Lesson Plan
Bullying Prevention Lesson Plan
Empower students to recognize and understand bullying behaviors, practice empathetic responses through role-play, and develop safe strategies to prevent and respond to bullying in their school community.
Building awareness and empathy enables students to stand up against bullying, fosters a safer environment, and equips them with tools to support themselves and others.
Audience
3rd-8th Grade Students
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Guided discussion, interactive role-plays, and group reflections.
Materials
Prep
Review and Prepare Materials
25 minutes
- Review the Bullying Prevention Slides to familiarize yourself with key concepts and scenarios.
- Read through the Empathy Role-Play Activity instructions and scripts.
- Ensure you understand each scenario in the Bullying Scenario Cards.
- Print and cut the scenario cards and role-play scripts.
- Set up projector or computer for the slide deck.
Step 1
Introduction to Bullying
10 minutes
- Display slides 1–5 from the Bullying Prevention Slides.
- Define bullying versus teasing; highlight types (physical, verbal, social, cyber).
- Invite students to share examples they’ve seen or heard.
Step 2
Group Discussion
15 minutes
- Split students into small groups; distribute a set of Bullying Scenario Cards to each.
- Have groups decide: “Is this bullying? Why or why not? What could someone do?”
- Reconvene and have each group share their analysis.
Step 3
Empathy Role-Play
20 minutes
- Hand out scripts from the Empathy Role-Play Activity.
- In pairs or trios, students rehearse and perform scenarios showing bystander intervention and supportive responses.
- After each performance, debrief: How did it feel? What worked? What could be done differently?
Step 4
Reflection and Action
10 minutes
- Ask students to write or verbally share one concrete action they’ll take if they witness bullying.
- As a class, draft a “Kindness Pledge” summarizing these actions and post it visibly in the classroom.
Step 5
Closing
5 minutes
- Review the session’s key takeaways via final slides.
- Remind students of trusted adults they can approach if they need help.
- Encourage ongoing kindness and bystander support.
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Slide Deck
Bullying Prevention: Stand Up, Speak Out
• Understanding bullying
• Learning empathy
• Developing strategies to act safely and support peers
Welcome students! Introduce the topic: today we will learn what bullying is, why it hurts, and how we can stand up together. Encourage participation—this will be interactive.
What Is Bullying?
Bullying is repeated, intentional harm by one or more individuals against someone who can’t easily defend themselves.
Not the same as:
– Friendly teasing
– One-time disagreements
Define bullying clearly. Contrast with teasing and conflict. Ask for student examples to ensure understanding.
Types of Bullying
• Physical: hitting, pushing, property damage
• Verbal: name-calling, insults, threats
• Social (Relational): exclusion, rumor-spreading
• Cyberbullying: hurtful messages or posts online
Explain each type with a brief example. Invite students to share if they’ve seen or experienced any.
Examples of Bullying
- A student is passed notes making fun of another’s clothes every day.
- A friend group ignores someone at lunch.
- Mean messages appear on a classmate’s social media page.
Present real-life scenarios. Read each and discuss: is it bullying? Why or why not?
Impact of Bullying
• 1 in 5 students report being bullied at school.
• Bullying can lead to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
• Witnesses also feel stress and guilt if they don’t act.
Share age-appropriate statistics to show how common bullying is. Emphasize why it matters.
Recognizing Bullying
Ask yourself:
• Is it repeated behavior?
• Is someone being hurt or excluded?
• Would the person feel powerless to stop it?
Help students spot bullying behaviors. Encourage them to trust their instincts.
Responding to Bullying
• Directly speak up if safe and calm.
• Distract to interrupt the situation.
• Support the target afterward.
• Always tell a trusted adult.
Introduce safe response options. Stress that students should never put themselves in danger.
Empathy in Action
• How would you feel if this happened to you?
• What words or actions would help you feel supported?
• Why does empathy matter in stopping bullying?
Focus on empathy. Guide students to imagine how targets feel.
Class Discussion
• Share a time you witnessed or experienced bullying.
• What did you wish someone had done?
• Which strategy feels most comfortable for you? Why?
Facilitate a class discussion. Use student examples to connect with real life.
Your Commitment
Write one action you will take if you see bullying:
Post your Kindness Pledge on our classroom wall!
