The word “bullying” gets thrown around a lot, but many high schoolers still don’t know how to recognize it—or what to do when they see it. They might call every conflict bullying, or fail to speak up when a serious situation unfolds around them.
The Let’s Talk About Bullying worksheet from Everyday Speech gives students language, clarity, and real strategies. It helps students distinguish bullying from teasing, recognize the signs, and build confidence in knowing how to respond.
In this article, you’ll get:
- A breakdown of what’s included in the worksheet
- A classroom lesson plan focused on discussion and reflection
- A free download link to get started right away
Why High School Students Still Need to Talk About Bullying
By high school, students may assume bullying is something that only happens in younger grades—but that’s far from true. Bullying can become more subtle, more social, and more personal as teens grow older. It often shows up through:
- Group exclusion
- Verbal jabs masked as “jokes”
- Public shaming or rumors
- Peer pressure to stay silent
Students may not always know when something has crossed the line—or what role they’re playing in the dynamic. This worksheet helps them reflect on:
- What bullying really looks like
- How to tell the difference between teasing and targeted harm
- What actions are available to both bystanders and targets
What’s Inside the “Let’s Talk About Bullying” Worksheet?
The Let’s Talk About Bullying worksheet includes eight open-ended prompts, designed to get students thinking about:
- The difference between friendly teasing and bullying
- What makes a situation serious
- How to speak up or offer support
- Who they can talk to when something doesn’t feel right
Sample questions include:
- “Do friends ever bully each other?”
- “When is it okay to ignore mean actions?”
- “What are some ways to stand up to bullies?”
- “Who could you talk to about bullying?”
Each prompt encourages reflection and dialogue—giving students a safe place to explore ideas and hear other perspectives.
How to Teach the “Let’s Talk About Bullying” Lesson
This lesson can be completed in one class period and is ideal for advisory sessions, health classes, or peer leadership programs. It’s built around discussion, not lecture, and is most effective when students feel safe to share.
Step 1: Define bullying clearly
Start by asking students:
- “What comes to mind when you hear the word bullying?”
- “Is everything that feels mean actually bullying?”
Use these answers to open up a shared definition. You might write on the board:
- Bullying is intentional, repeated, and involves a power imbalance.
- Teasing is not always harmful—but it can become hurtful or escalate.
Also introduce the four types of bullying (verbal, physical, social, and digital) and provide real-life examples of each.
Step 2: Lead a guided discussion using the worksheet
Pass out the worksheet and read each question together as a class. Students can respond in writing, in pairs, or through full-class discussion.
Key facilitation tips:
- There are no perfect answers—focus on reasoning, not “correctness.”
- Encourage students to consider multiple perspectives, including those of targets, bystanders, and aggressors.
- Gently challenge assumptions when necessary (e.g., “teasing is just part of friendship”) to help students explore deeper thinking.
Step 3: Discuss responses and connect to real life
Invite volunteers to share how they responded to different questions:
- “What’s the difference between a joke and something harmful?”
- “What makes someone feel safe or unsafe at school?”
- “What’s a small action you could take if you saw someone being excluded?”
Let students guide the discussion. You can reinforce helpful strategies like:
- Checking in with a peer who seems isolated
- Asking a trusted adult for help
- Not joining in on group behavior that targets others
Step 4: Wrap with a personal reflection or commitment
End with a short writing prompt or circle discussion: “What’s one way I can be an upstander this week?”
If appropriate, you can display student commitments or share them anonymously to build classroom accountability.
Why We Recommend This Resource
This worksheet helps students:
- Clarify what bullying looks like in their world
- Recognize their own role in supporting peers
- Reflect on situations that might otherwise go unnoticed
- Build a culture where kindness and directness are expected
Whether you’re working with freshmen or upperclassmen, this resource opens the door to conversations that matter.
Want More? Access Additional Free Resources!
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