Elementary School Programs
Below you will find descriptions for our Bullying programs. Please scroll further down the page to find descriptions of our Child Safety and Internet Safety programs, as well as our scheduling guidelines .
Preschool/Elementary School Bullying Programs
Kindergarten
1st session activity: Trouble in the Barkers' Class by Tomie dePaola
2nd session activity: Role-play and strategies ("tools")
Trouble in the Barkers' Class shows young children how important it is to respect anyone with whom they come in contact. The story also illustrates how students' actions and treatment of others may have a negative impact on another student's feelings about themselves or school.
During the second session, the activity, role-plays, and discussion revolve around practical "tools" for solving a problem with a bully: ignore/walk away, use your words to stand up for yourself, work with friends as a group, and ask for help. The students receive a coloring book handout that lists the different strategies they have learned, as well as pictures of the tools they have used during the presentation.
First Grade
1st session activity: The Bully Blockers Club by Teresa Bateman and activity worksheet
2nd session activity: Stop Picking on Me! (video) and role-plays
The book The Bully Blockers Club demonstrates the impact that bullying can have on young children and their feelings about going to school. The main character, Lotty, experiments with various strategies to stop a bully, and discovers that working together with other students is one of the best ways to solve her problem. After hearing the story, the students will complete a drawing activity to identify ways that they could employ some of Lotty's strategies.
During the second session, the discussion revolves around practical strategies for solving a problem with a bully. Stop Picking on Me! consists of four vignettes with real students solving bully problems by using strategies such as Ignore/WalkAway, Use Your Words, Work as a Group, and Ask for Help. Throughout the program, student volunteers will role-play the strategies as seen in the movie. The students receive a handout outlining the many strategies they have learned.
Second Grade
1st session activity: School Maps and activity worksheet
2nd session activity: How I Learned Not To Be Bullied (video) and role-plays
After an introductory discussion, students in the first session will work in groups to identify places on their school map where they feel "welcome"and "unwelcome" and where they feel help is needed. They will also devise a plan to make the "unwelcome" places more "welcome."
In the second session, the students continue to discuss practical strategies to use to stop a bully. The video How I Learned Not To Be Bullied shows real children in bullying situations, and using strategies such as Act Confident, Stand Up, Strength in Numbers, and Walk Away. Role-plays are also included for students to utilize the strategies they have learned. The students receive a handout listing the various strategies.
Third Grade
1st session activity: Pam and Roy Story; Puzzle Activity
2nd session activity: Bullies and How to Help Them (video) and role-plays
The first session for third graders explores the concepts of victims, bullies, and bystanders. The students will work in small groups to read a short scenario about Pam and Roy, two third graders who are experiencing bullying, and figure out strategies to help these characters. A large group activity looking at positive and negative reactions to bullying closes out the session.
The second session introduces the movie Bullies and How to Help Them. This movie depicts students making the right choices to help each other and also to help a bully understand the effects of his or her actions. The students also receive a handout listing strategies to use if they see or experience bullying.
Fourth Grade
1st session activity: "Highway to Help"
2nd session activity: Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain (video) and discussion
In the first session, students will participate in a question/answer game exploring traditional bullying, as well as introducing the concept of gender bullying. An activity is also used to illustrate the impact and consequences of rumors and gossip.
In the second session, the video Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain is used to explore various strategies suitable for dealing with bullies. This animated movie shows the story of Jack, a boy who is persistent in dealing with the school bullies, finding the best and worst strategies to solve his problem. A short discussion follows, highlighting the results of the strategies presented, as well as the role of bystanders. The students receive a handout detailing the best strategies.
Fifth Grade
1st session activity: "Dear Ann" letters *NEW FOR 2009/2010*
2nd session activity: "School Daze" game *NEW FOR 2009/2010*
During the first session for fifth grade, students work in groups and use fictional "Dear Ann" letters to discuss the "who, what, when, where, and why" of bullying. The students will also explore how bystanders can positively or negatively impact a bullying situation.
