Multiethnic group of teenage girls stacking their hands together as a team

Anti-bullying

In this lesson learners discuss their attitudes towards bullying and explore through dicussion and reading what they can do as bystanders when bullying is taking place. The lesson can be used for Anti-Bullying Week or as a stand-alone lesson.

Learners will explore the problem of bullies and how to behave if you are a bystander. Note that there is no emphasis on victims of bullying, because you may have victims in your own class and it is important to be sensitive about this. The aim is not to point the finger at anyone, but instead to discuss and question our beliefs about what bullying is and how it can be dealt with.

Learners begin the lesson by discussing their own attitudes towards bullies, bullying and the role of bystanders. Next, they read two texts about bullies and bystanders. Finally, the learners return to their original attitudes. They discuss to what extent our attitudes promote or prevent bullying. As a further optional activity, they prepare a poster for an anti-bullying campaign.

Lesson outcomes

  • Explore the role of bystanders in preventing and responding to bullying
  • Develop learners’ spoken fluency and improve reading skills
  • Develop higher-level critical thinking skills by encouraging learners to question their beliefs
  • Celebrate Anti-Bullying Week in November

Materials

Available as downloads. 

  • Lesson plan
  • Questionnaire
  • Worksheet A
  • Worksheet B

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I've found good materials and ideas for my lesson, though nowadays we also have to talk about cyberbullying.

Dear Kate, maybe you don´t remember me but I do.You visited the school where I worked many times.It was in the 90´s .It was PedroRuiz Gallo school and we used at that time, English For Schools textbook from Cambridge.It is my pleasure to greet you again. My name is Myria Karlovich.I appreciate very much all the orientations and your sharing like the one here to avoid bullying in the school and to reflect. Thank you very much again. It will be very nice hearing from you. A big hug, From Peru. Myria Karlovich
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Thank you very much, the lesson plan and relating materials have given me the possibility to set up an interesting lesson for teenagers.