What Would You Do?

Think about a time you saw someone being treated unkindly, either online or in person. How did it make you feel? What did you do, or what do you wish you had done?

Digital Defenders Script

Slide 1: Welcome, Digital Defenders! (0-5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something really important: how to be a 'Digital Defender.' That means learning how to be safe and kind, both when we're together in person and when we're online. We'll learn how to stand up against unkindness and make sure everyone feels safe and respected."

Teacher: "To start, I want you to think about our What Would You Do? Warm Up activity. Take a moment to silently think about your answer. Now, who would like to share how they felt or what they did/wished they had done?"

(Allow a few students to share their responses, guiding them to focus on feelings and actions rather than specific names or situations. Validate their feelings and efforts.)

Slide 2: What is Bullying? (5-8 minutes)

Teacher: "Thank you for sharing. It's tough when we see unkind things happen. Sometimes, unkindness can become something more serious called bullying. Has anyone heard the word 'bullying' before? What do you think it means?" (Listen to a few responses.)

Teacher: "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 accident. It can look different ways:

• Physical bullying: Like hitting, kicking, or pushing.
• Verbal bullying: Like calling names, making fun of someone, or saying mean things.
• Social bullying: Like leaving someone out on purpose, spreading rumors, or making others ignore someone.

Can anyone think of an example of each type of bullying? Remember, don't use real names, just describe the situation." (Allow students to provide anonymous examples for each type, reinforcing the definitions.)

Slide 3: What is Cyberbullying? (8-11 minutes)

Teacher: "Now, imagine bullying, but it happens online. What do you think that might be called?" (Wait for responses like 'online bullying' or 'cyberbullying'.)

Teacher: "Exactly! It's called cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is when someone uses technology – like phones, tablets, or computers – to be mean to another person. It's just like regular bullying, but it happens in the digital world.

It can be:

• Sending mean messages or comments in games or social apps.
• Sharing embarrassing pictures or videos of someone without their permission.
• Leaving someone out of an online group chat or game on purpose.
• Even pretending to be someone else online to say mean things.

Teacher: "The tricky thing about cyberbullying is that it can sometimes feel like it never stops, because things posted online can be seen at any time, anywhere. Has anyone ever seen or heard about cyberbullying happening?" (Encourage discussion, focusing on observations rather than personal experiences if students are uncomfortable.)

Slide 4: Why Does it Matter? (11-13 minutes)

Teacher: "Whether it's bullying in person or cyberbullying online, both can make people feel really bad. How do you think someone might feel if they are being bullied or cyberbullied?" (Guide students to mention feelings like sad, angry, scared, alone, embarrassed, or not wanting to go to school or play.)

Teacher: "That's right. It hurts a lot. It can make people feel like they're not good enough, or like they don't belong. And it's not just the person being bullied who feels bad; it can make others who see it feel uncomfortable or scared too. That's why it's so important to talk about it."

Slide 5: Be an Upstander! (13-16 minutes)

Teacher: "So, what can we do if we see bullying or cyberbullying happening? We can choose to be an Upstander! An upstander is someone who sees something unfair or unkind happening and chooses to do something to help. It's the opposite of being a bystander, which is someone who just watches."

Teacher: "Being an upstander doesn't always mean confronting the bully directly. It means choosing to make a positive difference. Let's look at some ways you can be an upstander. We're going to have an Open Discussion: Being an Upstander now. What are some safe ways we can stand up for others?" (Facilitate the discussion using the provided prompts.)

Slide 6: What Can You Do? (16-18 minutes)

Teacher: "Those are wonderful ideas! Let's summarize some of the most important things you can do:

1. Tell a trusted adult: This is the most important step. Tell a parent, a teacher, a counselor, a coach, or another adult you trust. They can help you figure out what to do.
2. Don't respond: If you get a mean message online, sometimes the best thing to do is not respond. Don't give the bully more attention.
3. Block and report: Most online games and apps have ways to block people who are being mean and report their behavior. Use those tools!
4. Save the evidence: If something mean is said or shared online, take a screenshot. This can help adults understand what happened.
5. Be kind: Simple acts of kindness can make a huge difference. Invite someone who's being left out to play, or speak kindly to someone who needs a friend.

Teacher: "Remember, you are never alone in this. There are always adults who care and want to help you. Your job is to tell them."

Slide 7: Practice Time: Scenario Sort! (18-23 minutes)

Teacher: "Now it's time to put what we've learned into practice! We're going to do a Scenario Sort Activity. I'm going to divide you into small groups. Each group will get a few cards with different situations.

Teacher: "Your task is to read each scenario and decide:

1. Is it bullying, cyberbullying, or neither?
2. What would you do to be an upstander in that situation?

"Work together, talk about your ideas, and be ready to share one of your scenarios and your group's plan with the class. You have about 5 minutes for this." (Monitor groups, offer guidance as needed. After 5 minutes, bring the class back together and ask each group to share one scenario and their responses.)

Slide 8: You are a Digital Defender! (23-25 minutes - adjust time based on discussion from activity)

Teacher: "Great job, everyone! You've shown that you understand what bullying and cyberbullying are and, most importantly, how to be an upstander. You all have the power to make our school and our online spaces safe and kind.

Teacher: "Always remember these three things:

• Be kind to everyone, always.
• Speak up if you see something wrong, or if you need help.
• Tell a trusted adult if you or someone you know is being bullied or cyberbullied.

Teacher: "Thank you for being amazing Digital Defenders today!"

Open Discussion: Being an Upstander

When you see someone being treated unkindly, either in person or online, what are some things you can safely do to help?

Why is it sometimes hard to be an upstander? What makes it easier?

Who are trusted adults you can talk to if you or a friend are experiencing bullying or cyberbullying?

Scenario Sort Activity

Instructions: Read each scenario with your group. Discuss whether it is Bullying, Cyberbullying, or Neither. Then, discuss what you would do to be an Upstander in that situation. Be ready to share one scenario and your thoughts with the class!

Scenario 1

During recess, a group of students keeps telling another student that they can't play their game because they are