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Stand Up & Speak Out

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Rachel Batchelor

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Stand Up & Speak Out Lesson Plan

By the end of this 20-minute session, students will define bullying, demonstrate empathy and respect personal boundaries (including responding to “no”), collaborate at stations to map feelings and draft assertive responses, and identify coping strategies via a short quiz.

Bullying affects student well-being and academic success. This lesson raises awareness, cultivates empathy, enforces respect for personal boundaries, and equips students with practical strategies to navigate and prevent bullying.

Audience

High School Students (Grades 9–12)

Time

20 minutes

Approach

Collaborative stations, focused discussion, and reflective quiz.

Materials

  • Bullying Scenario Cards, - Empathy Mapping Worksheets, - Assertive Response Templates, and - Bullying Coping Strategies Quiz

Prep

Prepare Materials & Setup

5 minutes

  • Review generated materials prior to class.
  • Print and cut out Bullying Scenario Cards.
  • Print copies of Empathy Mapping Worksheets and Assertive Response Templates.
  • Prepare quiz digitally or print copies of the Bullying Coping Strategies Quiz.
  • Arrange room into two stations and seating for whole‐class discussion.

Step 1

Introduction

3 minutes

  • Greet students and share the objective: recognizing and responding to bullying with empathy and boundary respect.
  • Quick review: “What is bullying?” (one-sentence definition).
  • Quick review: “Why is empathy important?” and “Why must we honor someone’s ‘no’?” (define empathy and boundary).

Step 2

Station Activity

9 minutes

  • Set up two stations:
    1. Empathy Mapping Station: Pairs select a Bullying Scenario Card and use an Empathy Mapping Worksheet to identify the target’s feelings, thoughts, and needs.
    2. Assertive Response Station: Pairs rotate and use an Assertive Response Template to draft an “I”-statement that addresses the scenario, shows empathy, and respects the target’s “no.”
  • Station rotation: 4 minutes each, then 1 minute to refine at Empathy Mapping Station.
  • Circulate and prompt connections between mapped feelings and assertive language.

Step 3

Focused Discussion

5 minutes

  • Reconvene and invite pairs to share:
    • The most powerful insight from their empathy map.
    • How that insight shaped their assertive response.
    • How respecting a ‘no’ influenced their phrasing.
  • Emphasize examples where empathy deepened the response and reinforced boundaries.

Step 4

Quiz

2 minutes

  • Introduce the Bullying Coping Strategies Quiz.
  • Students complete the quiz individually, selecting definitions and best-response actions.
  • Collect for quick feedback or auto-grading.

Step 5

Closure

1 minute

  • Summarize: key signs of bullying, the role of empathy, honoring ‘no,’ and assertive communication.
  • Encourage students to apply these skills and support peers.
  • Remind students of resources: counselors, trusted adults, and reporting procedures.
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Game

Stand Up & Speak Out Game Instructions

Overview: A fast-paced role-play activity where students practice assertive responses to common bullying scenarios. Students work in pairs to build confidence in standing up for themselves and others.

Materials

  • Bullying Scenario Cards (one card per pair)

Setup (1 minute)

  1. Shuffle the Bullying Scenario Cards deck.
  2. Arrange students into pairs.
  3. Give each pair one card.

How to Play (7 minutes total)

  1. Read & Discuss (1 minute): Each pair reads their scenario card together and identifies the type of bullying (verbal, social, cyber, etc.).
  2. Role-Play Round 1 (2 minutes): Student A plays the target, Student B plays the bystander or responder, using an assertive response to defuse the situation.
  3. Switch Roles (1 minute): Students swap roles and repeat the response with the same scenario.
  4. Rotate or Exchange (2 minutes): Pairs exchange their card with another pair and repeat steps 1–3 with a new scenario.
  5. Quick Debrief (1 minute): Each pair notes which response felt most natural and why.

Tips for Success

  • Use a strong, calm voice and maintain eye contact.
  • Choose “I” statements (e.g., “I don’t like when you call me names. Please stop.”).
  • Offer solutions, not threats: focus on stopping the behavior and keeping everyone safe.
  • Encourage respect: emphasize tone, body language, and pacing.

