Theme: Making a Stand Film: Cheaper by the Dozen (PG) 1:13 This older brother did not want to move to a new city and a new school. He did not ask to be laughed at by the bullies at school. He is sick and tired of being on the receiving end of the taunting. What will keep him from making a very big mistake?
This 2003 film from 20th Century Fox is directed by Shawn Levy, written by Sam Harper, Joel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow and stars Steve Martin, Bonnie Hunt, Tom Welling, Jared Padalecki, and Hillary Duff.
Teaser Question: When is it better to walk away? When is it not?
Going Deeper: Why do bullies say hurtful things or try to pick a fight? What are they afraid of?
"There was never a good war or bad peace." - Benjamin Franklin
"Take care, don't fight, and remember: if you do not choose to lead, you will forever be led by other." - J. Michael Straczynski
Theme: Stopping the Harrasment Film: Radio (PG) 2:30
Radio is a mentally disabled boy that lives in the neighborhood. When a football goes over the fence, Radio picks it up and takes it with him, not understanding that the players were taunting him and wanted the ball back. They decide they need to get even, but Coach Jones catches them in the act.
This 2003 movie by Sony Pictures, directed by Michael Tollin and written by Mike Rich, starts Ed Harris, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sarah Drew.
Teaser Question: What do you think Coach Jones should do about the situation? Will it work?
Going Deeper: What happens when adults get involved with a bully? Can teachers or parents change the behavior of bullies? Should one of the other players have tried to stop it? Why or why not?
"Do you want to be a power in the world? Be yourself." - Ralph Waldo Trine
"What is genius but the power of expressing a new individuality?" - Elizabeth Barrett Browing
Theme: Scapegoating Film: Toy Story 3 (G) 2:14
Lots'o Huggin' Bear, Lotso for short, rules the Sunnyside Daycare, but he is not as nice as his name would imply. He has a bitter streak that causes him to be mean to the other toys. He wasn't always this way, but circumstances in his past, has made him not trust the love of others.
This 2010 animation film by Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios, written by Walt Disney Studios, stars the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusak, and John Goodman.
Teaser Question: Why does Lots'o turn on his toy friends?
Going Deeper: Have you ever blamed someone else for something that person did not do? Why? What were you afraid of?
"When a man points a finger at someone else, he should remember that four of his fingers are pointing at himself." - Louis Nizer
"All can be great, because all can serve." - Martin Luther King Jr.
Theme: Understanding Your Enemies Film: The War (PG-13) 3:07 It is no fun to be laughed at and beaten up. So when this happens to a young boy at the county fair, he watches very carefully to see what his father will do to the kids who humiliated and hurt him.
This 1994 film from Universal Studios is directed by Jon Avnet, written by Kathy McWorter, and stars Kevin Costner, Elijah Wood, Mare Winningham, and Lexi Randall.
Teaser Question: Will kindness work with bullies?
Going Deeper: Why is it so hard to be nice to someone who has been so mean toward you? What happens if we choose to be mean to them?
"Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate." - Albert Schweitzer
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever waster." -Aesop
Moving Students to Action: Character "Word Wall" A "word wall" can help your students build/develop their vocabulary in terms of meaning, context, and relevance The words below come directly from the various video clips for knowing yourself, peer pressure, ad understanding bullies or the question prompt at the end of each clip. Developing a word wall is a great way to introduce key vocabulary terms at the beginning of a unit or piece by piece as your class explores a unit of study. Peer Pressure Responsibility Solidarity Confident Clique Self-Respect Conformity Bully Courage Individuality Friend Confront
Keeping a Journal: As an in-class activity, ask your students to write four entries in their journal under the heading of "Perseverance" answering the following statement: 1. Of all the examples of knowing yourself demonstrated in the clips, which was your favorite? Why? 2. What can you do to put a stop to the culture of bullying? 3. Have you ever felt bullied by someone? What made you feel this way? 4. What kinds of consequences do kids who are bullied suffer?
Activity 1: Eyewitness Performance Objective: Responds to literal, inferential, and critical questions.
Materials: -Paper, Pencils, -1 teacher copy of the Bystander Quiz (link below) Teacher Instructions: Read the following aloud to your students before giving them the oral quiz: The first step in becoming a Helpful Bystander is to understand what we know about this important role. 1. You will privately record your own True or False answers to the Bystander Quiz as I read them aloud. At the end we will compare your answers to the Explanatory Statements. 2. Discuss with your students what it means to be a bystander who witnesses or hears about bullying. 3. Read each statement aloud again and have the students tell you, with a show of hands, if the statement is True or False. Tally their responses. 4. Repeat this process for each statement. 5. After you have tallied the quiz, read each statement again and reveal the explanatory statements. Discuss why an accurate understanding of the influence of bystanders is important.
Activity 2: What IF... Performance Objective: Identifies and uses alternative methods of conflict resolution.
Materials: -1 Copy of scenario
Teacher Instructions: Read the following aloud: Bullying can be seen as a destructive game, devised by the bully. The rules are simple: The bully decides when to start the game, where it will be played, and who is allowed to watch. The bully picks the players. The bully sets the stakes: He or she can demand to control territory, objects, or privileges. But the real “fun” comes from showing that he or she has the power to control the people around him or her. Bystanders must accept or encourage what the bully does. The first round of the game is over when the bully wins. Then the bully can play again. The bully can play the game as often as he or she likes, for as long as the fun lasts. These are the bully’s rules. But what if you don’t follow them?
The bully doesn’t have a game—unless you play it.
What Would Happen If? Bullies like to set the rules and they expect them to be followed. But what would happen if the rules changed: if a victim didn’t accept his or her punishment, or a bystander did more than stand by? This activity is designed to help both victims and bystanders end the bullying game, by finding new ways to respond to the bully. It empowers students to change the rules, see available options, and appreciate how their actions can make a difference. 1. Read this scenario to the students: CARINA’S STORY Carina didn’t understand why Nel had suddenly become so mean. They used to be best friends, but now Nel barely spoke to her. Even worse, Carina knew Nel talked about her because she often saw Nel whispering to her new friends whenever Carina walked by. Yesterday, during soccer, none of the girls passed the ball to Carina. The coach didn’t seem to notice. Carina found out later that Nel had told them not to. Nel said it would be funny.
2. Discuss the following: Who are the Child Bystanders? Who are the Adult Bystanders?
3. Ask children to discuss What would happen if . . . ? • Carina attempted to fight back by threatening or hitting Nel? • Carina ignored Nel’s whispers? • The other girls didn’t whisper with Nel about Carina? • One of the other girls passed the ball to Carina anyway? • The coach noticed Carina was being excluded and asked the girls what was going on? What else could the Bully, Victim, or Bystanders have done?
Activity 3: iPhone Door Decorating Performance Objective: Demonstrates social discipline and appropriate group contribution.
Materials: -5x5 inch square paper -Colored Pencils, markers, pencils, glue, scissors to round the edges of each square -Large black bulletin board paper big enough to cover most of your classroom door. Cut into a rectangle with rounded edges, like an iPhone screen, with a round home button drawn at the center of the bottom and a long skinny oval in the middle at the top for a speaker spot.
Teacher Instructions: 1. Brainstorm a list of apps a person might use if they or a friend were experiencing bullying. Such as the examples as the picture below. Have students use their square sheets to draw and app icon that would appear for their app name. Placing each one as they are done, and placing the whole "iPhone" screen on your door.