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.

 Elementary School Bullying Programs

Kindergarten through second grade programs are presented using a primary prevention approach, which involves teaching and encouraging welcoming behaviors to prevent bullying before it starts.  While bullying is not the main concept discussed in the programs, strategies students can use to deal with a bully are presented.  Third through fifth grade programs address conflict resolution strategies, as well as the importance of bystanders in bullying situations.

 

Each student will receive a handout that reinforces key concepts explored through the program.

 

Kindergarten

Students will participate in an introductory discussion on welcome and unwelcome behaviors.  Billy Bully: A Schoolyard Counting Tale by Alvaro and Ana Galan shows young children how the choices they make affect the relationships they have with their peers.  The story illustrates how poor choices negatively impact others, while good choices develop healthy friendships.  Students will then explore how their choices affect the feelings of others.  Finally, students will participate in a "Playground Pal" activity, in which they identify kind behaviors that good friends demonstrate.

 

First Grade

The book Act Like a Friend, written by a Prevention Educator at The Crime Victims' Center of Chester County, Inc., demonstrates the impact that a student's choice can have on his/her classmates.  Raymond, the main character, believes that he is acting silly, but in reality, he is hurting and upsetting his friends.  Students will learn, as Raymond does, that by making good choices, they are able to make themselves and others feel good and welcome.  Presenters reinforce that there is no such thing as a bad person, just a person who makes a bad choice.  As a follow-up activity, students must listen to short scenarios and decide whether the children involved are making good or bad choices.  A rainbow coloring sheet depicting rainbow stripes (for "good choices") and raindrops (for "bad choices") will be completed as the scenarios are read.

 

Second Grade

After an introductory discussion on welcome and unwelcome behavior, students will listen to That's What Buddies Do, a book written by a Prevention Educator at The Crime Victims' Center of Chester County, Inc.  The story revolves around a large female dog, Ali, who is hesitant to make friends with a smaller male dog, Frankie.  Students will learn how their choices and actions affect others on a daily basis.  In addition, they will discuss strategies for helping a friend who is getting hurt by another student.  Following the story, students will participate in a Build-A-Buddy Game, in which they actively respond to friends in need.  As they model friendly behavior, they will piece together a playmate on the game board.

 

Third Grade

 

Fourth Grade

Students will participate in a question/answer game exploring the types of bullying addressed in previous years, as well as new concepts such as gender, social, and cyber bullying.  The game is the framework for discussion on a variety of topics, such as why a person chooses to bully, the role of bystanders in a bullying situation, and strategies for anyone who is getting hurt by a bully.  Role-plays are also included for students to utilize the strategies they have learned.

 

Fifth Grade

As students get older, it is important for them to be creative when not only dealing with a bullying situation, but with conflict in general.  After reviewing bullying in general, the fifth grade program 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. 

 

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 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 those 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)

This video, with a mixture of live actors, puppets, and music provides 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 focused 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/she can make a personal list of support people.

 

Fourth Grade

If It Happens to You: Dealing With Abuse (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 the program.

 

Fifth Grade

Personal Safety Game

This Jeopardy-style game is utilized with this grade level 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, and 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 the Internet.  Students will see an episode of the children's show called "Smart Guy" that illustrated 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 demonstrate their Internet safety knowledge by "creating" a handout for younger students that teachers valuable information, such as "Safe Places to Click" and "Things You Should Not Share."  Through discussion about their own Internet use, students will discover how to handle messages or incidents online 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, such as passwords and pictures, private.  Resources to assist students with problems online, in school, and at home, are identified.

 

Note for all programs: Program content and activities can vary depending on the available time period.  Other topics are 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 and certified PA Sexual Assault Counselor conducts all programs.

 

Scheduling Guidelines for 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: 30 minutes
• Grades 1-5: 45 minutes to 1 hour

Due to the sensitive nature of the topic, it is imperative that facilitators 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 facilitators to have ample time to meet with students.

 

Bullying programs consist of one (1) session per classroom.  For each grade level, 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 (VHS) or DVD will be required.

If there is a scheduling conflict regarding use of A/V equipment, or this equipment is not available at your facility, please notify us in advance so that we may change the program or the schedule.

 

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 the 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 1/6/2012

Please click here to read our Mandated Reporting/Confidentiality Guidelines.