETAILED PROCEDURE
Set up this activity in pairs. Establish a brave space (not just safe - courageous): norms for discussing race, gender, ability, identity.
Step 1
Introduction: "Some conversations are hard not because they're impolite, but because they matter so much. Learning to have them - imperfectly but genuinely - is crucial."
Step 2
Teach these skills for hard conversations: speak from your own experience / use 'I' statements / avoid generalizing entire groups / expect discomfort and stay anyway / repair when you get it wrong.
Step 3
Say gently to the children: "Avoiding important conversations doesn't make them go away. It just means you have less practice when they really matter."
Step 4
Facilitated discussion on a real identity-related topic relevant to the class.
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
Step 10
PROGRESS INDICATORS
The child uses all 5 hard conversation skills during the discussion.
The child stays in the conversation through discomfort.
The child repairs a misstep (their own or facilitated) without shutting down.