Video Suggestions, Resources, and Organizations

Clear a space in a prominent learning area. Make the action visible to students. Deflect questions about what you are doing.
Before lunch or at the end of the day, show a video that shows the power of a bystander or kind act. (maybe Fight on NYC 6 Train- hint: Mute sound) Give time for kid led discussions. (e.g. How would you describe the bystander's actions? How did one person make a difference?
Challenge student's pre-existing thinking on what is a bully and what makes a hero.

The Lesson

The basics.

The lesson is divided up into five parts (a typical school week, about 20 minutes each section). We feel that message is quite effective on its own and is best delivered with a subtle approach. No soapbox needed. Guide them gently. Let the children make their own connections. They will 'get it'.

DAY 4 - ask the question

how do you want to be remembered?

Erase a spot among the mean words so that the question "How Do You Want to Be Remembered" can be written in in large letters.
Discussions can include student reflections on their 'legacy' & brainstorming sessions on what they want to become.
Start to connect student's behavior choices with how people view them. Typically no one wants to be remembered poorly.
Digital Citizenship and Digital Footprint tie-in lessons or messages are a natural fit here.
Personal stories are especially powerful at this point. If the adult can tell stories from their youth and how they still remember unkind events, it helps student understanding that their choices can have long lasting consequences.

DAY 2 - Make Meanness Visible

Let the word make an impact

Prior to student arrival write 'meanness' on the previously cleared space. Let the word remain alone for the entire day.
Talk about what meanness is in whole group or small group discussions. Share and discuss, while developing an understanding that meanness can take many forms.
Show a video on how mean behavior or bullying occurs and continues at some point in the day.

DAY 3 - Meanness overwhelms

A visual message that Meanness is everywhere.

Prior to student arrival, fill the learning space with mean words. Black and blue words are especially symbolic and can help facilitate the discussion that mean words can lead to physical harm. (a 15ft whiteboard takes about 45 minutes.) Let kids take it all in before discussing.
Talk about the breadth of vocabulary associated with mean behavior & discuss unfamiliar words.
When introducing unfamiliar vocabulary, take care that they are age appropriate. A couple of different word lists are below.

DAY 5 - Replace Meanness with Kindness.

Erasing Meanness becomes tangible.

View an age appropriate video that communicates how one can overcome meanness and bullying. For upper grades maybe, "What's Going On?".
At the conclusion of video, Teacher should choose a mean word and replace with a 'kind' word, then hand the colored marker to a student and ask for their help.
Pass out other bright colored markers and have other students follow.
The activity can be completed silently or for added effect, hopeful music can be played softly in the background.
After everyone has had a chance to contribute, discuss how 'meanness' wasn't totally eliminated, but that 'kindness' overtakes the overwhelming presence of meanness.
Blogging about the week is especially powerful and allows the students to continue to reflect and share the week's experience.

Replace it with kindness.

Erase

Erase Meanness does not endorse and is not responsible for any content or advice contained within the suggestions listed above. We love em all, but are not affiliated or partnered with them.