Teacher Script: Be a B.R.A.V.E. Friend!

Introduction: What is Bullying? (5 minutes)

(Display Slide 1: What Is Bullying?)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something very important: how to be a truly great friend and make our school a safe place for everyone. To start, I want to hear from you. In your own words, what do you think bullying means? What does it look like?"

(Allow students to share ideas. Write keywords on the board. Guide them to a clear definition. Transition to the slide content.)

"That's right. Bullying is when someone hurts or scares another person on purpose, and it happens more than once. It's not just a one-time thing. It can be mean words, physical actions, leaving someone out, or even hurtful things online."

(Display Slide 2: Types of Bullying)

"Let's look at the different ways bullying can show up. We have verbal bullying, which is using mean words, physical bullying like pushing, social bullying where someone is left out, and cyberbullying, which happens online. Can anyone give an example of each type?"

(Allow students to share brief examples, clarifying as needed.)

(Display Slide 3: Impact of Bullying)

"Now, think about how it feels to be on the receiving end of these actions. How does bullying make people feel? What do you think happens to someone who is being bullied?"

(Discuss feelings like sadness, fear, loneliness, anger. Emphasize that it affects feelings, friendships, and schoolwork. Stress that everyone deserves to feel safe and happy.)

Introducing B.R.A.V.E. (10 minutes)

(Display Slide 4: Be A B.R.A.V.E. Friend!)

"Sometimes, seeing bullying can make us feel unsure of what to do. But today, we're going to learn a super powerful tool that will help us all know how to be a B.R.A.V.E. friend and stand up to bullying. We're going to learn the B.R.A.V.E. acronym."

"B.R.A.V.E. stands for: Be Brave, Report, Ask for Help, Voice Out, and Empathize. We'll go through each one."

(Display Slide 5: B - Be Brave)

"First, B is for Be Brave. Being brave doesn't mean you have to fight a bully. It means having the courage to do what's right, even when it feels a little scary. Ignoring bullying makes it worse. Even small acts of bravery can make a big difference, like telling an adult. Remember, it's not your fault if someone bullies you, and it's okay to need help."

"Can someone share a time when they had to be brave, even a little bit?"

(Allow a few students to share.)

(Display Slide 6: R - Report)

"Next, R is for Report. This is super important. If you see bullying, or if you are being bullied, you need to report it to a trusted adult. Who are some trusted adults you could talk to?"

(List student suggestions on the board: teacher, parent, counselor, principal, coach, etc.)

"Why is it important to report bullying? It's not tattling when someone is being hurt. Adults can help stop the bullying and keep everyone safe."

(Display Slide 7: A - Ask for Help)

"Then, A is for Ask for Help. You don't have to handle bullying alone. You can team up with friends or ask an adult to step in. It's perfectly okay to need help, and it shows strength to ask for it. Who could you ask for help if you were unsure what to do?"

(Discuss friends, other classmates, and various adults.)

(Display Slide 8: V - Voice Out)

"Our next letter is V for Voice Out. This means using your voice to tell the bully to stop. You don't need to yell, but you can use a strong, clear voice. Say simple, direct things like, 'Stop that,' or 'That's not kind.' If you see someone else being bullied, you can use your voice to speak up for them."

"Let's practice. In a clear, firm voice, everyone say, 'Stop that!' (Pause) Great! Now, 'That's not kind!' (Pause) Excellent!"

(Display Slide 9: E - Empathize)

"Finally, E is for Empathize. To empathize means to understand or share the feelings of another. Try to understand how the person being bullied feels. How would you feel if that happened to you? Showing kindness, even a friendly word, can make a huge difference. Be a true friend and support those who are being targeted."

"Why do you think empathy is so important when it comes to bullying?"

(Allow a few students to respond.)

B.R.A.V.E. Action Activity (Choice of Scenarios or Charades) (10 minutes)

"Alright, now that we know the B.R.A.V.E. steps, let's put them into action. We have two great ways to practice today, and you'll get to choose as a class, or I might choose for us!"

Option 1: B.R.A.V.E. Scenarios Activity (Small Group Discussion)

"One option is to work in small groups with our B.R.A.V.E. Scenarios Activity worksheet. Each group will read a scenario and discuss how they would use the B.R.A.V.E. steps to respond. Then we'll share our ideas as a class."

