Bullying Prevention Lesson Plan: Strengthen Yourself From the Inside Out

Activity

Have students pair up. Pass out paper and have them write the following heading: “Talents I Have and Things I’m Good At.”

In pairs, have students discuss and list everything each of them is good at, including things such as help- ing, caring, being a true friend, being funny, and being kind. Encourage them to list at least ten things. Model ways kids can encourage each other to come up with more ideas. For example, a partner can ask, “What else are you good at?” or say, “I’ve noticed that you’re good at ________.” Allow five minutes or less for this activ- ity; circulate and give coaching as needed.

When the lists are complete, have students exchange papers with their partners. On the back of their partner’s sheet, have them each write a para- graph of affirmation about the partner, elaborating on all positive qualities they have noticed or discussed. You can model this ahead of time or read aloud the following example:

Dear Alex,

I think you’re a really cool person. You’re funny and nice. I would have been scared moving here and being the new kid in the class, but you handled it really well. I know you’re good at math, building things, and run- ning. It’s cool the way you can explain a math problem to people when they don't get it. It's been really nice to get to know you.

Mark

After students are done writing, have them exchange papers again, read the note from their partner, and then put their paper with the note into their journals. Then have them turn to a clean page and write the following heading: “I Did It.” Tell them to take a minute or two to write at least three things they accomplished today. An accomplishment can be as simple as “I handed in my homework on time.”

Discussion

Gather students back in a circle and ask: How can the lists and paragraphs you wrote today help you strengthen yourself from the inside out? Discuss. Make sure students understand that focusing on their strengths and accomplishments will help them gain confidence and remember their own worth and value. Ask: How can this help you be more bully-proof? How can it help you find the courage to be an upstander or to stop bullying?

Ask students what else makes them feel confident and happy. Discuss and have students write down other strengthening activities they can do. Say: For example, if you like to draw, do it as often as you can.

Wrap-Up

Tell students to add to their “Talents I Have and Things I’m Good At” and “I Did It” lists every single day, noting all their capabilities and accomplishments, large and small.

Let students know that these lists are an ongoing way to strengthen good feelings about themselves. Remind them to go back to their lists and the affirmation their partner wrote about them whenever they need to build their confidence or courage “muscles.”