NEW YORK -- College students are teaching elementary school kids about different ways to approach conflict in their lives.

In a program called Peace by Peace, instructors from Columbia University try to help fourth-graders learn that solving problems can sometimes be fun.

"They usually teach us stuff from games, which is really cool," said 9-year-old Hallie Waletzko. "There was this one thing -- we had a suitcase and there were two people, and we going to the moon. But we could only pack six things, and it was really hard to come up with stuff we both liked."

NewsChannel 4 observed the program at the Mott Hall School, during which the volunteers had the kids create a puzzle. The idea was to help children understand what causes conflict and give them the tools to deal with it.

Another benefit is that by working with the college students, youngsters get to see role models who care about them.

"This is a beautiful approach that's saying, 'Hey guys, just look at how you feel and think about it, and consider it when you do everything you do,'" said Ayisha Neogi, a Columbia student.

Part of that is teaching the children about their responsibilities to their peers.

"Bullying is not right," said 9-year-old Laramur Fondeur. "When you see someone bullying another person, you shouldn't act like an innocent bystander. You should tell someone. Tell the teacher."

Philip Scharper, the assistant principal at Mott Hall, said the program was making a difference.

"The students are able to think before they react, and in many cases avoid reactions," he said. "And they're able to talk about their emotions more freely, I believe, than had they not been given this exposure. I think that's important for them as a life skill."