Language and critical thinking
Life skill related:
Collaboration
Methodology:
Tools for developing peer-to-peer restorative justice approaches
Text analysis
Text production
Subject:
Language
Age/Grade:
11- 14 years old
Timing:
120-240 minutes - at least in 2 meetings
Materials/suggestions
Materials Needed:
Literary texts (poems, short stories, excerpts from novels) For example, "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare is suggested in the example. In general, choose appropriate texts that can stimulate discussion on themes of conflict and interpersonal relationships. For instance, you could select an excerpt from a novel, a poem, or a short story that presents a significant conflict between characters.
Italian Literature
Text: "Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi
Description: This classic tale follows the adventures of Pinocchio, a wooden puppet who dreams of becoming a real boy. The story addresses themes of honesty, responsibility, and the consequences of one's actions.
Activity: Focus on the conflicts Pinocchio faces due to his decisions and interactions with characters like Geppetto, the Blue Fairy, and the Fox and the Cat. Discuss how Pinocchio learns from his mistakes and apply peer restorative justice principles to explore how misunderstandings and conflicts can be resolved.
Romanian Literature
Text: "The Story of the Pig" (Povestea Porcului) by Ion Creangă
Description: This folktale tells the story of a poor man and his magical pig that can transform into a young man. The story touches on themes of kindness, bravery, and the rewards of good deeds.
Activity: Discuss the various conflicts and resolutions within the story, focusing on how characters resolve their differences. Use restorative justice principles to explore alternative ways conflicts could be handled to promote understanding and cooperation.
Greek Literature
Text: "The Adventures of Odysseus" (Adapted versions of Homer's "Odyssey")
Description: Simplified and adapted versions of "The Odyssey" tell the story of Odysseus' long journey home after the Trojan War, highlighting his cleverness and perseverance in overcoming obstacles and conflicts.
Activity: Focus on the conflicts Odysseus encounters, such as with the Cyclops, the Sirens, and the suitors in Ithaca. Discuss the different ways Odysseus resolves these conflicts and apply restorative justice principles to imagine peaceful resolutions and mutual understanding.
Serbian Literature
Text: "Stribor's Forest" (Šuma Striborova) by Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić
Description: This fairy tale, part of the book "Croatian Tales of Long Ago," is about a young man who, bewitched by a snake-woman, returns to his village with her, only to face various trials and conflicts.
Activity: Analyze the conflicts between the young man, his mother, and the snake-woman. Discuss the lessons learned and apply restorative justice principles to explore how the characters could better understand and resolve their differences.
Sheets of paper and pens
Guides for the development of peer restorative justice approaches
Description of the activity:
Lesson 1: Critical Analysis of Literary Texts
Warm-up Activity (15 minutes):
The activity begins with a brief discussion on the concepts of critical thinking and peer restorative justice. During the brief discussion, present hypothetical cases of peer conflicts. For example, discuss situations where a classmate unintentionally damaged another student's property. Students can explore together possible solutions to address the conflict fairly and respectfully. GUIDE 1
Reading and Analysis (20 minutes):
At the start of the activity, introduce the literary texts that you will analyze. In the example provided, "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare is used.
Students read and critically analyze an assigned literary text, identifying themes, characters, and implicit messages. They use guides for the development of peer restorative justice approaches to examine conflicts and relational dynamics present in the text.
For this activity, divide the class into small groups to enhance their ability to work collaboratively. GUIDE 2
Discussion and Reflection (25 minutes):
During the class discussion using the guides for the development of peer restorative justice approaches, students examine how characters in the text address conflicts. For example, they can focus on the conflict between the rival families, the Montagues and Capulets, and explore possible solutions to the conflict that leads to the tragic end of the protagonists. Alternatively, they could reflect on how misunderstanding and hatred between the two families could be addressed more fairly using principles of peer restorative justice, seeking ways to promote mutual understanding and reconciliation between the conflicting factions. GUIDE 3
Lesson 2: Textual Production and Practical Application
Review Activity (10 minutes):
Review key concepts covered in the previous lesson: critical thinking, peer restorative justice, and critical analysis of literary texts.
Textual Production (25 minutes):
Students (individually or in small groups) write a short text (story, poem, etc.) based on the themes and characters discussed in the previous lesson. They must integrate peer restorative justice approaches into their text.
Sharing and Feedback (25 minutes):
Students read their work aloud and receive feedback from their classmates using the guide for the development of peer restorative justice approaches used previously. Discuss strengths and areas for improvement in their texts.
Evaluation:
Assessment will be based on active participation in class discussions, the quality of critical analysis of literary texts, and the creativity and originality of the texts produced. Additionally, students' ability to apply peer restorative justice approaches in their written work will be evaluated.
Final Notes:
This integrated activity aims to develop students' language skills through critical analysis of literary texts while simultaneously promoting critical thinking and the ability to resolve conflicts constructively through peer restorative justice approaches. The combination of these skills fosters the development of critical and aware citizens capable of understanding and effectively responding to relational and social dynamics.
According to the class group, it could also be possible to anticipate the topic in different ways: reading the book in advance, listening to podcasts, going to the theater, etc.
__________________________________________________
GUIDE 1
Warm-up Activity Guide (15 minutes):
Introduction to Concepts (5 minutes):
Start the activity by briefly introducing the concepts of critical thinking and peer restorative justice.
Explain that critical thinking involves carefully examining a problem, considering different perspectives, and making informed decisions.
Define peer restorative justice as an approach aimed at resolving conflicts fairly, involving dialogue and mutual understanding.
Group Discussion Activity (10 minutes):
Divide the class into groups of 3-4 students each.
Assign each group a hypothetical case of peer conflict. Use realistic scenarios that could occur among students, such as accidental damage to property. Another option could be to use scenarios from the text that was chosen, like in this case different relations between the protagonists of “Romeo and Juliet”.
Students should discuss the following questions within their groups:
What is the conflict in this scenario?
Who are the people involved and what are their viewpoints?
What are the underlying causes of the conflict?
What could be balanced and respectful solutions to resolve the conflict?
GUIDE 2
Reading and Analysis of "Romeo and Juliet" (30 minutes):
Introduction to the Text (10 minutes):
Briefly present the play "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare.
Discuss the central themes of love, rivalry, and tragedy present in the text.
Emphasize the importance of relational dynamics and conflicts between the main characters.
Group Division and Role Assignment (5 minutes):
Divide the class into groups of 3-4 students each.
Assign each group a specific aspect of the text to focus on during the analysis, such as:
Conflicts between the rival families (Montagues and Capulets)
The relationship between Romeo and Juliet
The role of Mercutio in the conflicts
Reading the Text (15 minutes):
Students read the assigned excerpt or a significant passage from "Romeo and Juliet."
During the reading, they should note the main themes, the characters involved, and the critical points of the conflict.
GUIDE 3
Guide for the Development of Peer Restorative Justice Approaches:
Identification of the Conflict: Describe the main conflict in the text.
Analysis of Perspectives: Explore the different perspectives of the characters involved in the conflict. What do they think and feel?
Recognition of Responsibilities: Determine the responsibilities of each character in the conflict. Who has been harmed and who caused the problem?
Generation of Solutions: Brainstorm possible solutions that promote mutual understanding and peaceful resolution of conflicts between the characters.
Implementation: Decide which solution might be most effective in the context of the text and how it could be implemented.
Reflection: Reflect on the consequences of the characters' actions and the effectiveness of the proposed solutions