Knife crime: living peacefully and avoiding conflict
Discuss how we can deal with challenges and build peaceful communities.
Age:
11-16
Subjects:
PSHE, Tutor time
Topics:
Newsthink, Conflict
Type:
Lesson plan
In November 2018, the news reported on a number of fatal knife attacks in London and this raised concerns about violence among young people in particular. This activity explores areas of conflict in the learners’ own lives, and how we can live peacefully together and contribute to building peaceful communities.
Note: some learners may have been affected by this topic and it could be upsetting for some young people. Please refer to our guidance on creating a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment before teaching this topic.
Resource overview
1. Reading activity: Thinking about knife crime
Read a news article about recent attacks and invite initial thoughts on the topic.
2. Discussion: Peace circle
Create a peace circle and consider possible sources of conflict in learners’ lives and peaceful solutions.
3. Discussion: Peaceful communities
Discuss what a peaceful community might look like, what people might do differently, and what the learners’ roles in contributing to this could be.
Credits
This resource was written by Rob Bowden and Rosie Wilson of Lifeworlds Learning and published in November 2018.
Image of the ‘do not cross’ police cordon © undefined undefine/iStock.
Downloads
- Knife Crime: Living Peacefully and Avoiding Conflict - Session Plan (File format: VND.OPENXMLFORMATS-OFFICEDOCUMENT.WORDPROCESSINGML.DOCUMENT, File size: 576.9 KB)
- Knife Crime: Living Peacefully and Avoiding Conflict - PowerPoint (File format: VND.OPENXMLFORMATS-OFFICEDOCUMENT.PRESENTATIONML.PRESENTATION, File size: 63.8 KB)
Related teaching resources
An increase in knife crime
Discuss how to defuse tension and avoid conflict, and the first aid for someone with a heavy bleed.
Teach first aid
Curriculum information and free resources to teach life-saving first aid skills to students and test their knowledge. Also available in Welsh.
Defusing conflict
A guide for teachers on how to defuse tension and reduce conflict in difficult situations, with an activity idea for learners (suitable for learners aged 11 to 16)
How to talk to children and young people about conflict
Our guide will give you confidence to discuss conflict with school aged children, using an impartial and neutral humanitarian approach.