Expressive Arts Programs
Arts are a vital complement to conflict resolution skill-building. When we couple arts activities with discussions that build conflict resolution skills, the skills can be more tangible and reflection can deepen. These third graders explored anger when upset feelings weren’t actually erupting; they used writing to befriend anger. Students tried out new ideas: that anger sends a message that we can pay attention to, and that we can learn to express anger’s message constructively. By interlacing the lesson with songs and creative writing, the skills themselves were anchored in a multi-faceted way.
Expressive arts include a panoply of activities like drama, dance, musical theatre, graphic art, visual art, performance art; music, and creative writing to name the most common forms. All of these artistic endeavors offer opportunities for conflict discovery – a process of reflection and increasing awareness about one’s orientations to and reactions to conflict.
Art has the power to connect people and build community. In addition to developing an affirmative classroom climate, activities with music, storytelling, creative movement, poetry, and dramatics can help students gain deeper understanding of social situations, reinforce important social messages, and provide direct opportunities to practice skills relating to conflict resolution. Assignments in drawing, painting, and sculpting, as well, can be structured to explore the dynamics of relationships. Over the past two decades, in particular, songwriters, poets, and conflict resolution trainers have been devising new material to explore peace building creatively.
Videos of Possible Interest
- PeaceJam Juniors
- Lions International Peace Poster Contest
- Another Bully Busters Song
- Conflict Resolution Educational Gaming: Behind the Scenes with Cool School and Harmony Island
- Restorative Justice Arts Initiative
- Ring the Bells music video
- Recess Redone – The Power of Play
- Conflict Resolution Flashmob dances to “We Can Work it Out”
- In a Responsive Classroom
- Kids rap – conflict resolution and respect
- Playing and Practicing Peace in Baltimore
- Peer Mediators as Change Writers
- Talk It Out – Bronx Intl High School Peer Mediator Music Video
- In the Harmony
- Inspirational Quote from Bill Kreidler
See MORE VIDEOS...
Sample Catalog Resources
Below you'll find a randomized listing of up to 20 related items (we may have more...) drawn from our Resource Catalog.
Resource Title | Description | Links |
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Name that emotion | Word document that presents an exercise to identify emotions as people act them out without words or sound. | |
Peace new birth, number 3 | Newsletter of the Peace Education Centers of Armenis - Peace new birth, number 3 | |
Bridging the Fields of Drama and Conflict Management | This 450-page manuscript reports on the findings of an interdisciplinary and comparative action research project aimed at improving conflict handling among adolescent school children by using the medium of educational drama. Teams worked with youth in Australia, Malaysia and Sweden. In addition to field reports and an extensive theory review, the book includes an appendix with descriptions of all the drama exercises used in DRACON. | |
Peace new birth, number 6 | Newsletter of the Peace Education Centers of Armenis - Peace new birth, number 6 | |
Participatory Theatre for Conflict Transformation Training Manual | Participatory Theatre for Conflict Transformation is a way for artists to apply their creative energy to the cause of lasting peace. This 50-page manual, developed by Search for Common Ground while working in the Democratic Republic of Congo, provides background information on the use of participatory theatre as well as workshop and presentation strategies honed in more than 600 performances in front of more than 500,000 spectators. | |
Interpersonal skills for dealing with conflict: Respect and support in action | Powerpoint presentation introducing interpersonal skills proven successful in dealing with conflict. | |
Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders Who are Changing Our World | The Speak Truth To Power curriculum (296 page PDF) introduces general human rights issues through the stories of some remarkable people working in the field, and urges students to become personally involved in the protection of human rights. The curriculum is based on a book written by Kerry Kennedy that lead to a dramatic production by Ariel Dorfman (the play script is included in the curriculum). It is illustrated with a series of photographic portraits of huma... | |
Nonviolence playlets | 25-page MS Word document providing examples of nonviolence in action. "These short playlets are intended to dramatically reconstruct actual experiences in which nonviolent direct action has been used, successfully, to overcome violence." Designed for use with youth of different ages. | |
Peace new birth, number 5 | Newsletter of the Peace Education Centers of Armenis - Peace new birth, number 5 | |
Peace new birth, number 8 | Newsletter of the Peace Education Centers of Armenis - Peace new birth, number 8 | |
For the Sake of Children: Peacebuilding Storytelling Guide | Online version of a book of story-based activities focused on promoting peace awareness in young people. "The intention of the peace-building stories and activities presented in this book is for any person involved with children, whether a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, a child-care worker, or a health care professional, to ignite children’s imaginations and expand their understandings about peace and how it can be created and become an active part of t... | |
Conflict styles | Powerpoint presentation which defines conflict style, outlines two key dimensions of conflict style, (concern for self and concern for others) and discusses verbal styles of avoidance, competition and compromise. | |
Core nonverbal communication concepts | Twenty-six page training packet exploring nonverbal communication. | |
An Integrated Primary Peace Curriculum: A Beginning | This resource package includes integrated primary peace education activities and worksheets related to language arts, literature, math, science, social studies, art, music and drama plus ideas for peace themed presentations and multicultural activities. Peace education web sites are also listed. | |
Role play for nonverbal involvement activity | Word document presenting a role play exercise in nonverbal communication. | |
Bug board | Pdf document for teachers of young students (K-3) to help them identify and deal positively with angry feelings. | |
Youth Video Production Guide | This 4-part video guide was put together for United Religions Initiative (URI) Youth Ambassadors by URI Young Leaders Program Steering Committee member, Matthew Youde, from Wales, UK, who is also a filmmaker. He advises on how to produce a number of different videos, from video-diaries to news clips to interviews; how to plan and film different kinds of videos; and special tips for filming interviews. | |
2010-2011 Playworks Playbook | Playworks is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play. The Playbook, a 390-page pdf, provides full descriptions of games and activities appropriate for K-5 school children. They are organized in the following categories: Ice Breakers; Readiness Games; Tag Games; Cooperative Games; Core Playground Games and Sp... | |
Spatial invasion | Word document with role play to emphasize personal space and boundaries. | |
Nonverbal communication and conflict: It's not what you say that counts | Powerpoint presentation exploring nonverbal communication and conflict for children. Introduces PIE in the SKY idea, which stands for Sending and receiving messages of Power, Involvement, and Emotion: Skills and Knowledge for our Youth. |