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Bullying: What's Our Role?

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Ace Navalta

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Bullying: What's Our Role?

Students will be able to define different forms of bullying, understand its impact on individuals and the school community, and identify proactive strategies for intervention and prevention.

Bullying continues to be a pervasive issue, even in high school. This lesson provides a safe space for 12th-grade students to critically examine bullying dynamics, fostering empathy and equipping them with the tools to be active upstanders, ultimately contributing to a more respectful and supportive school culture.

Audience

12th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, peer reflection, and collaborative problem-solving.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Warm Up: Stand Up, Speak Up, Discussion Guide: The Ripple Effect, Activity: Upstander Action Plan, and Cool Down: One Word Impact

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review the Bullying: What's Our Role? Slide Deck to ensure familiarity with content.
    - Read through the Warm Up: Stand Up, Speak Up, Discussion Guide: The Ripple Effect, Activity: Upstander Action Plan, and Cool Down: One Word Impact materials.
    - Prepare whiteboard/projector for presenting slides and recording student responses.
    - Ensure a comfortable and open classroom environment for sensitive discussions.

Step 1

Warm Up: Stand Up, Speak Up

5 minutes

  • Begin with the Warm Up: Stand Up, Speak Up activity. Present the prompts on the slide deck or whiteboard.
    - Ask students to stand if a statement resonates with them, then sit.
    - Facilitate a brief discussion on their immediate reactions and observations. (e.g., "What did you notice about who stood up?", "Why might some of these be harder to stand for?")

Step 2

Introduction to Bullying

5 minutes

  • Use the Bullying: What's Our Role? Slide Deck to introduce the topic of bullying.
    - Briefly define bullying (repeated, imbalance of power, intent to harm).
    - Discuss different forms (physical, verbal, social, cyber) and their prevalence, especially in a high school context.
    - Emphasize that bullying isn't just a 'kid's problem' but a societal issue requiring mature reflection.

Step 3

Discussion: The Ripple Effect

10 minutes

  • Transition to the Discussion Guide: The Ripple Effect.
    - Divide students into small groups (3-4 students).
    - Instruct them to discuss the provided scenarios or questions from the discussion guide, focusing on the impact of bullying on the target, the bully, and bystanders.
    - Circulate among groups to facilitate discussion and address misconceptions.

Step 4

Activity: Upstander Action Plan

5 minutes

  • Bring the class back together and introduce the Activity: Upstander Action Plan.
    - Explain the concept of an 'upstander' vs. a 'bystander'.
    - Ask students to individually or in pairs brainstorm 1-2 concrete actions they can take to be an upstander in different bullying situations they might encounter in high school.
    - Encourage practical, realistic suggestions.

Step 5

Cool Down: One Word Impact

5 minutes

  • Conclude the lesson with the Cool Down: One Word Impact.
    - Ask each student to share one word that summarizes their biggest takeaway or feeling from the discussion.
    - Optionally, collect these words on a whiteboard or digital board to create a word cloud.
    - Thank students for their participation and reinforce the importance of their role in fostering a positive school environment.
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Slide Deck

Bullying: What's Our Role?

Understanding, Impact, and Action in High School

  • How does bullying affect our school community?
  • What can we do about it?

Welcome students and introduce the day's topic. Explain that this is a safe space for open discussion.

Warm Up: Stand Up, Speak Up

Stand up if...

  • You've witnessed someone being bullied.
  • You've felt uncomfortable about something someone said or did to another person.
  • You've seen cyberbullying happen online.
  • You've wondered how to help someone being bullied.
  • You believe bullying is still an issue in high school.

Read each statement aloud. Instruct students to stand up if the statement resonates with them, then sit down. Observe their responses and keep the pace flowing. After all statements, ask for initial reactions and observations.

What Is Bullying, Really?

More Than Just 'Being Mean'

  • Definition: Repeated aggressive behavior meant to intentionally harm another person, characterized by an imbalance of power.
  • Forms: Physical, Verbal, Social/Relational, Cyber
  • Why does it matter in 12th grade? It affects our community and our future.

Provide a clear, concise definition of bullying. Explain the three key components: repeated, imbalance of power, intent to harm. Then, elaborate on the different forms and provide high school relevant examples for each. Use the script to guide the discussion.

The Ripple Effect of Bullying

It impacts everyone, not just the target.

  • Discussion: In small groups, consider the scenarios in your Discussion Guide: The Ripple Effect.
  • Think about: How does bullying affect the person being bullied? The person doing the bullying? The people who witness it?

Introduce the idea of the 'ripple effect.' Explain that bullying doesn't just affect the target. Introduce the small group discussion and direct students to the Discussion Guide. Give them a clear time limit for group work.

From Bystander to Upstander

Your Power to Make a Difference

  • Bystander: Someone who sees bullying but does nothing.
  • Upstander: Someone who witnesses bullying and acts to help or support the person being bullied.
  • Activity: Create your own Activity: Upstander Action Plan.

Bring the class back together. Define 'upstander' and contrast it with 'bystander.' Emphasize that being an upstander isn't always confronting the bully directly, but about taking any action to support or prevent harm. Introduce the activity and direct students to the Upstander Action Plan material.