Bullying Scenario Cards

  1. Teasing Hurtful Comments: A classmate mocks your outfit and hairstyle every morning in the hallway.
  2. Spreading Rumors: Someone online keeps circulating a false rumor that you cheated on a test.
  3. Exclusion at Lunch: A friend group always leaves you out of their lunch plans and laughs when you approach.
  4. Mean Text Messages: You receive multiple cruel messages in a group chat calling you “weird.”
  5. Name-Calling in Class: During a group project, a peer repeatedly calls you “stupid” in front of others.
  6. Blocking the Hallway: Someone stands in front of you in the hallway and refuses to let you pass unless you give them lunch money.
  7. Phone Threat: A classmate threatens to smash your phone if you don’t give them your charger.
  8. Silent Treatment: Your close friends suddenly stop talking to you and spread rumors you did something to upset them.

Each pair can reuse this deck for future practice or modify cards to match their experiences. Good luck standing up and speaking out!




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Quiz

Bullying Coping Strategies Quiz

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Slide Deck

Stand Up & Speak Out

• Define Bullying
• Practice Empathy & Assertive Responses
• Identify Coping Strategies

Welcome students; introduce the lesson and objectives: define bullying, practice empathy and assertive responses, identify coping strategies.

Defining Bullying

Bullying is repeated, aggressive behavior toward someone with less power or status.

Ask: “What is bullying?” Highlight that it’s repeated aggression with a power imbalance and note why empathy matters.

Why Empathy Matters

Empathy is understanding and sharing another’s feelings.
• Connects you with peers
• Defuses conflict
• Shows support to those being bullied

Define empathy and discuss why it's key to supporting peers and preventing bullying.

Watch Brené Brown explain empathy and its difference from sympathy.

Introduce the Brené Brown clip and ask students to look for how she defines empathy and why it matters.

Watch and observe how to respond with genuine empathy in everyday situations.

Show a real-life demonstration of active listening and supportive responses. Ask students to note specific empathy techniques used.

Respecting Boundaries

• “No” means no: always honor verbal boundaries
• Asking for consent shows respect
• Acknowledging “no” builds trust and safety
• Prevents bullying and empowers everyone

Discuss why respecting someone’s “no” is critical for personal safety and trust.

Types of Bullying

• Verbal: teasing, name-calling
• Social: exclusion, rumors
• Physical: hitting, pushing
• Cyber: mean texts, online rumors

Briefly define each type and invite students to give examples.

Station Activity Overview

We’ll work in pairs at two stations:

  1. Empathy Mapping Station
  2. Assertive Response Station

Goal: link empathy to boundary-respecting, assertive language.

Explain the upcoming station activity and goals.

Empathy Mapping Station

• Choose a Bullying Scenario Card
• Use worksheet to map:
– What is target feeling?
– What might they be thinking?
– What do they need?

Focus on understanding the target’s perspective.

At this station, students identify the target’s feelings, thoughts, and needs.

Assertive Response Station

• Rotate to new scenario card
• Use template to write an “I” statement:
– I feel ___ when you ___
– I need ___ (honor my “no”)
– Please stop ___ or I will ___

Focus on clear, respectful language.

At this station, students draft “I” statements that respect boundaries.

Coping Strategies

• Use “I” statements to express feelings
• Show empathy: listen and validate feelings
• Respect boundaries: respond to “no” immediately
• Enlist help from trusted adults
• Practice self-care (talk, journal, breathe)
• Report bullying to school staff

Highlight these strategies and ask students to note any new ideas, including empathy and boundary respect.

Quiz Time

Complete the Bullying Coping Strategies Quiz:
• Define bullying
• Choose the best assertive response
• Rate your confidence
• List school resources

Introduce the quiz and explain how to submit responses.

Resources & Closure

Remember:
• Counselors & Trusted Adults
• Anonymous Reporting Tools
• Peer Support Groups

Empathy and respect for “no” make a difference: take time to understand and support others.

Stand up for yourself and others!

Summarize, encourage application of skills, and point to support channels—empathy and boundaries included.

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