Lesson Plan - Action Plans Against Cyber Bullying

Lesson Plan - Action Plans Against Cyber Bullying

Description

Students commonly excuse their bullying by saying “it’s only a joke.” This series of lessons helps them understand the difference between humorous and hurtful, and the steps that victims can take to make an action plan against cyber bullying.

Lesson Overview

Note: This lesson should be preceded by one or more ISAFE Grade 6 lessons on cyber bullying.

Select from:

Lesson Plan - Cyber Bullying (Grade 6)
Lesson Plan - Cyber Bullying is No Joke (Grade 6)
Lesson Plan - Upstanders Take Action (Grade 6)

About the CCSS Model-Aligned Series

The ISAFE CCSS model-aligned lessons provide specific activities and implementation suggestions that align to grade-specific Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Arts (ELA). Targeted standards are provided in each lesson plan.

Grade 6 CCSS ELA: RI.6.1; RI.6.2; RI.6.3; W.6.2; W.6.3; W.6.4; W.6.5; W.6.6; W.6.7; W.6.8; SL.6.1; SL.6.2; L.6.1; L.6.2; L.6.3

Anchor Standards: Reading 1, 2, 9; Writing 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; Speaking and Listening 1, 2; Language 1, 2, 3

Lesson Objectives

Learners will:
• write a narrative that develops a scenario
• evaluate strategies to address cyber bullying
• learn how a personal action plan can serve as a positive resource if confronted with a cyber bullying situation
• create a personal cyber bullying action plan
• work toward mastery of the following CCSS Grade 6 standards: Anchor Reading 1, 2, 9; RI.6.1; RI.6.2; RI.6.3; Anchor Writing 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; Writing W.6.2; W.6.3; W.6.4; W.6.5; W.6.6; W.6.7; W.6.8; Anchor Speaking and Listening 1, 2; SL.6.1; SL.6.2; Anchor Language 1, 2, 3; L.6.1; L.6.2; L.6.3

Set-Up & Preparation

• Copies of Cyber Bullying – Everybody’s Problem for each student group
• Copies of the Strategies to Prevent Cyber Bullying resource page for each student
• Copies of the Make an Action Plan resource page for each student

Use this lesson as an opportunity to review school guidelines on using cyber bullying. Visit www.isafedirect.com/aupservices.

Note: Mitigate liability regarding student data privacy. Be sure to obtain parent permission and administrative approval before using commercial sites and apps in the classroom. Obtain administrative approval and parent permission through www.isafedirect.com

Introduction

Note: This lesson assumes that students have completed the previous lessons in the Grade 6 Cyber Bullying Unit: Cyber Bulling is No Joke, and Upstanders Take Action.

Prompt students to review what they have learned about digital etiquette, online “joking” and standing up for others who are being cyber bullied by presenting the following questions:

How do you determine whether an electronic message or post is a “joke,” or whether it is cyber bullying?

Sample Student Response:
- This is tricky -- text messages and posts are easy to misunderstand, so a person that is on the receiving end may be upset by a message or post meant as a joke that would not have been as upsetting if the “joke” was made in person.
- Playful teasing does not involve personal put-downs and both the sender and the receiver of the message understand the motive and meaning behind the “joke.”
- Electronic messages and social media posts can be spread to a large audience, so mean or hurtful words that seem like sarcasm or a “joke” in person can incite others to post mean comments thus starting a cyber bullying situation.
- The public nature of social media and other online environments can cause more embarrassment. Any “joke” that aims to have fun by embarrassing or humiliating someone can be considered cyber bullying.
- Why do you suppose that electronic messages are easy to misinterpret?
Sample Student Response: Digital communication lacks non-verbal cues like facial expressions, body language and tone of voice. Thus, people can easily take a text message the wrong way.
How might you prevent digital misunderstandings? (Hint: Examples of digital etiquette.)

Sample Student Response: Read your message in different tones of voice to make sure that your message does not sound rude. Be polite, use manners and avoid sarcasm. Use emojis to show how you feel, or to indicate that you are joking. Refrain from mean texts, messages or posts—even if you are joking.
How might a witness respond in a cyber bullying situation? What are their choices? (Hint: Three response options.)

Sample Student Response:
- Participate in the cyber bullying
- Ignore the situation as a bystander
- Step in and help as an upstander

Point out that participants and bystanders are part of the problem of cyber bullying, yet an upstander takes appropriate actions.

Explain to students that, in this lesson, they will use what they have learned to develop an action plan to prevent and respond to cyber bullying.

Lesson Sequence

Activity 1

(RI.6.3; W.6.3; W.6.4)

Divide students into manageable workgroups and pass out copies of Student Handout 1 - Reference Page: Cyber Bullying: Everybody's Problem to each group. Go over the information as a class and then allow time for groups to write their scenarios.

Discussion

(SL.6.1, SL.6.2; L.6.1)

Have students share their scenario continuations. Prompt discussion with the following:

Discuss the statement: When it comes to cyber bullying, anyone can become a victim.
Think about the scenarios presented. In what ways, if any, is Isabella’s confidence affected by the cyber bullying?
List positive actions Isabella can take to counteract the cyber bullying.
(Optional) If desired, assign the extra credit activity, Research and Write found on the resource page.
(Optional writing page included). Have students follow class guidelines for editing, spelling, grammar, and resource citations. (Anchor Reading 1, 2, 9; RI.6.1; RI.6.2; Anchor Writing 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; Writing W.6.2; W.6.4; W.6.5; W.6.6; W.6.7; W.6.8; Anchor Language 1, 2, 3; L.6.1; L.6.2; L.6.3)

Activity 2

Pass out copies of the resource pages Student Handout 2 - Reference Page: Strategies to Prevent Cyber Bullying and Student Handout 3 - Empowerment: Create a Personal Action Plan. Select students to read each page aloud to the class.

Discuss the concept of how making a plan before a student gets into an emotional crisis can provide a positive framework that can help if and when he or she does get into a problem.
Ask for examples of how an action plan might have helped Brooke from the scenario.
Assign students to create their own personal action plan, either in class or as homework. Let students know that the plan is their own and is private unless they choose to share it.

Wrap-Up

Wrap-Up Discussion

Invite students to share the steps that they have included in their plan. Note that some students may want to keep their plans private.

Briefly review the school’s reporting procedures for cyber bullying.

Invite students to share their ideas on how to improve the school’s cyber bullying prevention and response plan.

Record students’ ideas. Note that this can be used to inform administrators on ways to better prevent and repond to cyber bullying in their school as well as student empowerment.

Reflect and Connect

Prompt students to make meaningful connections with what they have learned througout the unit. Students will respond to the questions either verbally, in writing, or both.

What have you learned in this unit about cyber bullying that you did not know or realize beforehand?
How will you use what you have learned to better prevent and respond to cyer bullying?

Empowerment

Youth Empowerment: Leave Your Mark

iDrive is the Youth Outreach and Empowerment program of ISAFE. Students, age 13+ can register as an iDrive Agent and participate in a number of campaigns and initiatives. Students under the age of 13 can participate in iDrive initiatives given that the teacher registers as the representative of their students under the minimum age requirement. As iDrive Agents in Training, middle school students engage in project-based learning activities to share with other classrooms that are part of the ISAFE community. By providing students with an authentic audience, they gain a greater sense of purpose for their digital citizenship and e-safety projects and presentations.

Teachers and students over age 13 register at www.idrivetvonline.com

Unit - CCSS Model-Aligned Series: Cyber Bullying is No Joke