Wrap up with a personal commitment. Collect or display pledges to reinforce accountability.
Activity
Empathy Role-Play Activity
Objective:
Help students practice empathetic responses and safe bystander interventions in realistic bullying situations.
Materials:
- Printed scenario scripts below
- Role cards labeled Bully, Target, Bystander
- Reflection prompts (see below)
Prep (15 minutes):
- Print one copy of each scenario script for every group.
- Cut out or label role cards (one per student per round).
- Decide on grouping (3–4 students each).
- Prepare a space for performances and audience seating.
Instructions
1. Set the Stage (5 minutes)
- Explain that role-plays are pretend and focus on how we can support someone being bullied.
- Establish norms: speak and act kindly, listen to peers, and keep discussion respectful.
2. Form Groups and Assign Roles (5 minutes)
- Divide students into groups of 3 or 4.
- Give each student a role card.
- Distribute one scenario script per group.
3. Rehearse Scenarios (10 minutes)
- Groups read through their script and decide how to act their parts.
- Encourage nonverbal cues: facial expressions, tone of voice.
4. Perform and Observe (15 minutes)
- One group at a time performs for the class.
- Observers note: What words or actions did the bystander use? Did they help the target?
- After each performance, allow 2–3 questions from the audience.
5. Debrief and Reflect (15 minutes)
- Ask each group to share:
- How did it feel to be the Target?
- How did it feel to be the Bystander?
- What worked well in stopping or interrupting the bullying?
- What could be done differently next time?
Reflection Prompts:
Have students write brief answers in their journals or on a sheet:
- “One bystander phrase or action I’ll remember is…”
- “If I saw this happen again, my first step would be…”
- “Why is empathy important when someone is hurt?”
Scenario Scripts
Scenario 1: Hallway Name-Calling
Setting: School hallway between classes.
Bully (Alex): “Nice haircut, emo freak. Did your mom pick that out?”
Target (Taylor): (steps back) “Stop. That really hurts.”
Bystander (Jordan): (steps forward) “Hey Alex, knock it off. That’s not cool. Let’s go to class.”
Scenario 2: Exclusion at Lunch
Setting: Cafeteria table.
Bully (Sam): (to group) “We’re not letting Riley sit with us today—too weird.”
Target (Riley): (holds tray) “But we always sit together…”
Bystander (Casey): (stands) “Actually, Riley’s my friend. Everyone’s welcome at this table.”
Scenario 3: Cyberbullying Chat
Setting: Group messaging app on phones.
Bully (Morgan): (typing) “Look at Mason’s shirt—total loser. 😂”
Target (Mason): (reads message) “Why are you doing this?”
Bystander (Lee): (typing) “That’s not funny. Please stop sending mean messages.”
Follow-Up:
- Link back to Bullying Prevention Slides on Responding to Bullying for more strategies.
- Encourage students to share any additional ideas for safe intervention in future class discussions.
Activity
Bullying Scenario Cards
Use these cards in small groups. For each scenario, discuss:
- Is this bullying? Why or why not?
- What could someone do to stop it or help the person being targeted?
Card 1: Pushed in Line
During recess, Mia is standing in line for the slide. Sam shoves past her and says, “Move it, slowpoke!” every time she tries to step forward.
Card 2: Classroom Giggles
When Alex answers a question incorrectly, a few classmates snicker and whisper, “He’s so dumb” under their breath.
Card 3: Excluded at Recess
A group of friends tells Jordan, “You can’t play with us today—go find someone else,” then laughs as he walks away.
Card 4: Lost and Found Taunt
Emma’s backpack is left in the hallway. When she comes back to get it, Tyler opens it, pulls out her notebook, and reads aloud, “Look at her ugly doodles!”
Card 5: Mean Messages
In a group chat, Morgan posts a meme mocking Taylor’s new haircut and adds a laughing emoji. Others forward the message without asking if Taylor is okay.
Card 6: Rumor Spreading
Someone tells half the class that Jordan is going to get in trouble for cheating—when it’s not true—and the news spreads quickly.
Card 7: Teasing Accent
During lunch, a student imitates Sam’s accent and says, “What are you even talking about?” in a mocking voice.
Card 8: Hiding Belongings
After gym class, someone hides Riley’s water bottle. Riley looks everywhere while classmates whisper, “She must’ve forgotten it.”