As these students get older, they understand even more the importance of being creative when not only dealing with a bullying situation, but with conflict in general. The second session introduces the "Ha Ha So" strategies (Help, Assert, Humor, Avoid, Self-Talk, and Own It). The students will participate in a game in which they use the "Ha Ha So" strategies to resolve conflict scenarios that they may face during the school day. Students also receive a handout detailing the "Ha Ha So" strategies.
Elementary School Child Safety Programs
Special Education/Life Skills
Personal Safety for Children with Special Needs
This program is designed for students with cognitive disabilities, and addresses personal safety and child abuse in a more concrete manner. Good touches and bad touches are discussed, as well as the safety rules of Say No, Go, and Tell Someone. Role-plays are also used to illustrate these rules.
Preschool/Kindergarten
Your Body Belongs to You by Cornelia Spelman
For young children, this story sets the pace for a discussion of good touches and bad touches. It stresses to children that their body is very special and that no one should ever touch them in a way that hurts them or makes them feel uncomfortable.
Discussion: The students learn that no one, whether it is a stranger or someone the child knows, should ever hurt them or touch them in a way that is bad or confusing to them. The three safety rules of No, Go, and Tell are reinforced through role-plays with the help of a puppet. Students also identify their "helper people," or whom they could go to if they have a safety problem. A coloring sheet listing the safety rules is given to each child.
First Grade
What Tadoo (video)
A mixture of live actors, puppets, and music provide children with simple rules for self-protection: Say No, Get Away, and Tell Someone.
Discussion: The safety rules of No, Go, and Tell are reinforced and use is encouraged with any problem a child may have, including bullies, strangers, and confusing touches. Myths about strangers and touches are addressed (i.e. A stranger always looks "mean"). Disclosing problems to an adult is stressed. A coloring handout displaying "What Tadoo" and the three safety rules is distributed to each child.
Second Grade
The Safe Side: Don't Knows and Kinda Knows (video)
A fun and interesting approach to strangers and safety is used with The Safe Side video. Students will explore "Don't Know" and "Kinda Know" people and when to use their safety rules of No, Go, and Tell.
Discussion: Students discuss the concepts of strangers, personal safety, and unsafe touches. They will identify their "Safe Side Adults," or someone that they know and trust, and are encouraged to share their safety rules with these adults.
Third Grade
Yes, You Can Say No (video)
In this video, children model protective, assertive behavior in a number of realistic safety situations, including the prevention of abuse. Students learn how to deal with everyday challenges at home and at school, as well as uncomfortable situations with strangers and adults they know. The three rules for safety are once again discussed.
Discussion: A detailed discussion of each situation includes what to do and how it may feel. Discussion also focuses on three different types of abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual). It is noted that most adults are good people, but that it is important to trust our inner feeling. Support people are identified in case a child needs to discuss a problem, and a handout is given to each student so that he or she can make a personal list of support people.
Fourth Grade
If It Happens to You(video)
In this video, children discuss the various forms of child abuse and how a child can cope if they experience abuse. Through sensitive and age-appropriate scenarios, the children in the video demonstrate how to say no, get away, and tell someone if an adult is hurting them. Throughout the video, it is stressed that abuse is never the victim's fault, and that a child must keep telling until someone listens to and helps them.
Discussion: Before, during, and after the video, students are given the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the scenarios with the presenter. The three types of abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual) are defined. Students will identify the supportive adults in their lives, both in and out of school. Through role play, the students will also have the opportunity to practice the safety tools learned during this program.
Fifth Grade
Personal Safety Game (Jeopardy style)
This Jeopardy-style game is utilized with this grade to encourage learning and participation,as well as critical thinking. Students are divided into small groups and led through a structured activity which focuses on personal safety, as well as how to help a friend in a dangerous or abusive situation.
