Peer mediation role plays are the most important part of student mediation training. Beyond applying learned conflict resolution skills to real-world scenarios, role play forces mediation professionals to empathize with students outside their own demographic and situation.

They do not have to be complicated. The best peer mediation role plays situations are those already familiar to the students.

The following are ten possible scenarios:

1. Julie thinks Alice is using up too much space in the locker they share.
2. Mike and Tom have been assigned to work on a science project. Mike says he is doing all the work but Tom says Mike is too bossy.
3. Alice will not talk to Julie because she did not let Alice copy her science notes.
4. Mike says he accidentally made Tom drop his lunch tray but Tom says it was on purpose.
5. Julie has posted an embarrassing picture of Alice on her Facebook page.
6. Mike and Alice broke up but Mike refuses to stop texting her.
7. Julie says Tom called her a bad name but Tom says he was just joking.
8. Mike says he’s just joking when he hits Tom every time he sees him, but Tom says it really hurts.
9. When Julie returns a book Alice let her borrow, it’s damaged. Alice wants Julie to buy her a new one but Julie refuses because it was just an accident.
10. Julie feels excluded when Tom, Alice and Mike all go to the movies without her.

The above strategies include role-playing, problem-based learning and active- learning, which is why peer medaition role plays is a resourceful type of education.