Be a BRAVE Upstander! Script

Part 1: Classroom Presentation (20 minutes)

Warm-Up & Introduction (5 minutes)

(Display Presentation Slide Deck - Slide 1: "Be a BRAVE Upstander!")

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something really important, especially since October is Bully Prevention Month. Our goal is to make our school a place where everyone feels safe, respected, and happy. We're going to learn about being a BRAVE Upstander!"

"Look at our title slide – 'Be a friend, Report it, Ask for help, Voice your opinion, Encourage others.' These are powerful actions we can all take. Before we dive in, what comes to your mind when you hear the word 'bullying'? What about an 'upstander'?"

(Allow 1-2 minutes for student responses, use Discussion Prompts as needed)

Understanding Bullying & Upstanding (10 minutes)

(Display Presentation Slide Deck - Slide 2: "What is Bullying?")

"Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Let's make sure we all have a clear understanding. Bullying isn't just a one-time thing. It's when someone repeatedly uses their power, or perceived power, to intentionally hurt or upset someone else. This can be in many ways: verbal, social, physical, or even online, which we call cyberbullying."

(Briefly explain each type of bullying as shown on the slide.)

(Display Presentation Slide Deck - Slide 3: "The Impact of Bullying")

"Bullying isn't just words or actions; it has a real impact. It can make someone feel sad, angry, scared, or even alone. And it doesn't just affect the person being bullied – it affects the person doing the bullying, and everyone who sees it happen. It impacts our whole school community. We want everyone to feel safe and welcome here."

(Display Presentation Slide Deck - Slide 4: "Bystander vs. Upstander")

"This brings us to two important words: bystander and upstander. A bystander is someone who sees bullying happening but doesn't do anything. An upstander, on the other hand, is someone who sees bullying and takes action to help. Which one do you want to be? You have the power to make a difference!"

"Let's explore what it means to be a BRAVE upstander. These are the five key ways you can stand up against bullying."

(Display Presentation Slide Deck - Slide 5: "What does BRAVE mean?")

"Be a friend: This means offering support to someone who is being targeted, or including someone who is being excluded. A simple 'Are you okay?' can go a long way."

"Report it: If you see bullying, tell a trusted adult. That could be me, another teacher, a counselor, a parent, or anyone you trust. Reporting isn't 'tattling'; it's keeping someone safe."

"Ask for help: Sometimes, you need to get an adult involved right away. Don't try to handle it alone if it feels unsafe."

"Voice your opinion: If it's safe to do so, you can directly tell the person bullying to 'Stop!' or 'That's not cool.' Your voice has power."

"Encourage others: When you see bullying, it can feel scary to speak up alone. But if you and a friend both speak up, or if you encourage a friend to get help, it's more powerful."

"Now, let's practice! I'm going to give your small groups some Bullying Scenarios Activity Cards. Discuss how a BRAVE upstander would respond in each situation. Think about which of the BRAVE actions you would use."

(Distribute Bullying Scenarios Activity Cards and allow 5 minutes for group discussion. Circulate and guide discussions. Bring groups back together to share 2-3 examples.)

The Power of Kindness (5 minutes)

(Display Presentation Slide Deck - Slide 6: "The Power of Kindness")

"Beyond stopping bullying, we can also prevent it by actively spreading kindness. Kindness isn't just about being nice; it's about making a conscious effort to create a positive and respectful environment. It builds stronger friendships, makes our school a welcoming place, and helps everyone feel valued. When we're kind, there's less room for bullying to grow."

"I'm going to hand out a "Kindness Pledge" Worksheet. On this worksheet, I want you to think of one specific act of kindness you can commit to doing, either today or this week, to make our school a better place. It can be big or small!"

(Distribute "Kindness Pledge" Worksheet and allow 2-3 minutes for students to write. Collect the worksheets.)

"Excellent! Now, for the second part of our lesson today, we're all heading to the auditorium for a school-wide rally! We'll bring these pledges with us and do a fun activity together to celebrate being Upstanders!"

