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October is National Bullying Prevention Month!

Although highlighted in this month, anti-bullying awareness should be practiced every day of the year.  If you SEE bullying taking place, SPEAK UP!  

1. Check out this short video at the Cartoon Network about joining the "I Speak Up" campaign
2. Have kids read this short saying: "Sticks and stones may break your bones but names can never hurt you."  Is this a true statement? Explain your answer. Personally, I never thought this saying to be true. Words are very powerful and negative words can and do hurt....a lot!  
3. Discussion Questions to ask Students:
A. What is your definition of a bully?  What are some examples of bullying?
B. Why do you think some people are bullies?
C. If you see someone being bullied, what could YOU do?
D.  If YOU are being bullied, what could YOU do?
E. Have you ever been bullied? How did you feel? What did you do?
F. Have YOU ever bullied someone else? Have you ever been asked by others to join them in bullying someone else? How did you react to this? Take the "Are YOU Bulling Checklist":
G. How can you HELP someone that is being bullied. Make a list. Check with this site:

4. A great start to discussing bullying might be to read about Hans Christian Andersen, the author of "The Ugly Duckling". Hans was often teased as a boy. He was very tall and skinny. He was called "scarecrow" by neighborhood children. One day, he actually climbed a tree to get away from bullies who were chasing him. Then, he got tangled and stuck. His father had to come help get Hans out of the tree.  Check out my resource, a play on Hans Christian Andersen:
5. Have students make anti-bullying posters.
6. Have students make up a skit about bullying to share with the rest of the class.
8. Check out this website for lots of great information on Anti-Bullying: Pacer Kids Against Bullying
9. Check out "Bullying Myths and Facts" and have students discuss what they read.

10. Check out this website for lots of information on anti bullying information and activities

11. Another informative site for teachers to use to discuss bullying and anti-bullying with students

Other suggestions:
Using Literature to discuss the issue of bullying:

Another story to read is Goose Girl by the Brothers Grimm

Still another story is Cinderella.

1. Blubber by Judy Blume
2. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
3. Thank you, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
4. Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain by Trevor Romain and Elizabeth Vedick.
5. The Bully from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler with Jared Lee.
6. My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig
7. Roxie and the Hooligans by Phillis Reynolds Naylor

Read and listen to a short story about bullying online: Ramone Sticks Up for Himself


Download this FREE Anti Bullying Interactive Notebook Activity for possible activities to use with students to discuss the topic of bullying!