Conflict and Resolution

Overview

Unit: Exploring Literature and Themes
Lesson: 7 of 14
Duration: 50 minutes
Class: Year 9 (ages 13–14)
Class size: 30 students

National Curriculum Links (English, KS3)

**Reading: Understand increasingly challenging texts through:
- Identifying and exploring explicit and implicit meanings.**
Reading: Analyse how language, structure, and form contribute to writers’ presentation of ideas, themes, and settings.
Writing: Develop creative responses and express preferences supported by textual references.
Spoken Language: Use spoken language to articulate and develop understanding, expressing ideas clearly and creatively.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

Identify the theme of conflict and resolution within a dramatic text. (NC KS3 Reading and Comprehension)
Analyse how conflict drives narrative tension and how resolution provides closure. (NC KS3 Language and Structural Analysis)
Evaluate a character’s role in escalating or resolving conflict, using textual evidence. (NC KS3 Critical Response)
Express their own interpretation through discussion and creative writing. (NC KS3 Speaking and Writing)

Key Vocabulary

Conflict
Resolution
Dramatic tension
Protagonist / Antagonist
Climax
Denouement
Theme
Narrative arc

Resources

Extracts from an age-appropriate play with clear conflict-resolution elements (e.g., An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley or Blood Brothers by Willy Russell)
Whiteboard and markers
Worksheets with guided questions
Drama props/cards for role-play activity
Sentence starters for creative writing task

Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Objective: Activate prior knowledge of conflict and resolution in stories.

Brief whole-class brainstorm: What do conflict and resolution mean in drama?
Teacher writes key ideas/words on the board.
Quick pair-share: Think of an example of conflict and how it was resolved in a story/film they know.

2. Introduction to Theme in Drama (10 minutes)

Objective: Develop understanding of the theme of conflict and resolution in drama.

Teacher defines ‘conflict’ and ‘resolution’ within a dramatic narrative, referencing the narrative arc.
Use a visual diagram on the board highlighting rising action, climax (conflict), falling action, and resolution.
Highlight and read aloud a short dramatic extract showing a clear conflict.
Discuss initial impressions: What is the conflict? Who is involved?

3. Group Analysis Activity (15 minutes)

Objective: Analyse how conflict and resolution are constructed through character and dialogue.

Class splits into 6 groups of 5. Each group receives a different brief extract from the chosen play.
Task: Identify the nature of the conflict, the characters involved, and how it propels the drama forward.
Each group considers: How might this conflict be resolved later? What effect does this have on the audience?
Groups jot down their ideas on the worksheet and prepare a 2-minute feedback to the class.
Teacher circulates to support, scaffold analysis with probing questions.

4. Role-Play: Exploring Perspectives (10 minutes)

Objective: Deepen understanding through active exploration of conflict and resolution.

Groups assign roles from their extracts (e.g., protagonist, antagonist, neutral).
Role-play the key conflict scene using drama cards with prompts for emotions and motivations.
After the role-play, each group discusses:
- How did the characters’ motivations create conflict?
- What actions could lead to a resolution?
Selected groups present a short performance or explanation of what they discovered.

5. Creative Writing Extension (8 minutes)

Objective: Apply understanding by creatively imagining a resolution.

Individually, pupils write a short paragraph continuing from the conflict in their group’s extract, imagining a plausible resolution.
Provide sentence starters, e.g., “After the heated argument, [character] decided to…”
Encourage use of descriptive language and clear narrative progression.

6. Plenary & Assessment (2 minutes)

Objective: Reflect on learning and check understanding.

Quick round-robin: Each pupil shares one word or phrase that summarises their understanding of conflict and resolution.
Teacher collects one key insight from a few pupils verbally or on mini whiteboards.
Set homework: Read the next extract of the play and note any new conflicts introduced.

Assessment

Formative assessment through observation during group work and role-play.
Worksheet responses analysed for understanding of conflict and resolution.
Creative writing piece assessed for narrative coherence and thematic engagement aligned with NC writing standards.
Spoken contributions monitored for clarity and development of ideas.

Differentiation

Support: Sentence starters; group roles matched to ability; scaffolding questions; peer support.
Challenge: Encourage creating alternative endings; higher-order analysis of dramatic techniques; justification with quotations.

Cross-Curricular Links

Drama: Role-play and performance skills
PSHE: Understanding conflict resolution strategies applicable to real-life situations

Teacher Reflection Notes

Note student engagement with role-play — did it enhance empathy and understanding of character motivations?
Observe which extracts prompted the most discussion; consider for deeper follow-up in future lessons.
Reflect on pacing to ensure full coverage within 50 minutes without rushing final plenary and writing stages.

This lesson plan delivers a dynamic, interactive approach to analysing drama themes in line with the National Curriculum (England, KS3), inspiring pupils to think critically about conflict and resolution in literature and beyond.

Teaching Instructions