Teachers love to develop creative lessons and inspire students to love learning. Additionally, they love to design classroom routines and expectations that focus on positivity and kindness. However, one aspect that teachers do not enjoy involves settling fights and arguments between students. Teachers want all students to feel welcome and a part of the classroom community.
Thankfully, there are ways to show students the importance of working out differences and understanding the importance of respect. For instance, conflict resolution with Enemy Pie is the perfect way to show how impactful being kind is!
This amazing story and the Read-Aloud Activities will inspire students to focus on friendship and kindness!
Enemy Pie
Author Derek Munson and illustrator Tara Calahan King created a book focusing on kindness, courtesy, respect, and friendship!
One little boy is ready for the perfect summer. Sadly, his exciting plans change when Jeremy Ross, an enemy, moves down the street. However, the little boy remembers how to get rid of enemies based on a recipe for success from his father. For instance, one ingredient involves playing with the enemy for an entire day! Honestly, this little boy provides so much inspiration for making friends and handling conflict. Readers will love to see how an enemy became a best friend by realizing the importance of kindness!
Enemy Pie Read Aloud Activities
Students spend so much time in the classroom. Thus, it is almost unavoidable that conflicts will happen at some point. This may be arguing over the last swing or feeling left out of a group. Therefore, students must know how to handle conflict in appropriate ways. If not, they may react with their fists and further escalate the problem at hand.
Incorporating conflict resolution with Enemy Pie is easy with the teacher guide. It outlines the lessons for teachers and provides the purpose of the reading for students. Additionally, it includes essential vocabulary words to review with students.
Students need to discuss what it means to be in conflict with someone. Ultimately, they need to understand that conflict occurs in different ways. For instance, it may be yelling and shouting, or it may be tears and shutting down. To help students truly understand, there are talking points and higher-level thinking questions. This prompting will help students open up about conflict while focusing on resolution. There are even page numbers on the talking points for teachers to know where to stop.
When working on conflict resolution with Enemy Pie, it will be necessary for students to connect with the text. When they do, they will build their knowledge of this skill much deeper. Thankfully, there are written response and activity sheets to ensure students understand the importance of conflict resolution. There are even multiple options for differentiation!
Furthermore, there is hands-on craftivity! Students will love how the craft connects the story to students’ lives.
Application
Teachers always hope that students take the material taught in the classroom and apply it to life outside school. Thankfully, there are task cards that provide scenarios and thought-provoking questions to help with conflict resolution. Students will be grateful to work through different scenarios when discussing as a whole class or in small groups. Honestly, this is a great way to help ensure they are ready to react appropriately should the situation arise.
A school year often goes smoothly when teachers and students enjoy being in the classroom. A huge part of enjoyment involves getting along with each other and always feeling supported. Thus, students will love working on conflict resolution with Enemy Pie. With the book and Read Aloud Activities, students will love having the skills to work out any differences.
Free Read Aloud Lesson
Would you like to try out an interactive read aloud lesson? You can grab this free lesson plan for Jabari Jumps to share with your students. This free download focuses on helping students overcome challenges. Each lesson includes discussion questions and activities to do with the book. Just fill out the form below and it will be delivered straight to your inbox!
Save This Read Aloud Lesson
Be sure to save this pin to your favorite read alouds board on Pinterest! You’ll be able to come back to this lesson plan when you are ready to read it aloud with your students.
