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

Teasing or Bullying?

user image

Stephanie Baker

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Teasing or Bullying Lesson Plan

Students will distinguish harmless teasing from hurtful bullying by sorting scenarios and connecting examples to excerpts from Restart, building empathy and respectful behavior.

Understanding the difference between teasing and bullying helps students develop empathy, fosters a positive classroom culture, and reinforces lessons from Restart with real-life skills.

Audience

4th Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive scenario sorting and text-based discussion.

Materials

  • Teasing vs Bullying Scenarios, - Anchor Chart Template: Teasing and Bullying, - Exit Ticket: Identify Teasing or Bullying, - Copies of Restart novel excerpts, and - Sticky Notes (per student)

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

  • Print and cut out Teasing vs Bullying Scenarios cards
  • Download and review the Anchor Chart Template: Teasing and Bullying
  • Gather copies of key Restart novel excerpts and annotate relevant passages for discussion
  • Ready chart paper or whiteboard space and markers
  • Place sticky notes at each student seat

Step 1

Introduction and Hook

5 minutes

  • Display the Anchor Chart Template: Teasing and Bullying
  • Define 'Teasing' and 'Bullying', record student-friendly definitions on chart
  • Ask students to share quick examples of teasing they’ve experienced or witnessed
  • Emphasize feelings involved in each scenario

Step 2

Scenario Sorting

10 minutes

  • Pair students and distribute Teasing vs Bullying Scenarios
  • In pairs, sort each scenario card into 'Teasing' or 'Bullying'
  • Have pairs justify at least two of their choices to the class
  • Teacher circulates, prompting deeper thinking and guiding misconceptions

Step 3

Text Connection and Discussion

10 minutes

  • Provide each group with selected Restart excerpts showing teasing or bullying actions
  • Groups identify whether each excerpt is teasing or bullying and note evidence on sticky notes
  • Groups post sticky notes under the correct heading on the anchor chart
  • Facilitate a brief discussion linking character motivations and impacts on relationships

Step 4

Closure and Exit Ticket

5 minutes

  • Distribute Exit Ticket: Identify Teasing or Bullying
  • Students define teasing and bullying in their own words and classify a new scenario
  • Collect exit tickets to assess individual understanding and inform next steps
lenny

Slide Deck

Teasing or Bullying?

Understanding the Difference

Welcome everyone! Today we’re going to explore the difference between harmless teasing and hurtful bullying. Connect what we learn back to the novel Restart to see how characters treat one another.

Today's Goals

  • Define teasing and bullying in student-friendly terms
  • Practice sorting real-life scenarios
  • Connect examples to Restart novel excerpts
  • Reflect and share what we learn

Read each goal aloud. Emphasize how these skills will help us in our classroom and in our reading of Restart.

What is Teasing?

  • Playful or joking remarks aimed at someone
  • Often mutual, not meant to harm
  • Can be positive if everyone laughs together
  • Pay attention to how the person feels

Explain that teasing can sometimes be friendly but also can hurt feelings. Encourage students to share examples.

What is Bullying?

  • Intentional, repeated hurtful behavior
  • Power imbalance: stronger, older, or in a group
  • Can be physical, verbal, or social
  • Leaves the person feeling unsafe or upset

Contrast bullying with teasing. Stress the key elements: intent to harm, repetition, power imbalance.

Anchor Chart: Teasing vs Bullying

As we discuss and sort scenarios, we’ll record definitions, examples, and clues under each heading. Use the chart to guide our thinking.

Show the anchor chart template on screen. Explain that we’ll build on this throughout the lesson.

Activity: Scenario Sorting

  • Pair up and receive Teasing vs Bullying Scenarios cards
  • Sort each card into “Teasing” or “Bullying” piles
  • Choose two cards to explain your reasoning to the class

Distribute the scenario cards. Encourage pairs to discuss and justify their sorting. Circulate to prompt deeper thinking.

Activity: Text Connection

  • In groups, read selected novel excerpts
  • Decide if each is teasing or bullying
  • Write evidence on sticky notes and post under the correct heading on our anchor chart

Provide each group with excerpts from Restart. Model one example, then let groups work and post sticky notes.

Closure & Exit Ticket

  • Define teasing and bullying in your own words
  • Classify this new scenario: Exit Ticket: Identify Teasing or Bullying
  • Turn in when finished

Hand out exit tickets and clarify expectations. Collect tickets to assess understanding.

lenny

Worksheet

Teasing vs Bullying Scenarios

Instructions: Read each scenario below. For each one, decide whether it is Teasing or Bullying and explain your thinking.

  1. A group of friends jokingly calls one classmate “Giggles” whenever she laughs, and everyone—including the classmate—laughs together.

Teasing or Bullying? ______
Explain why:






  1. Every day at lunch, the same older student calls Maria “baby” in front of everyone. Maria feels embarrassed and sad.

Teasing or Bullying? ______
Explain why:






  1. Two classmates poke fun at each other’s bright-colored shoes and both smile while teasing back and forth.

Teasing or Bullying? ______
Explain why:






  1. Someone starts a mean rumor about Kevin during recess, telling everyone he cheated on a game, and Kevin ends up feeling left out.

Teasing or Bullying? ______
Explain why:






  1. During partner work, Lily imitates her friend’s funny voice—her friend laughs and teases Lily right back.

Teasing or Bullying? ______
Explain why:






  1. A student pushes another child into the mud repeatedly while classmates cheer and laugh at the victim.

Teasing or Bullying? ______
Explain why:






  1. Friends playfully tap each other’s shoulders in line, and no one seems upset by it.

Teasing or Bullying? ______
Explain why:






  1. A group of kids teases Emily about her homemade lunch every day, saying it smells bad, and she starts eating alone.

Teasing or Bullying? ______
Explain why:






  1. One student jokingly calls his friend “Einstein” for answering questions correctly; his friend smiles and thanks him.

Teasing or Bullying? ______
Explain why:






  1. A child is left out of every recess game by the same group, who say she’s “too slow” and won’t let her join.

Teasing or Bullying? ______
Explain why:






Use your answers to discuss how teasing can sometimes be friendly while bullying hurts and isolates others. Then return your worksheet to the teacher for review.

lenny
lenny

Activity

Anchor Chart: Teasing vs Bullying

TeasingBullying
Definition:



Definition:



Examples:
-

-

-

Examples:
-

-

-

Clues/Tips:
• How do they feel?
• Both people laugh

Clues/Tips:
• Intent to hurt or upset
• Happens again and again
• Power imbalance

Use this chart to record our group’s ideas as we sort scenarios and link to passages from Restart.

lenny
lenny

Worksheet

Exit Ticket: Identify Teasing or Bullying

Name: ____________________________ Date: _______________

  1. In your own words, define teasing:






  2. In your own words, define bullying:






  3. Read the scenario below. Is this teasing or bullying? Circle one and explain your thinking.

Scenario:
“During recess, Jordan keeps calling Alex ‘slowpoke’ every time they walk by, and other kids laugh too. Alex feels embarrassed and stays away from Jordan.”

Teasing or Bullying? ______

Explain why:






Please hand in your exit ticket before you leave.

lenny
lenny