Bullying: Lessons  

Bullying: Building a Definition

5 student pages +5 Teacher pages + 2 overheads
"You may have a gut feeling of what bullying is and be able to point to an action and say “Hey, that is bullying”. But to facilitate classroom discussion, it can help to have a more concrete definition. Further, if students have a commonly understood definition to refer to, and have experience applying it, they may also more easily differentiate bullying from other behaviours such as a disagreement or argument between equals. If students can clearly identify the behaviour and understand what they are seeing, they may be more likely to report the behaviour or intervene."

This packages underlines the importance of defining bullying. Students are involved in developing a functional definition and develop and apply their understanding of bullying through several formative case studies. An additional worksheet is offered for evaluating examples of bullying in literature. Two overheads are included to support discussion and evaluation of responses.

Bullying Guidelines for Discussion

2 teacher pages
"When discussing issues in the classroom it is important to set out clear expectations for appropriate participation. When dealing with issues such as bullying, it is important that all of the participants feel safe about contributing to the discussion and that the discussion does not become a forum for further bullying to occur."

This page can be used as a guide for developing guidelines for discussion with your students. While the guidelines are suitable for any type of discussion, these pages also explore how the guidelines can be used to focus on bully prevention.

Bullying Empathy Building Activity

3 student + 3 teacher pages
"Empathy is the ability to identify and understand other's feelings. Building an understanding of others feelings is an important part of bullying prevention. The bully often doesn't understand the impact of their actions. When bystanders to bullying understand how others feel they are more likely to intervene rather than participate. The following scenarios encourage the exploration of what it feels like to be bullied."

This activity explores the emotional impact of bullying and intervening as a bystander.

Rules and Bylaws: Making Your Own Anti-Bullying Rule

3 student pages
"There may be changes and adaptations to rules and over time in order to respond to arising issues, but a cultural response to any community issue may be the most pervasive and effective response. How does your school or community foster a caring and supportive culture – not just through its rules and policy but through its actions? What are some specific examples that you see?"

This activity explores the purpose and effect of rules which govern behaviour within the school and in the community. A connection is made between classroom rules, school rules and responding to bullying. Students also have an opportunity to explore bullying by-laws form a number of Alberta communities and assess their potential impact. The activity culminates with students constructing and evaluating an anti-bullying rule for their classroom or school.

Bullying and The Law

2 student pages
"While bullying is not an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada, many of the behaviours that may be part of the bullying are. While all incidences of bullying may not be criminal in nature they may have real consequences for individuals at school, in their community and at home. These patterns of behaviour that are rehearsed or normalized as a youth may have serious consequences when they are carried over or continued into adulthood and can have serious legal consequences. "

This activity addresses and explores the legal consequences of bullying particularly in relation to the Criminal Code of Canada.