Cool Down: One Word Impact

What's your one word takeaway from today's discussion?

  • Share one word that summarizes your biggest learning, feeling, or commitment from today's lesson.
  • This word should capture what resonated with you most or what you plan to do differently.

Allow students a few minutes to think of their word. Go around the room and have each student share their word. If time permits, ask a few students to briefly explain their choice. Thank them for their participation and reinforce the main message.

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Warm Up

Stand Up, Speak Up Warm Up

Instructions: The teacher will read a series of statements. Stand up silently if the statement resonates with you or describes something you have experienced or witnessed. When the teacher says so, you may sit back down. There is no need to explain why you stood up; this is a moment for personal reflection and to see common experiences.

Statements:

  1. You have witnessed someone being bullied (in person or online).



  2. You have felt uncomfortable about something someone said or did to another person.



  3. You have seen cyberbullying (mean messages, spreading rumors online, excluding someone from an online group, etc.) happen to someone you know.



  4. You have wondered how you could have helped someone who was being bullied, but didn't know what to do.



  5. You believe bullying, in various forms, is still an issue that affects high school students today.



  6. You have spoken up or tried to help someone who was being bullied.
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Discussion

The Ripple Effect: Discussion Guide

Instructions: In your small groups, discuss the following questions and scenarios. Consider how bullying creates a "ripple effect" that impacts not just those directly involved, but the wider community. Be prepared to share some of your group's insights with the whole class.

Discussion Questions:

  1. How does bullying, in any form (physical, verbal, social, cyber), affect the person being targeted? Think beyond immediate emotional responses.





  2. What impact does engaging in bullying behavior have on the person doing the bullying? Consider potential short-term and long-term consequences.





  3. What role do bystanders play when they witness bullying? How might their actions (or inactions) contribute to the "ripple effect" in a positive or negative way?





  4. Can you think of a situation where bullying might go unnoticed or unreported in a high school setting? What factors contribute to this?





  5. How can the overall school climate be affected by prevalent bullying? What changes might you observe or experience?





Scenario for Discussion:

  • Scenario: A popular student regularly posts sarcastic and subtly cruel memes about a less popular student on a private group chat that includes many classmates. While the memes don't name the student directly, everyone in the chat knows who they are about. Most classmates in the chat don't participate but also don't say anything to stop it. The targeted student eventually sees some of these memes and starts withdrawing from school activities and social events.

    • Discuss the ripple effect of this cyberbullying incident. Who is affected, and how?
    • What are the responsibilities of the students in the group chat who are not actively participating but are also not stopping it?
    • What are some potential ways an "upstander" could intervene in this specific situation, considering it's a private group chat?
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lenny

Activity

Upstander Action Plan

Instructions: Being an upstander means recognizing a bullying situation and choosing to act in a way that helps or supports the person being targeted. This isn't always about direct confrontation; it can take many forms. Individually or in pairs, brainstorm 1-2 concrete, realistic actions you could take in each of the following scenarios to be an upstander. Think about who you might involve and what resources are available.

Scenarios:

  1. Verbal Bullying in the Hallway: You overhear a group of students making fun of another student's appearance as they walk past. The targeted student visibly shrinks away.

    • Your Upstander Action(s):






  2. Social Exclusion at Lunch: You notice a new student eating alone every day, and a particular group of students actively avoids them or whispers when they try to join.

    • Your Upstander Action(s):






  3. Cyberbullying on Social Media: You see a mean comment or post targeting a classmate on a public social media platform. Others are 'liking' the post or adding negative comments, but no one is defending the targeted student.

    • Your Upstander Action(s):






  4. Physical Bullying (Minor): You witness an older student repeatedly pushing a younger student around near the lockers, though not violently. The younger student looks distressed.

    • Your Upstander Action(s):






Reflection Question:

  • What makes it difficult to be an upstander, and how can we overcome those challenges?
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Cool Down

One Word Impact

Instructions: To conclude our discussion on bullying and our role as upstanders, reflect for a moment on everything we've discussed today.

What is one word that summarizes your biggest takeaway, a new feeling you have, or a commitment you are making after today's lesson?

This word should capture what resonated with you most or what you plan to do differently moving forward.




lenny
lenny

Activity

Upstander Action Plan

Instructions: Being an upstander means recognizing a bullying situation and choosing to act in a way that helps or supports the person being targeted. This isn't always about direct confrontation; it can take many forms. Individually or in pairs, brainstorm 1-2 concrete, realistic actions you could take in each of the following scenarios to be an upstander. Think about who you might involve and what resources are available.

Scenarios:

  1. Verbal Bullying in the Hallway: You overhear a group of students making fun of another student's appearance as they walk past. The targeted student visibly shrinks away.

    • Your Upstander Action(s):






  2. Social Exclusion at Lunch: You notice a new student eating alone every day, and a particular group of students actively avoids them or whispers when they try to join.

    • Your Upstander Action(s):






  3. Cyberbullying on Social Media: You see a mean comment or post targeting a classmate on a public social media platform. Others are

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