Option 2: B.R.A.V.E. Action Charades (Whole Class Game)

"Our other option is to play B.R.A.V.E. Action Charades! In this game, I have slips of paper with different bullying situations. One of you will pick a slip and silently act out how you would use one or more of the B.R.A.V.E. steps to respond. The rest of us will guess what B.R.A.V.E. action you're performing, and then we'll discuss it. It's a fun way to think about how we can be B.R.A.V.E. friends!"

(Teacher decides or facilitates a quick class vote on which activity to do. If choosing charades, proceed as follows; if choosing scenarios, revert to original script instructions for that section.)

(If playing B.R.A.V.E. Action Charades:)

"Let's get ready for B.R.A.V.E. Action Charades! Remember, when you come up, try to act out a B.R.A.V.E. step without talking. The rest of the class will guess. Let's start!"

(Facilitate the game, drawing scenarios and guiding discussion after each one, focusing on identifying the B.R.A.V.E. steps demonstrated and why they are effective responses. Play for about 7-8 minutes.)

Cool Down: My B.R.A.V.E. Commitment (5 minutes)

"You all did a fantastic job today. To wrap up, I want each of you to think about what we discussed and what it means to be a B.R.A.V.E. friend."

(Distribute Cool Down: My B.R.A.V.E. Commitment.)

"On this sheet, I want you to write down one way you will commit to being a B.R.A.V.E. friend in our classroom, at school, or even outside of school. It could be something you'll say, someone you'll talk to, or how you'll show kindness."

(Allow students a few minutes to write. Collect the cool-downs as an exit ticket.)

"Thank you all for being such thoughtful and brave learners today. Remember, we can all make a difference in stopping bullying by being B.R.A.V.E. friends!"

B.R.A.V.E. Scenarios Activity

Instructions: Read each scenario with your group. Discuss how you would use the B.R.A.V.E. steps (Be Brave, Report, Ask for Help, Voice Out, Empathize) to address the situation. Write down your group's plan for each scenario.

Scenario 1: Lunchtime Exclusion

During lunch, you see a new student sitting alone. A group of popular kids at another table are pointing and whispering about her, making her look sad. They even said, "No new kids allowed at our table!"

Your B.R.A.V.E. Plan:

B - Be Brave:

R - Report:

A - Ask for Help:

V - Voice Out:

E - Empathize:

Scenario 2: Online Taunting

You are playing an online game with some classmates. One classmate starts sending mean messages to another player in the chat, calling them names and telling them they are bad at the game. The other player looks like they are about to quit the game.

Your B.R.A.V.E. Plan:

B - Be Brave:

R - Report:

A - Ask for Help:

V - Voice Out:

E - Empathize:

Scenario 3: Hallway Harassment

As you walk down the hallway, you see an older student repeatedly tripping a younger student, making them drop their books. The younger student looks scared and embarrassed.

Your B.R.A.V.E. Plan:

B - Be Brave:

R - Report:

A - Ask for Help:

V - Voice Out:

E - Empathize:

B.R.A.V.E. Action Charades!

Goal: To creatively demonstrate understanding of the B.R.A.V.E. steps in various bullying scenarios.

Materials: Strips of paper with bullying scenarios, a hat or bag to draw from.

Instructions:

1. Preparation: The teacher will have prepared several strips of paper, each with a short bullying scenario (similar to the worksheet scenarios, but perhaps simpler for acting). Examples:
   • "Someone is calling a classmate mean names."
   • "You see a friend being pushed on the playground."
   • "A group of kids are leaving one student out of their game."
   • "Someone is spreading rumors about another student online."
   • "You hear someone threatening another student."
2. Divide into Teams (Optional): Students can play individually, in pairs, or in small teams if time allows.
3. Draw a Scenario: One student (or team representative) draws a scenario slip from a hat or bag.
4. Act it Out: The student(s) silently act out how they would use one or more of the B.R.A.V.E. steps to respond to the scenario. They can act out being Brave, Reporting, Asking for Help, Voicing Out, or Empathizing.
5. Guess the Action: The rest of the class guesses what B.R.A.V.E. action(s) are being performed and which B.R.A.V.E. letter it represents.
6. Discuss: After each round, briefly discuss:
   • What B.R.A.V.E. step(s) did you see?
   • Why is that a good way to respond?
   • What else could be done in this situation?

Teacher Tip: Emphasize that there isn't always one

Cool Down: My B.R.A.V.E. Commitment

Name: ________________________

Instructions: Think about everything we discussed today about being a B.R.A.V.E. friend. What is one way you will commit to using the B.R.A.V.E. steps to help stop bullying or support someone who is being bullied?

I commit to being a B.R.A.V.E. friend by:

What is one thing you learned today that you will remember?