Bully-Free Zone
How does bullying behavior affect the school community and what is each person's responsibility to address it?
Photo credit: Curious Children Collaborate by Julie Jordan Scott is licensed under
Learners read a variety of literature and discuss bullying from different perspectives. They take a survey and analyze the data collected to identify whether bullying is an issue in their school or community. They form groups to develop skits that illustrate "tools" for addressing bullying behavior.
In this lesson, learners identify bullying behavior using two literature books, Mr. Lincoln's Way and The Secret Bully. They compare and contrast two examples of bullying behavior portrayed in the books and create a peer/staff/family survey to research bullying behavior in their own school community.
The learners reflect on a literature book written from the viewpoint of someone who used to bully others, Confessions of a Former Bully. They analyze the data collected from their survey to determine how bullying behavior affects their school. They learn that addressing bullying behavior in their community is an act for the common good, also known as philanthropy. They form groups and develop skits that illustrate "tools" for addressing the behavior.
The learners present skits share strategies for addressing bullying behavior. They make a plan to reduce bullying in their school or community.