Part 2: School-Wide Upstander Rally (45 minutes)

Rally Opening & Review (10 minutes)

(In Auditorium, display Presentation Slide Deck - Slide 1: "Be a BRAVE Upstander!")

"Welcome, everyone, to our Bully Prevention Month Upstander Rally! Look around – we are all here together to stand united against bullying and promote kindness in our school! This morning/afternoon, we talked about what bullying is, how it impacts us, and how we can all be BRAVE Upstanders."

"Just a quick reminder, an upstander is someone who sees bullying and takes action! The BRAVE acronym reminds us to: Be a friend, Report it, Ask for help, Voice your opinion, and Encourage others."

Upstander Action Game (25 minutes)

(Display Presentation Slide Deck - Slide 7: "Upstander Action Game!")

"Now, it's time to put our BRAVE skills to the test in a fun, active way! We're going to play the Upstander Action Game! This game is designed for our large group today. We've divided you into large teams by your seating sections. Each team will work together to quickly decide on the best BRAVE action for different scenarios. We'll be using the microphone to hear your team's spokesperson! Listen closely for the rules."

(Lead the Upstander Action Game according to its instructions. Ensure the microphone is used for responses.)

"Fantastic energy, everyone! You showed great teamwork and understanding of what it means to be a BRAVE upstander!"

Kindness Pledge & Closing (10 minutes)

(Display Presentation Slide Deck - Slide 8: "Be a BRAVE Upstander & Spread Kindness!")

"Earlier, you all made a personal "Kindness Pledge" Worksheet. Given our large group, we won't have everyone come up individually right now. Instead, we've either pre-attached some of your pledges, or we'll have a few student representatives come up and add pledges to our 'School Kindness Banner' right here! This banner will be a visual reminder of our collective commitment to kindness, and we'll ensure all pledges are added and displayed around the school after the rally."

(Have pre-selected students/teachers attach a selection of pledges to the banner. Play uplifting music if desired.)

"Look at this amazing banner! Each one of these pledges represents your commitment to making our school a better place. Remember, every act of kindness, no matter how small, creates a ripple effect. You have the power to change someone's day, and together, we can change our entire school culture."

"Thank you all for being here today, for your engagement, and for your commitment to being BRAVE upstanders and spreading kindness every single day. Let's make this school year our kindest one yet!"

Bullying Scenarios Activity Cards

Instructions: In your small groups, read each scenario. Discuss:

1. What type of bullying is happening?
2. How would a BRAVE upstander respond? (Which BRAVE actions would you use?)
3. What might be the positive outcome of being an upstander in this situation?

Scenario Card 1

You see a group of students laughing at another student's new haircut in the hallway. They are pointing and whispering, making the student look down and try to hide their face.

Scenario Card 2

During lunch, a student at your table keeps taking another student's snacks without asking, even after being told to stop. The student whose snacks are being taken looks visibly upset and uncomfortable.

Scenario Card 3

You overhear a classmate spreading rumors online about another student, saying mean and untrue things in a group chat that many students are in.

Scenario Card 4

In gym class, a few older students are constantly picking last for teams a smaller, quieter student, and making jokes about their athletic ability, causing the student to stand alone and look sad.

Scenario Card 5

Someone in your class keeps hiding another student's books and backpack, making them late for their next class and causing them to panic each time.

Scenario Card 6

You see a student accidentally trip in the hallway, and instead of helping, a few other students start pointing and recording them on their phones.

My Kindness Pledge

Name: _____________________________

Bully Prevention Month reminds us that we all have the power to make our school a kinder, safer place. One simple act of kindness can make a huge difference in someone's day and help prevent bullying.

Think about the power of kindness. What is one specific act of kindness you can commit to doing this week to make our school a better place? It can be something small and simple, or something bigger.

My Kindness Pledge:

I, _____________________________, pledge to:

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I am going to create these for you now, please let me know if you would like me to make any changes or add anything else!

Upstander Action Game: Be a BRAVE Upstander!

Goal: To quickly identify bullying scenarios and demonstrate appropriate BRAVE upstander actions.

