Restorative Circles Lesson Plan 3: Restorative Justice and the Chips Scenario
Purpose and Objectives
Introduce restorative practices and key concepts, including: (1) many people are affected by our actions; (2) there are many ways in which people are affected; and (3) if we understand how people are affected we can figure out what needs to be done to makes things right.
Preparation and Materials
This lesson plan requires you to be prepared to tell a story that illustrates restorative practices. What is an experience you’ve had of how restorative practices have helped to make things right? Anyone who has used restorative practices many times will have some great stories to tell.
It’s completely possible to tell these stories in ways that preserve the anonymity of the participants, often by just changing some of the details to disguise the event. See this appendix for some true stories you can borrow. You can also search the internet to find more stories, using the search phrase “restorative justice stories.”
Post the circle guidelines. If your class has made a poster of agreements, post those also. You will need a talking piece for this lesson. You are encouraged to have materials to create a center for the circle.
You will be using the whiteboard extensively during this circle.
Check in Round
Move into the circle and set up the center.Pass the talking piece and invite students to respond to a check-in prompt.
Above: the chips scenario. Begin with the three circles representing the students in the scenario, tell the story, and ask: “Who is affected, and how?”
Typically the chart will become much more complex than the one shown here, with many more ideas about how people are affected.
Tell a story that illustrates restorative justice in action.
Explain the difference between punitive and restorative approaches. Draw a chart like the one below on the whiteboard to support your explanation.
Discussion With the chart visible to the class, ask these questions:
Instructions for the Chips Scenario
Modify the scenario as necessary to be relevant to the grade level and social situation of your students. Some classes have found this activity to be very helpful and have applied it to actual situations, using it as a form of peace-making in the classes whenever issues and conflict emerge, by charting maps of those who were affected, how, and what can be done to make things right.
Depending upon the grade level and the culture of your school and classroom, substitute any other item for chips. For example, cell phone or iPod.
Close the Circle
(With talking piece) “Share a few words about your experience of the circle today.”