• lenny-learning-logoLenny Learning
  • Home
    Home
    • Lessons
    Lessons
  • Curriculum
    Curriculum
  • Surveys
    Surveys
  • Videos
    Videos
  • Support
    Support
  • Log In
lenny

Stand Up, Speak Out!

user image

Debbie Wilbourn

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Stand Up, Speak Out!

Students will be able to identify different types of bullying, understand the impact of bullying on individuals and the school community, and learn practical strategies for preventing and intervening in bullying situations.

Bullying can have severe and lasting effects on students' mental, emotional, and physical well-being. This lesson aims to empower students to create a more inclusive and respectful school environment by understanding bullying and developing effective response strategies.

Audience

High School Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, real-life scenario analysis, and practical skill-building.

Materials

Stand Up, Speak Out! Slide Deck, Bullying Scenarios Worksheet, and Cool Down: Your Pledge

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the Stand Up, Speak Out! Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content.
    - Print copies of the Bullying Scenarios Worksheet for each student or small group.
    - Ensure projector and computer are set up for the slide deck.
    - Review the Cool Down: Your Pledge activity.

Step 1

Warm-Up: What Comes to Mind?

5 minutes

  • Display the first slide of the Stand Up, Speak Out! Slide Deck.
    - Ask students: "When you hear the word 'bullying,' what immediately comes to mind?"
    - Allow students to share their initial thoughts, either verbally or by writing them down briefly. Facilitate a quick, non-judgmental discussion to gauge prior knowledge and set the stage.

Step 2

Defining Bullying and Its Forms

8 minutes

  • Use the Stand Up, Speak Out! Slide Deck to guide a discussion on the definition of bullying (unwanted, aggressive behavior; power imbalance; repeated).
    - Go through the different types of bullying (physical, verbal, social/relational, cyberbullying) with examples.
    - Encourage students to contribute examples they may have witnessed or heard about (without naming individuals). Emphasize that bullying is not just physical.

Step 3

Impact and Consequences

7 minutes

  • Transition to discussing the impact of bullying using the Stand Up, Speak Out! Slide Deck.
    - Cover the effects on targets (emotional, academic, physical), bystanders (guilt, fear), and even bullies (negative behaviors, legal consequences).
    - Facilitate a brief discussion on why it's important to address bullying from all perspectives.

Step 4

Strategies: Stand Up, Speak Out! (Featuring Jefferson Fisher's Tips)

7 minutes

  • Introduce strategies for preventing and intervening in bullying situations, using the Stand Up, Speak Out! Slide Deck.
    - Highlight Jefferson Fisher's strategies:
    • Stop, Walk, Talk: Tell the bully to stop (if safe), walk away, and talk to a trusted adult.
    • Broken Record: Repeat a simple, firm statement like "Stop" or "Leave me alone."
    • What to Say: Discuss specific phrases students can use, such as "Stop. I don't like that," "Leave me alone," or "I'm going to tell an adult if you don't stop."
    • Strength in Numbers: Encourage students to stand with friends or seek support from peers.
      - Divide students into small groups (2-3 students) and distribute the Bullying Scenarios Worksheet.
      - Ask groups to choose one scenario and discuss how they would apply the learned strategies, including Jefferson Fisher's tips.
      - Bring the class back together for a brief share-out of chosen strategies from a couple of groups.

Step 5

Cool Down: Your Pledge

3 minutes

  • Distribute the Cool Down: Your Pledge handout.
    - Ask students to reflect on one action they can commit to taking to help prevent bullying or support someone who is being bullied.
    - Collect the pledges as an exit ticket.
lenny

Slide Deck

Stand Up, Speak Out!

Understanding Bullying and Building a Safer Community

Welcome students and introduce the topic of bullying. Explain that today's lesson is about understanding bullying and how we can all work together to prevent it and support each other. Emphasize that this is a safe space for discussion.

Warm-Up: What Comes to Mind?

When you hear the word 'bullying,' what immediately comes to mind?

This is the warm-up activity mentioned in the lesson plan. Give students a moment to think or write, then open for discussion. Encourage various responses.

What Is Bullying?

  • Unwanted, aggressive behavior
  • Power imbalance (real or perceived)
  • Repeated behavior (or potential to be repeated)

Define bullying clearly: 1. Unwanted, aggressive behavior. 2. Involves a real or perceived power imbalance. 3. Is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.

