Standing up to Bullying Lesson Plan

The VotesforSchools lesson plan for Primary 5-7 students tackles the sensitive issue of bullying and the complexities involved in standing up against it. The lesson's primary objectives are to facilitate a discussion on the ease or difficulty of confronting bullying and to explore various methods to effectively stand up to it. The lesson begins with a review of the previous week's topic, setting the stage for an engaging and topical discussion. Students are then introduced to the current VoteTopic, which coincides with Anti-Bullying Week, fostering an understanding of the importance of the subject at hand.

During the lesson, students participate in interactive activities designed to provoke thought and encourage action. One such activity is "Get up, stand up," where students physically stand up or remain seated to express their perception of the ease of speaking out against different examples of bullying observed in school. This is followed by an exercise where, in pairs or as a class, they read letters from children seeking advice on bullying situations. Here, students offer their recommendations and consider potential barriers to speaking out. To conclude, individuals articulate their final thoughts by completing the sentence: "Standing up against bullying is...", using suggested terms or coming up with their own. The lesson wraps up with a vote, where students weigh the arguments and cast their vote on the issue, promoting democratic engagement and critical thinking.