Students don’t need a long lecture to understand that bullying is wrong—but they do need support figuring out what it actually looks like, how to name it, and what to do when they experience it or witness it.
The Handling Teasing and Bullying poster from Everyday Speech gives students a simple, visual framework for understanding the different forms bullying can take—and clear next steps they can follow when they’re not sure how to respond.
In this article, we’ll break down:
- What’s included in the poster
- How to teach a complete bullying prevention lesson around it
- Optional activities to extend the learning and deepen impact
- A free download link to get started
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Why It’s Important to Teach Specific Anti-Bullying Behaviors
Most students understand that bullying is harmful. What they often don’t understand is what bullying looks like in real life. Some students call every disagreement bullying. Others overlook serious behavior because it is subtle, social, or disguised as a joke.
This is where direct instruction matters. When we break down the different types of bullying and give students examples they can recognize, we help them develop clarity and confidence. The poster covers four core types of bullying: physical, verbal, social, and digital. It provides simple, concrete examples of each.
Teaching these distinctions helps students:
- Recognize patterns of harmful behavior that may otherwise go unchecked
- Avoid minimizing or ignoring situations that cause harm
- Respond with clear, appropriate action
- Know how to seek support when they need it or when they see someone else struggling
The poster does more than raise awareness. It gives students tools and language to handle real situations, which can prevent bullying from escalating or becoming normalized.
What’s Included in the Antibullying Poster?
The Handling Teasing and Bullying poster is a student-facing visual that includes:
- A breakdown of the four types of bullying, each with a short definition and visual icon
- Simple steps for responding to bullying, whether the student is directly involved or a witness
- A reminder that support is always available and that no one has to deal with bullying alone
The language is straightforward and approachable, making it ideal for use in upper elementary or middle school classrooms. Teachers can display it year-round as a reminder of class values and student responsibilities.
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How to Teach the Antibullying Poster
You can introduce the poster through a 30-minute classroom lesson. The steps below help you build context, lead a group discussion, and give students space to reflect.
Step 1: Build a shared definition of bullying
Start with a few questions to open the conversation:
- What does bullying mean to you?
- How is bullying different from teasing or conflict?
- Can bullying happen online or in group chats?
Write student responses on the board. Use their input to develop a shared definition. Clarify that bullying is repeated, intentional, and often involves a power imbalance. Explain that there are different types of bullying, and not all are obvious.
Step 2: Explore the poster together
Pass out individual copies or display the poster for the class. Walk through each type of bullying together, pausing to ask:
- What does this type of bullying look like in real life?
- How might someone feel in this situation?
- What would you do if you saw this happening?
Use real or hypothetical examples your students can relate to. The goal is to make these concepts concrete, not abstract.
Step 3: Reflect and personalize
Give students time to reflect. You can choose one of these formats:
- Journal prompt: Write about a time you saw someone being left out or targeted. What happened? What could someone have done?
- Partner discussion: How can you tell when a joke stops being funny? What can you say to a friend who is being hurtful?
Encourage students to share if they feel comfortable, but don’t require it. The goal is to help them connect this lesson to their everyday experiences.
Step 4: Create a class commitment
As a closing activity, ask:
- What kind of classroom do we want to be?
- What actions can we take to help everyone feel safe?
Have students help write a class agreement. This could include statements like:
- We speak up when we see something wrong.
- We treat others with kindness, even when it is hard.
- We get help when someone needs support.
- We include others and notice when someone feels left out.
Display this agreement next to the poster to reinforce the message long after the lesson ends.
Optional Follow-Up Activities
You can continue the conversation over time with any of these low-prep activities:
- Helping Hands Wall: Students trace their hand and write five ways to support someone being bullied. Post around the classroom.
- Peer Support Pledge: Students write and sign a personal commitment to look out for one another.
- Open Mic Day: Give students a chance to share their thoughts or stories in a structured, safe space. This can be optional, anonymous, or spoken aloud.
Why We Recommend This Resource
This poster is more than a visual aid. It supports students by:
- Naming behaviors that may feel hard to describe
- Breaking down the idea of bullying into types students can clearly recognize
- Teaching specific responses students can use right away
- Creating a visible reminder that every student has a role to play in creating a safe school environment
It also makes it easier for teachers and school staff to reinforce the same message across classrooms and grades.
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.
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Here’s an example video modeling lesson for helping students understand bullying from our curriculum:
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