In this blog post, we will explore the important concept of understanding the difference between laughing with someone and laughing at someone, especially when it comes to middle school students. The ability to distinguish between the two can have a significant impact on the social-emotional well-being of students and help create a more supportive and inclusive environment.

Introduction

As educators, we strive to teach our students valuable social skills that will help them navigate their relationships with peers and foster a positive school environment. One such skill is recognizing the difference between laughing with someone and laughing at someone. When friends laugh with each other, they share a positive bond and strengthen their connections. However, when someone is laughed at, it can lead to feelings of embarrassment, hurt, and isolation. By teaching students to be aware of this distinction, we can promote empathy, compassion, and understanding among middle school students.

No-Prep Activity

Here’s an activity that requires no preparation or materials from the educator. This activity will help students practice their ability to identify the difference between laughing with and laughing at someone:

1. Divide the class into small groups of 3-4 students.
2. Ask each group to come up with two scenarios: one where they are laughing with someone, and one where they are laughing at someone.
3. Have each group act out their scenarios in front of the class.
4. After each performance, ask the audience to discuss whether the scenario represented “laughing with” or “laughing at” someone and why they think so.
5. As a class, discuss the feelings and emotions experienced by the person being laughed at in each scenario and how they could have responded differently to create a more positive outcome.

Discussion Questions

These questions can be used to further stimulate discussions about the differences between laughing with and laughing at someone:

1. Why is it important to be aware of the difference between laughing with and laughing at someone?
2. How can you tell if someone is laughing with you or at you? What are some signs to look for?
3. How do you feel when you are laughed at? How can you respond in a way that shows empathy and understanding?
4. What can you do if you notice someone being laughed at? How can you support them and help create a more positive environment?
5. How can understanding the difference between laughing with and laughing at someone help you build better relationships with your peers?

Related Skills

Teaching students the difference between laughing with and laughing at someone is just one aspect of social-emotional learning. Other relevant skills for middle school students include:

• Active listening and effective communication
• Understanding and managing emotions
• Building empathy and compassion
• Conflict resolution and problem-solving
• Developing and maintaining positive relationships

Next Steps

If you’re interested in exploring more activities and resources to help teach middle school students about the difference between laughing with and laughing at someone, as well as other essential social-emotional learning skills, consider signing up for free sample materials at Everyday Speech. Their comprehensive platform offers a wide range of engaging and effective resources designed to support educators in teaching social-emotional learning skills to students of all ages.