Lesson Plan
Vocab Power-Up Lesson Plan
Students will learn and practice key academic and bullying-related vocabulary, enabling them to recognize, prevent, and speak up about bullying through interactive activities and discussions.
Understanding and using precise vocabulary empowers students to identify bullying behaviors, communicate effectively about incidents, and foster a safer, more supportive school environment.
Audience
7th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on definitions, pair work, and scenario discussions.
Materials
Key Vocabulary List, Vocabulary Practice Worksheet, Scenario Discussion Cards, and Whiteboard and markers
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Print copies of Key Vocabulary List, Vocabulary Practice Worksheet, and Scenario Discussion Cards
- Review definitions and examples for each term on the Key Vocabulary List
- Prepare whiteboard with headings for “General Academic Vocabulary” and “Bullying Vocabulary”
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Greet students and state the lesson’s purpose: to learn words that help us talk about feelings and behaviors around bullying
- Activate prior knowledge: ask students to share any words they already know related to bullying or feelings
- Write a couple of examples on the whiteboard to spark interest
Step 2
Vocabulary Exploration
10 minutes
- Distribute Key Vocabulary List
- Review definitions together, using student-friendly language and examples
- Include:
• General Academic Vocabulary: Empathy, Perspective, Conflict, Resolution
• Bullying-Specific Vocabulary: Harassment, Bystander, Exclusion, Target, Upstander - Model how to use each term in a sentence; then have students turn and talk to a partner to paraphrase definitions
Step 3
Interactive Practice
8 minutes
- Hand out Vocabulary Practice Worksheet
- Students complete matching and fill-in-the-blank activities using the vocabulary
- Circulate to prompt students to use the words in full sentences and clarify misconceptions
Step 4
Discussion & Reflection
5 minutes
- Divide students into small groups and give each group a Scenario Discussion Card
- Groups identify the bullying behavior in the scenario and pick three vocabulary terms that apply
- Each group shares their scenario and chosen terms with the class
Step 5
Closure
2 minutes
- Summarize the key vocabulary on the whiteboard
- Ask students how they might use these words to speak up or help someone who’s being bullied
- Encourage students to listen for and practice these terms throughout the week
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Slide Deck
Vocab Power-Up
Objective: Learn and practice key academic and bullying-related vocabulary to identify, prevent, and speak up against bullying.
Welcome students to the “Vocab Power-Up” lesson. Point out the gradient background and introduce the objective. Remind yourself to keep energy high and invite participation.
Introduction
• State lesson purpose: talking about feelings and bullying behaviors
• Activate prior knowledge: share known words about bullying or feelings
• Record a couple of examples on the board
(5 min) Greet students and explain today’s purpose. Ask: “What words do you already know about feelings or bullying?” Write two student suggestions on the board to spark interest.
Vocabulary Exploration
• General Academic Vocabulary:
– Empathy
– Perspective
– Conflict
– Resolution
• Bullying-Specific Vocabulary:
– Harassment
– Bystander
– Exclusion
– Target
– Upstander
(10 min) Distribute the Key Vocabulary List. Read each definition in student-friendly language. Model usage in a sentence. Have pairs paraphrase and share back.
Interactive Practice
• Complete matching and fill-in-the-blank activities with today’s words
• Use each term in a full sentence when prompted
• Ask questions if any definitions are unclear
(8 min) Hand out the Vocabulary Practice Worksheet. Circulate to assist and prompt full-sentence responses. Clarify any misunderstandings.
Discussion & Reflection
• In groups, read your scenario card
• Identify the bullying behavior shown
• Choose three vocabulary terms that apply
• Share your scenario and terms with the class
(5 min) Form small groups and give each group a Scenario Discussion Card. Support groups as they identify behaviors and select terms. Invite one group to share.
Closure
• Review key vocabulary on the whiteboard
• Discuss using these terms to speak up or help someone
• Encourage listening for and practicing these words all week
(2 min) Summarize the ten key words on the board. Ask: “How might you use these words to help someone being bullied?” Encourage continued practice.
Worksheet
Vocabulary Practice Worksheet
Use the words from the Key Vocabulary List to complete the activities below.
Part 1: Matching
Match each term in Column A with the correct definition in Column B. Write the letter of the definition next to the term.
