Lesson Plan
Click With Kindness Plan
Students will learn to identify cyberbullying, understand its impact, and practice empathetic responses by analyzing real-life scenarios and completing a kindness challenge.
Building digital citizenship early helps 5th graders recognize harmful online behaviors and empowers them to act kindly and responsibly in their digital communities.
Audience
5th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion with scenario analysis and a kindness challenge
Materials
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print and cut out all sets of Cyberbullying Scenario Cards.
- Make copies of the Kindness Challenge Worksheet for each student.
- Review both materials to familiarize yourself with scenarios and prompts.
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Greet students and explain today’s goal: understanding cyberbullying and how to respond with kindness.
- Ask: “What does ‘cyberbullying’ mean?” and record definitions on the board.
- Clarify the official definition: intentional online harm through mean messages, exclusion, or rumors.
Step 2
Define and Discuss
7 minutes
- Display 2–3 common examples of cyberbullying (e.g., mean texts, exclusion in a group chat).
- Ask volunteers to share how those situations might feel.
- Emphasize that words and images online can hurt just like in-person actions.
Step 3
Scenario Activity
8 minutes
- Divide students into small groups (3–4 per group).
- Distribute one set of Cyberbullying Scenario Cards to each group.
- Instruct groups to read each scenario, identify the bullying behavior, and discuss two ways to respond kindly or seek help.
- Circulate and prompt deeper thinking: “How would you feel? What could you say or do?”
Step 4
Kindness Challenge
8 minutes
- Hand out the Kindness Challenge Worksheet.
- Students individually list three specific actions they will take when they see cyberbullying or feel like sharing kindness online.
- Encourage concrete commitments (e.g., “I will send a supportive message,” “I will report hurtful posts”).
- Pair-share one idea with a partner.
Step 5
Wrap-Up and Assessment
2 minutes
- Ask 2–3 students to share one commitment from their worksheet.
- Reinforce that small acts of kindness can stop cyberbullying.
- Collect worksheets to gauge understanding and follow up later.
Slide Deck
Click With Kindness
Welcome to our lesson on stopping cyberbullying with kindness! Today we’ll learn how to spot harmful online behavior and practice ways to respond positively.
Welcome students! Introduce today’s lesson: Click With Kindness. Explain that we’ll learn what cyberbullying is, why it hurts, and how we can respond with kindness to stop it.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is when someone intentionally uses technology (texts, social media, group chats) to harm others with mean messages, exclusion, or spreading rumors.
Ask: “What does cyberbullying mean?” Record student ideas. Then reveal the official definition and emphasize its key parts.
Examples of Cyberbullying
• Sending mean or threatening texts
• Excluding someone from an online group chat
• Sharing or spreading hurtful rumors or images online
Display each example and invite volunteers to share how the person being targeted might feel.
Scenario Activity Instructions
- Form groups of 3–4 students.
- Get one set of Cyberbullying Scenario Cards per group.
- For each scenario:
a. Identify the bullying behavior.
b. Discuss two ways to respond with kindness or ask for help.
Divide the class into groups of 3–4. Give each group a set of Cyberbullying Scenario Cards. Remind them to identify the bullying behavior and brainstorm two kind or helpful responses.
Kindness Challenge
On your worksheet, list three specific actions you will take when you see cyberbullying or want to share kindness online.
• Be a supportive friend
• Report or tell a trusted adult
• Send a positive message
Hand out the Kindness Challenge Worksheet. Encourage students to write down concrete actions they will take when they see or want to stop cyberbullying.
Wrap-Up & Takeaways
• Small acts of kindness can stop cyberbullying.
• Your words online have real impact.
• Commit to one kind action today!
Ask 2–3 students to share one of their commitments. Reinforce that small acts of kindness make a big difference online. Collect worksheets for follow-up.
Activity
Cyberbullying Scenario Cards
Below are six brief scenarios describing online situations. In your group, read each scenario, then discuss and record answers to the questions at the end.
Scenarios
- In the class group chat, someone posts a meme calling Sarah “weird” and tags her name so everyone sees it.
- John keeps sending Emma messages saying she’s “lame” and that nobody wants to hang out with her.
- A student spreads a rumor on their social media story that Michael cheated on the science quiz when it’s not true.
- In an online gaming chat, the group excludes Luis by refusing his game invites and joking about him behind his back.
- After losing a game, someone threatens Alex—they’ll share embarrassing photos if he doesn’t reveal his game code.
- A private group chat called “Cool Kids” intentionally leaves Maya out and laughs at her when she asks to join.
Discussion Prompts
- Identify the cyberbullying behavior in this scenario.
- How might the person being targeted feel?
- Name two ways you could respond with kindness or get help.
Use these cards in your small group to practice spotting cyberbullying and brainstorming kind, supportive responses.
Worksheet
Kindness Challenge Worksheet
Name: ______________________ Date: _______________
Remember the situations you discussed in the Cyberbullying Scenario Cards. On this worksheet, you’ll plan how to be a kind digital citizen and reflect on your impact.
1. List Three Kind Actions
Write three specific things you will do when you see cyberbullying or want to share kindness online.
- ____________________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________________
- ____________________________________________________________
2. Why This Matters
Choose one action above and explain why you think it’s important to do this online.
3. How Will It Help?
Describe how you think your chosen action will make the person on the receiving end feel.
4. Rally Your Friends
What could you say or do to encourage your classmates or friends to join your kindness challenge online?
Bonus: Draw a "Kindness Badge" you could share online or on your profile to remind others to be kind.
(Use the space below or the back of this sheet.)