Introduction
Bullying is an unfortunate reality that many students face. As educators, it is essential to teach our students not only how to recognize bullying but also how to stand up for others who are being bullied. This concept, known as being an Upstander, is a crucial skill in promoting a positive and supportive learning environment. In this blog post, we will discuss an easy-to-implement, no-prep activity to teach elementary students about being Upstanders, as well as provide discussion questions and related skills to further support their growth in this area.
No-Prep Activity
The “Upstander Role-Play” activity is a simple way to introduce the concept of being an Upstander to your students. It requires no preparation or materials, making it an easy addition to any lesson plan. Here’s how it works:
- Divide your students into small groups of three or four.
- Explain to the students that they will be role-playing a scenario in which one person is the bully, one person is the victim, and the remaining students are bystanders.
- Ask the students to come up with a bullying scenario and act it out, with the bystanders initially doing nothing.
- Next, have the bystanders practice becoming Upstanders by speaking up and saying phrases like, “No need to be mean,” “Come on, let’s be nice,” or “Why’d you say that?”
- After the role-play, discuss with the students how it felt to stand up for the person being bullied and how they can apply this skill in real-life situations.
Discussion Questions
- How did it feel to be the bystander during the role-play? What emotions did you experience?
- How did it feel to be the Upstander? What emotions did you experience?
- Why is it important to stand up for others who are being bullied?
- What are some other ways you can be an Upstander in your school and community?
- How can we create a school environment where everyone feels empowered to be an Upstander?
Related Skills
In addition to teaching students how to be Upstanders, it is essential to foster other related skills that support social-emotional learning. Some of these skills include:
- Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
- Active listening: Paying close attention to what others are saying and responding thoughtfully.
- Conflict resolution: Learning to resolve disagreements in a constructive and respectful manner.
- Assertiveness: Expressing oneself clearly and confidently, while respecting the rights and feelings of others.
- Teamwork: Working collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal.
Next Steps
Teaching students to be Upstanders is an important step in creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment. For more resources and free samples of skill-based activities, including those related to being an Upstander, sign up at Everyday Speech sample materials.
By incorporating these principles and activities into your lesson plans, you can empower your students to stand up against bullying and foster a positive, supportive school community.
