Lessons for Teaching At-Risk Teens About Violence and Conflict

  1. Understanding the Nature of Violence: Teach at-risk teens to recognize the different forms of violence, including physical and emotional and how it affects them, their families, and communities.
       
  2. Causes of Violence and Conflict: Learn the factors that contribute to conflict such as inequality, injustice, discrimination. Encourage the at-risk teens to think and discuss this in an interactive group setting.
       
  3. Conflict Resolution: How to resolve conflicts without fighting through group discussion, negotiation, calmness and understanding differences.
       
  4. Critical Thinking: Have the youth learn ways movies, video and computer games sell violence and conflict to at-risk youth. Understand the best ways to deal with authority figures like the police, teachers and parents. Equip at risk teens with the tools to evaluate information and media messages related to violence and conflict.

  “Nothing Good Ever Comes of Violence”

   

Use the following discussion questions with the at-risk youth you work with to learn a little about how they handle their anger.

  1. Do you ever get angry?
       
  2. What makes you angry?
       
  3. List healthy ways you know of that people can handle and let go of anger.
       
  4. Many people believe that violent TV shows and movies can influence how people handle their own problems. Do you think this is true?

 

ARISE Foundation offers its curriculum titled Violence and Conflict to provide activities to help teach the crucial lessons above.

Work In Progress Book 4: Violence and Conflict