Column A:
- Empathy: ____
- Perspective: ____
- Conflict: ____
- Resolution: ____
- Harassment: ____
- Bystander: ____
- Exclusion: ____
- Target: ____
- Upstander: ____
Column B:
A. When someone is chosen to be the victim of bullying.
B. The ability to understand how someone else feels.
C. A disagreement or clash between people.
D. Someone who intervenes to support someone being bullied.
E. The act of leaving someone out on purpose.
F. The act of repeatedly bothering or annoying someone.
G. Solving a problem or dispute.
H. The way someone views a situation.
I. A person who witnesses bullying but does not take part.
Part 2: Fill in the Blank
Complete each sentence with the correct vocabulary word. Use each word only once.
- Showing __________ means imagining how someone else might feel.
- When two friends disagree over a game, they experience a __________.
- After talking it out, they found a peaceful __________ to their problem.
- __________ in class can be hurtful when someone keeps making fun of others.
- Ending __________ by inviting everyone to play helps someone feel included.
- A __________ might feel ignored or different from the rest of the group.
- It takes courage to be an __________ and stand up for someone being bullied.
- Understanding another person’s __________ helps us see their point of view.
- A __________ watches bullying happen but does nothing to stop it.
Part 3: Sentence Writing
Choose one term from the general academic vocabulary (Empathy, Perspective, Conflict, Resolution) and one from the bullying-specific vocabulary (Harassment, Bystander, Exclusion, Target, Upstander). Write one sentence for each word to show you understand its meaning.
Reading
Key Vocabulary List
General Academic Vocabulary
- Empathy
Definition: The ability to understand and share how another person feels.
Example: When Mia saw her friend upset after a bad grade, she showed empathy by listening and saying, “I’m here for you.” - Perspective
Definition: The way someone views or thinks about a situation.
Example: From Jamal’s perspective, the class project was confusing, but after hearing his partner’s view, he understood the steps more clearly. - Conflict
Definition: A disagreement or clash between people’s ideas, goals, or actions.
Example: A conflict started when two teammates both wanted to present the same slide during their project. - Resolution
Definition: The process of finding a solution to a problem or disagreement.
Example: After talking it out, the classmates reached a resolution by dividing the work evenly and helping each other.
Bullying-Specific Vocabulary
- Harassment
Definition: Repeatedly bothering, teasing, or threatening someone in a way that hurts their feelings or safety.
Example: Constant jokes about Alex’s accent became harassment when he felt embarrassed and upset every day. - Bystander
Definition: A person who sees bullying happen but does not join in or try to stop it.
Example: When Sarah witnessed the teasing at recess but stayed silent, she was acting as a bystander. - Exclusion
Definition: Deliberately leaving someone out of a group, activity, or conversation.
Example: Exclusion occurred when no one invited Rahul to sit with them at lunch. - Target
Definition: The person who is chosen to be bullied or harassed.
Example: Because he wore different clothes, Jamal became the target of mean comments in the hallway. - Upstander
Definition: Someone who stands up for a person being bullied by speaking up or getting help.
Example: When Emma saw the teasing, she became an upstander by telling the bully to stop and walking with her friend to the counselor’s office.
Activity
Scenario Discussion Cards
Divide into small groups and select one card. Read the scenario, then discuss and record your answers to each question. After 5 minutes, be ready to share your group’s ideas.
Card 1
Scenario: At lunchtime, Maya and her friends are chatting about weekend plans. They notice that Lucas is standing alone. Maya whispers to her friends, “Let’s not invite Lucas—he’s so weird.” They continue talking without including him.
Discussion Questions:
- What bullying behavior is happening here?
- Who is the target? Are there any bystanders or upstanders in this scenario?
- Choose three vocabulary terms from our list that apply. Explain how each term fits this scenario.
Card 2
Scenario: During art class, Devin accidentally drops his paintbrush. A group of classmates laughs and calls him clumsy. Over the next few days, they keep making similar jokes about him being “untalented.”
Discussion Questions:
- What bullying behavior is happening here?
- Who is the target? Are there any bystanders or upstanders in this scenario?
- Choose three vocabulary terms from our list that apply. Explain how each term fits this scenario.
Card 3
Scenario: In an online class chat, someone posts an unflattering photo of Sara without her permission. Several students comment with mean emojis. One student, Jamal, notices and thinks about reporting it but doesn’t say anything.
Discussion Questions:
- What bullying behavior is happening here?
- Who is the target? Who is acting as a bystander? Is anyone an upstander?
- Choose three vocabulary terms from our list that apply. Explain how each term fits this scenario.
Card 4
Scenario: During gym class, Mia sees Aria getting pushed and teased for missing a catch. Mia steps in, tells the bully to stop, and helps Aria to the teacher.
Discussion Questions:
- What bullying behavior is happening here?
- Who is the target? Who is the upstander in this scenario?
- Choose three vocabulary terms from our list that apply. Explain how each term fits this scenario.