The Young Peacemaker Teacher's Guide with CD
Peacemaker materials teach children how to prevent and resolve conflict in a constructive and Biblically faithful manner. Their method of resolution emphasizes principles of confession, forgiveness, and communication, each such a vital quality and the development of each a large stepping-stone to maturity.

This teacher's manual includes a printable CD with fully-illustrated student activity booklets. Each booklet corresponds to one of 12 lessons presented in The Young Peacemaker. These 10-page booklets have the look of a comic book. They are a little loud for our tastes, and some of the name-calling was new to us, but the realistic story-lines are engaging, and the practical applications are both Biblical and memorable. As reinforcements to the teacher's manual, you will find them very useful.

Although the material is designed for fourth through eighth grades, it has also been successfully used with pre-school and high-school students. Because there will always be conflict, the ability to resolve it is a skill that will last a lifetime. Endorsed by Tedd Tripp, author of Shepherding a Child's Heart.

We teach children math skills slowly and over time, one concept building upon another until they are prepared to balance their checkbook when they are adults. The Scripture tells us to teach our children Biblical truth in the same way, line upon line, day after day. The Young Peacemaker approaches the subject of resolving personal conflicts in this way; it teaches children the basics of solving people problems.

Our children are the future church, yet we recognize that because of our sinful nature our children will have conflicts with other believers that affect the life of the church. It is important for children to understand how to resolve conflict in Biblical ways. We cannot make our children into peacemakers (that is the work of the Spirit of God), but we can give them the necessary skills to resolve conflicts in their adult lives. Holding out for children the high standard of Scripture concerning relationships will point our children to their need for Christ.

This illustrated curriculum is designed to help you teach your children or students to respond to conflict properly, rather than allowing it to escalate sinfully. It addresses such questions as:

What is at the heart of conflict?

Is it possible to honor God in conflict?

How can I take responsibility for my part in a conflict?

How can I go and talk to someone if we are fighting?

How can we be friends again if there's a wall between us now?

Each Lesson has 6 sections:

1. Setting the Stage: lesson intro, review of previous lessons, discussion questions, illustrative story (the cartoon version is in the Student Activity Booklets)

2. The Lesson: Biblical principles of peacemaking, includes optional role play.

3. Wrapping it Up: an encouraging summary of lesson principles.

4. Activities and Personal Application

5. Dig into the Word: relevant Bible passages and applicable Bible stories.

6. Lesson Summary: memory verse, key principle and summary of main points.

The companion set of twelve Student Activity Booklets (included on CD) may be printed out and photocopied for teaching.