At times, students will be a bystander to someone being bullied. They will be faced with the decision to either stand by and watch or step up and stop it. We do not want our students to accept that bullying is a norm, none of their business, or think, "At least it’s not me." We want them to step up to bullying and help their peers.
In this activity, students will practice stepping up to bullying. The provided example will show two types of bullying, cyberbullying and social bullying. The students will show how they can step up as Amy, our main character, in the scenarios. Please feel free to adjust the examples to fit your needs. The goal of this activity is to give students the confidence to stand up in tough situations and help them practice possible responses.
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Student Instructions
You’ll be stepping up to bullying with Amy while creating storyboards!
Empower students to recognize when and how to safely report bullying to a trusted adult. Reporting is a crucial step in stopping bullying and protecting everyone involved.
Explain that some bullying situations can escalate and require adult help. Let students know that seeking adult support is not tattling—it's about safety.
Demonstrate both verbal and written ways to report bullying, such as speaking privately with a teacher or using an anonymous box. Show examples to build student confidence.
Practice with students by acting out sample reporting conversations. Give positive feedback to reduce anxiety and encourage real-life follow-through.
Encourage students to practice responding to bullying scenarios through role-playing activities, like storyboarding with characters such as Amy. Provide clear examples of how to intervene safely and support peers, helping students build the confidence to act when they witness bullying.
Interactive activities like scenario-based storyboards allow students to explore responses to both cyberbullying and social bullying. These exercises help students practice empathy, problem-solving, and positive intervention strategies in a safe, structured environment.
Provide guided practice with realistic scenarios, encourage open discussion, and celebrate examples of positive bystander behavior. Role-playing as characters like Amy helps students rehearse responses, making them more likely to act confidently in real-life situations.
Ignoring bullying can allow harmful behavior to continue and may make victims feel isolated. Teaching students to take action as supportive bystanders helps create a safe and inclusive school environment where bullying is not tolerated.
Start with a short discussion about bullying, introduce a scenario with a character like Amy, and have students use storyboards to show how Amy can intervene. Conclude with a group reflection on possible outcomes and why stepping up matters.