Zax are terrible role models for how to solve conflicts! But their story, “The Zax,” by Dr. Seuss, is a great way to start a discussion about conflict resolution. The zax are two single-minded characters, one who wants to go north, and the other who wants to go south. When they meet face-to-face on the north-south path, neither one will budge. At all. Ever. End of story.
I use “The Zax” to introduce my conflict resolution unit because it perfectly illustrates what happens when you don’t use conflict resolution strategies. (I use it in third grade, but it would work at many grade levels, as well as individual and group counseling sessions.) “The Zax” can be found in The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss.( I adapted this lesson from one in the wonderful, but apparently out of print book, Teaching Conflict Resolution Through Children’s Literature by William J. Kreidler.) This lesson takes 30 minutes.
1. If this is the first time you will be teaching these students about conflict: Begin by asking students to share what they think conflict means. Many will probably say “an argument” or “a fight.” Respond by saying, “Sometimes a conflict can cause ____________ (a fight/argument/etc.) Tell them that you and their teacher had a conflict recently (I usually tell them that I wanted to teach their class at one time but the teacher wanted me to do it at another time.) Ask if they think the two of you yelled, slammed the door, or showed any other “fighting” behavior. Then ask how they think you did solve it.
If you have previously taught these students about conflict: Review what students already know. I start by asking students to recall what they learned about conflict in second grade. My curriculum spirals through the grade levels, and I use consistent language with visuals, so generally almost everyone remembers:
Conflict = Disagreement
The Trick Question about conflict:
- Is conflict good or bad? (Neither. Conflicts just happen. They are part of life.)
- What could be good or bad? (The choices we make.)
When conflict gets worse we say it __________. (escalates)
When conflict gets better we say it __________. (de-escalates)
2. Go over rules/expectations for solving conflicts. Ask students why each rule is necessary if you want to solve a conflict. I use rules from a Peace Education Foundation poster that is no longer available (they have others that are close, but I still like these).
- We find out what the problem is.
- We attack the problem, not the person.
- We listen to each other.
- We care about each others’ feelings.
- We are responsible for what we say and do.
Here is a similar poster that I use with fourth and fifth grades. (I go over the fouls in the next lesson, when we talk about what causes conflict to escalate.)
3. Read “The Zax.” Before you read, ask kids to notice when the zax are following or not following the rules. The kids will be surprised when the story ends, because there is no resolution. The zax just stand there unhappily-ever-after, continuing their argument, even when an entire city grows up — and highways are rerouted — around them.
4. Discuss: What did each of the zax want? What was the conflict? Did they get what they wanted? What made the conflict worse? Which rules didn’t the zax follow? How could following the rules have helped?
5. Have two kids at a time come to the front of the room to show how the zax could have solved their conflict. Kids should stand face-to-face, talk with each other about how they want to resolve the conflict, then act out their resolution. Options could include: going around each other, leapfrogging, sidling by each other, one stepping aside for the other, both going in one direction together, each going back the way they came, going east and west instead, etc. Point out how kids are following the conflict resolution rules while they are figuring out what to do.
Kids love this lesson! The story is great, the ending shocking, and the active problem-solving at the end is engaging and fun. What would make it even better? A cool Zax shirt, like the one Marissa at Elementary School Counseling made for Dr. Seuss’ birthday. I am on a mission to find someone to help me make one make one for me!
Oooo, I have that collection and can’t wait to check out this story. Have you seen the Robin Williams’ Sesame Street clip on Conflict? Look it up on You Tube – it’d be the perfect complement to your engaging lesson!
Very nice! I will definitely use this lesson.
I might create a stencil or a pattern to trace so that other people can make their own shirts. That might be more of a summer project, though! Once I make them, I can post the patterns on my website.
I might use this idea during a staff development for our district faculty! I need to address conflict resolution and this might be a light-hearted, yet effective, way to open discussion. Thanks for a great website!
You can use a Sulky iron-on transfer pen to trace a coloring page of the Zax characters and then use fabric paint to color them in. The Sulky pens can be used with regular white paper and only the ink transfers when you iron it on. I’ve done if for other story books. Just remember it is a mirror image, so you need words backwards.
Thank you so much for this great idea, Carolyn!
This is a wonderful and fun way to present conflict resolution. I will definitely use it!!
Thanks for the lesson idea. This could be combined with an idea from ABC Conflict Resolution (I think that’s the name of the book – if it’s not, I’ll post the correct name when I find the book), the Conflict Escalator – a great visual. Draw a set of steps; as you read the story, draw on each step what each character does to escalate the conflict. Discuss what happens when characters continue to escalate, and discuss what each character could have done at each step on the escalator to de-escalate.
I love using the conflict escalator visual too. I introduce it in 2nd grade and have kids map out the steps that escalate a different conflict in a 3rd grade lesson that follows this one. It would work really well with The Zax too! Adults are always impressed when the kids talk about how they escalated or de-escalated the conflicts they were involved with.
I just double checked the name of the book that I mistakenly called “ABC Conflict Resolution”. The name of the book is Teaching Conflict Resolution Through Children’s Literature by William J. Kreidler. I hate to hear that it’s out of print. This book is where I got the conflict escalator idea – probably the most helpful conflict resolution tool I have ever used.
I use the conflict escalator with the kids too, from that same book, and I agree with you that it’s been incredibly helpful. The kids constantly use the terms “escalate” and “de-escalate” when talking about behavior. I just can’t believe the book is out of print – it’s such a terrific resource, probably one of my all-time favorites!
Rebecca
Thanks! This is JUST what I was looking for!
Hello! I am in my first year as an elementary school counselor, coming from a middle school, and I am always looking at your blog for new ideas for lessons. I came across this post and decided to try using this lesson with 5th graders. I was nervous about using it with the older kids, but they are LOVING it!! I actually don’t have the book, so I am showing the video instead. At the end of the lesson, I am actually having the students work in pairs to create mini skits about how they would have solved the conflict if they were the Zax, and it’s working wonderfully. The kids have gotten so creative with it!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
That’s great to hear! I love to see how much older kids often respond to “little kid” books and stories – even though the story is brief and simple, they provide a springboard for some good, deep thinking. I bet the skits were fun to see! I’m glad it was helpful for you.
Rebecca
Great lesson about the Zax! Just to share…. there is an animated and narrated version of The Zax on youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MVdgz2ghhw. There are some minor changes from the book, but it makes the content accessible to even younger students too!