Discussion: Discussion with this age group serves to reinforce and review essential information learned in previous years, as well as to provide students with brief hypothetical situations in which they can identify safety plans and feelings. Support people are once again identified and audience participants are given a handout on how to help a friend with an abuse problem. A brief overview of each topic is given before the game, so students with no prior experience with our safety programs can effectively participate.
Elementary School Internet Safety Programs
Third Grade
The Safe Side: Internet Safety (video)
This program serves as an introduction to Internet safety for elementary school students. This fun and engaging video uses stranger safety rules that the students already know and applies those same rules to the Internet. Email, instant messenger, social networks/chat rooms are all applications discussed during the video.
Discussion: Before the video, students will have the opportunity to share safety rules that they use, both in "real life" and online. Using the "Hot Tips" about Internet safety that are shared in the video, students will identify and discuss strategies to stay safe online. Students will apply these safety strategies in short role-play scenarios.
Fourth Grade
Internet Safety with Smart Guy (video)
This program is designed to give students a space to discuss personal safety especially as it pertains to using the Internet. Students will see an episode of a popular children's show called "Smart Guy" which illustrates the dangers of using the Internet as well as the safety precautions that should be taken.
Discussion: The presenter will review and reinforce previously learned safety rules such as "don't talk to strangers" and "be aware of your surroundings." Real life examples and personal experiences are shared. Cyber-bullying is also addressed. Finally, students will be asked to develop their own rules for using the Internet safely. Students receive the handout "How to Be Cyber-Smart" which lists various safety rules to use while on the Internet.
Fifth Grade
Think Before You Click!: Handling Internet Safety and Cyber-Bullying
In this program, students will increase their awareness and understanding of the dangers of the Internet and learn how to be responsible "digital citizens." Students will assess their own online behavior through a short survey and discover how to handle messages or incidents that make them uncomfortable, angry, or confused. In the small-group activity "Keep Your Keys," students will see how important it is to keep personal information, like passwords and pictures, private. Resources to assist students with problems online, in school, and at home are identified.
Note: Program content and activities can vary depending on the available time period.
*Other program topics available upon request.
All programs encourage students to recognize their right to be safe and to share concerns or incidents of abuse with a trusted adult. Additionally, a trained PA Sexual Assault Counselor conducts all programs.
SCHEDULING GUIDELINES
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Child Safety programs consist of one (1) session per classroom. For each grade level, please allot the following times:
*Preschool: 30 minutes
*Kindergarten: 45 minutes
*Grades 1-5: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, it is imperative that presenters have ample time to address all topics. Shortened presentations hinder discussion, do not adequately address needs, and do not address concerns of the students.
Please leave one hour prior to dismissal for presenters to have ample time to meet with students.
Bullying programs consist of two (2) sessions per classroom. It is best to schedule the two sessions about one week apart. Please allot the following times:
*Kindergarten: 30 minutes
*Grades 1-5: 45 minutes
Internet Safety programs consist of one (1) session per classroom. Please allot 1 hour for each classroom.
Please be aware that for certain sessions, a TV/VCR or DVD player will be required.
If there is a scheduling conflict regarding use of A/V equipment, please notify us in advance so that we may change the program or the schedule. Also, please make sure the equipment is functioning properly before our visit.
Please do not plan to have more than one class in attendance per presentation.
We ask that you keep in mind the physical comfort of the students during the program. If class sizes are large (larger than 30-35 students), it can quickly become unpleasant for everyone in an average size classroom. Apart from the considerations of comfort, smaller groups are also more conducive to discussion.
Please do not schedule more than 5 programs in the same day.
Due to the energy level and attentiveness that is required for these programs, it is difficult to maintain a high level of quality when more than five (5) programs per presenter are scheduled in the same day. We will be happy to return to the school for an additional day if necessary.
*We ask that there be a break for presenters to have lunch.
* Please allow ample time for presenters to travel from one class to the next.
* Please support us in creating an opportunity for students to speak to the presenter after the program to discuss any personal questions or issues.
Updated 9/9/2009
Please click here to read our Mandated Reporting/Confidentiality Guidelines.