Time: 25 minutes

Materials:

• Presentation Slide Deck (for displaying scenarios)
• Microphone (essential for a large group)
• Optional: Small prizes for winning teams
• Optional: Large whiteboards or flip charts for each team to write down their BRAVE action

Setup:

1. Divide the auditorium into 8-10 large teams. You can utilize existing seating sections (e.g., each section of seats is a team, or assign teams by rows). Ensure each team has a designated area.
2. Explain that the game involves quick decision-making and teamwork. Emphasize that responses need to be clearly audible (using the microphone) or visible (if using whiteboards/flip charts).

How to Play:

1. The teacher will read aloud or display a bullying scenario on the screen (from the scenario list below).
2. Each team will have 45 seconds to huddle and decide which BRAVE action(s) (Be a friend, Report it, Ask for help, Voice your opinion, Encourage others) they would take as an upstander. For large teams, designate a team captain or spokesperson to ensure quick decision-making and to share the answer.
3. After 45 seconds, the teacher will call on one team (or the first team to raise their hand/sign if using team indicators) to share their chosen action(s) and explain why they chose it. Ensure the spokesperson uses the microphone.
4. Scoring:
   • 2 points: For identifying a relevant BRAVE action(s).
   • 1 point: For a clear and logical explanation of why that action is appropriate.
   • Bonus 1 point: If they can identify another BRAVE action that also applies to the scenario.
   • Deduction 1 point: If the suggested action is unsafe or ineffective.
5. The game continues through several scenarios. The team with the most points at the end wins.
6. Emphasize that there can be multiple correct ways to be a BRAVE upstander.

Game Scenarios:

Scenario 1: During lunch, you see a group of older students surrounding a younger student, blocking their path, and demanding their dessert.

Scenario 2: You notice a classmate consistently being left out of group projects and conversations in class. When they try to join, others turn away or ignore them.

Scenario 3: Someone in your class receives a mean, anonymous text message during class that is clearly visible on their phone. They look very upset.

Scenario 4: You see a student purposely trip another student in the hallway, causing them to drop their books. The student who tripped them then laughs and walks away.

Scenario 5: A friend tells you that another student is spreading untrue and hurtful rumors about them around school, making them feel isolated.

Scenario 6: You are in the library and see a student drawing mean caricatures of another student and showing them to their friends, who are snickering.

Scenario 7: In the locker room, a student is making fun of another student's clothes and saying they are

BRAVE Upstander Discussion Prompts

These prompts can be used during the classroom presentation to encourage student participation and reflection.

Warm-Up / Introduction Discussion:

• "When you hear the word 'bullying,' what immediately comes to mind? What does it look like, sound like, or feel like?"
• "Have you ever heard the term 'upstander'? What do you think it means to be an upstander?"
• "Why do you think it's important for us to talk about bullying and how we can prevent it in our school?"

Understanding Bullying Discussion:

• "Can you give an example of verbal bullying? What about social bullying? Physical? Cyberbullying? (Emphasize not to use real names or specific school incidents)."
• "Why do you think people bully others? What might they be feeling or trying to achieve?"
• "How do you think bullying impacts the person being bullied? What about the person doing the bullying, or those who witness it?"

Being an Upstander Discussion:

• "What's the difference between being a bystander and an upstander? Which role do you think is more challenging, and why?"
• "Looking at our BRAVE actions (Be a friend, Report it, Ask for help, Voice your opinion, Encourage others), which one do you think is the easiest to do? Which one might be the hardest for you personally, and why?"
• "Can you think of a time when you saw something unfair or unkind happening, and you wished you had done something? What stopped you, and what might you do differently now?"
• "If you chose to 'Voice your opinion' in a situation, what are some safe ways you could do that without putting yourself at risk?"

The Power of Kindness Discussion:

• "How can a simple act of kindness, like smiling at someone or inviting them to play, help prevent bullying?"
• "What are some ways we can actively spread kindness in our classrooms and throughout our school community?"
• "Think about a time someone showed you kindness. How did it make you feel? How can you pay that feeling forward?"