Teens spend a huge portion of their lives online—but they’re not always prepared for what happens there. Messages can be misread, group chats can turn mean quickly, and social media posts can escalate in ways that leave real damage.
The Cyberbullying Scenarios worksheet from Everyday Speech offers students a safe space to reflect on real online situations and how they would respond. Paired with a brief explainer video, this free high school resource prompts meaningful discussion, critical thinking, and better online behavior.
In this article, you’ll get:
- A breakdown of what makes this resource unique
- Ideas for how to use the worksheet and video together
- A full classroom discussion plan
- A free download link to get started
Why Teach Cyberbullying Differently?
Cyberbullying doesn’t always look like the in-person bullying students are more familiar with. It can be:
- Anonymous
- Public and permanent
- Shared or reshared quickly
- Harder to escape, even at home
And because it often happens in group chats, comment threads, or social platforms, students may not recognize it as bullying until it’s gone too far.
This resource helps students:
- Identify patterns of harmful online behavior
- Think critically about their role as bystanders or participants
- Reflect on their own digital habits and values
- Practice responding in ways that protect themselves and others
What’s Included in the “Cyberbullying Scenarios” Worksheet?
This free activity includes two parts:
- A short video: The video introduces what cyberbullying is and how it differs from in-person bullying. It provides foundational context without lecturing—ideal for getting students thinking before the worksheet.
- A worksheet with real-world scenarios: The worksheet presents example situations that students are likely to relate to, such as:
- Being left out of a group chat
- Seeing someone post embarrassing photos of a classmate
- A friend sharing screenshots of private conversations
Each scenario asks students to reflect:
- What’s happening here?
- Is this cyberbullying?
- What could someone do in this situation?
These open-ended questions invite students to think through nuance, consider different perspectives, and practice safe, respectful online behavior.
How to Teach the “Cyberbullying Scenarios” Lesson
You can use this resource as a standalone class period or as part of a larger unit on digital behavior, online safety, or peer interactions.
Step 1: Set the context
Start by asking your students:
- What’s the difference between bullying and cyberbullying?
- Why might online situations feel more confusing or intense?
Let students share their ideas. Capture key words on the board: privacy, group pressure, digital permanence, screenshots, etc.
Step 2: Watch the video
Play the Everyday Speech sample video. Afterward, ask:
- What stood out to you?
- Did anything feel familiar or surprising?
- What did the video get right about how things happen online?
Step 3: Work through the worksheet
Pass out the Cyberbullying Scenarios worksheet. Students can complete it individually, in pairs, or small groups.
For each scenario:
- Ask students to read the situation carefully
- Answer the guiding questions
- Highlight what someone could do to respond or get support
Optional: Invite students to share their answers and reasoning. This often leads to deeper conversation about real challenges they’ve seen or experienced.
Step 4: Reinforce takeaways
End with a class discussion:
- What makes cyberbullying difficult to recognize or stop?
- What does it look like to be a helpful bystander online?
- What’s one thing you want to remember next time you see something that feels off?
Remind students that they don’t have to solve everything alone. They can always talk to a trusted adult if something online feels unsafe or overwhelming.
Why We Recommend This Resource
This activity supports students by:
- Providing relevant, realistic scenarios for reflection
- Encouraging personal responsibility and peer awareness
- Opening the door to honest conversation around online behavior
- Helping students understand how their choices affect others
Whether you use it in advisory, health class, or a digital literacy unit, this resource gives students a chance to pause and think critically about how they show up online.
Want More? Access Additional Free Resources!
Everyday Speech is a no-prep digital curriculum that combines evidence-based video modeling, interactive web games, and digital and printable worksheets to make teaching social skills easy.
We offer a free 30-day trial where you can use our thousands of video lessons, worksheets, and games to teach social skills.
Here’s an example video modeling lesson for helping students understand bullying from our curriculum:
