The Neutral Third Party
TARGET:
9-11 years
INTENSITY:
30 min / 2x per week
LEARNING GOAL
Developing Emotional Awareness When Interacting with Others
PEDAGOGICAL INTENTION
Finding Solutions Based on Everyone's Emotions
Target SKILLS
Socio-emotional Intelligence
Co-Intelligence Human-Human
MATERIALS
Peer mediation protocol card (5 steps)
Practice conflict scenarios
DETAILED PROCEDURE
Gather the whole group together in a circle for this activity. Explain calmly to the children: "Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do in a conflict is not be in it - but help the people in it find their way through."
Step 1
Teach the peer mediation role: neutral (no side-taking) / facilitating (asking questions, not giving answers) / confidential (what's said here stays here).
Step 2
Peer mediation protocol:
Step 3
Step 1: Each party speaks uninterrupted (mediator listens).
Step 4
Step 2: Mediator reflects back what they heard from each side.
Step 5
Step 3: Each party states what they need.
Step 6
Step 7
Step 4: Brainstorm solutions together.
Step 8
Step 5: Agree on one and make it specific.
Step 9
Say gently to the children: "A great mediator helps people find their own solution - they don't impose one."
Step 10
Practice in triads; rotate roles.
PROGRESS INDICATORS
The child facilitates a complete peer mediation using all 5 steps.
The child remains neutral throughout even when one party's position is clearer.
The child reports one real informal mediation attempt this week.