Types of Bullying

  • Physical Bullying: Hitting, kicking, tripping, pushing, damaging property.
  • Verbal Bullying: Teasing, name-calling, inappropriate sexual comments, taunting, threats.
  • Social/Relational Bullying: Spreading rumors, excluding someone from a group, public embarrassment.
  • Cyberbullying: Spreading rumors online, sending hurtful texts, posting embarrassing photos/videos.

Discuss each type of bullying with brief examples. Ask students if they can think of (anonymous) examples for each type to ensure understanding.

The Ripple Effect: Impact of Bullying

  • On the Target: Anxiety, depression, isolation, physical symptoms, academic struggles.
  • On Bystanders: Fear, guilt, powerlessness, desensitization.
  • On the Bully: Developing aggressive habits, future behavioral problems, disciplinary consequences.

Discuss the broad impact. On Targets: emotional distress, physical symptoms, academic decline. On Bystanders: fear, guilt, desensitization. On Bullies: perpetuate negative behaviors, potential legal/disciplinary actions.

Strategies: Stand Up, Speak Out!

Jefferson Fisher's Strategies for Handling a Bully:

  • Stop, Walk, Talk:

    • Stop: Tell the bully to stop (if it's safe to do so).
    • Walk: Walk away from the situation.
    • Talk: Report to a trusted adult (teacher, counselor, parent, administrator).

  • Broken Record: Repeat a simple, firm statement without getting into an argument (e.g., "Stop it," "Leave me alone").

  • What to Say to a Bully (Examples):

    • "Stop. I don't like that."
    • "Leave me alone."
    • "That's not cool."
    • "I'm not interested in this."
    • "I'm going to tell an adult if you don't stop."

  • Strength in Numbers: Stick with friends and seek support from peers to create a united front.

  • Promote Inclusivity: Include others, be a positive role model.

Introduce different strategies, now including Jefferson Fisher's tips. Emphasize safety first for direct intervention. Highlight the importance of reporting to trusted adults (teachers, counselors, parents). Discuss how supporting targets can make a huge difference.

Activity: What Would You Do?

In your small groups, choose one scenario from the Bullying Scenarios Worksheet and discuss how you would respond using the strategies we just learned, including Jefferson Fisher's tips. Be prepared to share!

Explain the activity. Students will work in small groups using the 'Bullying Scenarios Worksheet'. They need to choose one scenario and discuss how they would apply the strategies learned, including Jefferson Fisher's tips. Allow a few minutes for groups to share.

Cool Down: Your Pledge

On your handout, write down one action you can commit to taking to help prevent bullying or support someone who is being bullied.

Your commitment can make a difference!

Explain the cool-down activity. Distribute the 'Cool Down: Your Pledge' handout. Students will write down one action they can commit to. Collect these as an exit ticket.

lenny

Worksheet

Bullying Scenarios Worksheet

Instructions: In your groups, read through the following scenarios. Choose ONE scenario to discuss. For your chosen scenario, discuss:

  1. What type of bullying is occurring?
  2. What is the potential impact of this bullying on the target, bystanders, and even the person doing the bullying?
  3. Which strategies would you use to intervene or support the target? Explain your reasoning.

Scenario 1: The Group Chat Exclusion

Maria notices that a new student, Leo, is constantly being left out of the main friend group chat. When Leo tries to join in conversations at school, a few students roll their eyes or turn away. Yesterday, someone posted a meme in the group chat clearly making fun of Leo, and everyone else reacted with laughing emojis. Maria feels uncomfortable but doesn't want to cause trouble.













Scenario 2: Hallway Harassment

During passing period, a few older students frequently make sarcastic remarks and derogatory comments about David's clothes and appearance as he walks by. They never physically touch him, but their words are loud enough for others to hear and often leave David looking upset and hurrying away. Other students pretend not to notice, and no one says anything.













Scenario 3: Online Game Ganging Up

Sarah loves playing an online multiplayer game, but recently, a group of players has started targeting her. They constantly send her private messages with hateful insults, deliberately causing her to lose games, and even spread rumors about her to other players. She's starting to dread logging on.













Remember to consider the different roles (target, bully, bystander) and how each person might be affected.

lenny
lenny

Journal

Cool Down: Your Pledge

Instructions: Reflect on today's discussion about bullying and your role in creating a safer, more supportive school community. Write down one specific action you can commit to taking to help prevent bullying or support someone who is being bullied.

Your pledge can be big or small, but it should be something you genuinely feel you can do. Your commitment makes a difference!

My Pledge:

I commit to...
















Signature (Optional):

lenny
lenny