5th Grade
Bullying Prevention Curriculum
Each fifth grade class will receive four full-class period lessons and three take home assignments to be completed with a parent or trusted adult. Some of the issues fifth graders will learn about and discuss (through role play and other activities) include:
- Sympathy, empathy and indifference*
- Diversity, compassion and acceptance*
- In depth work on bystander behavior*
- Physical, verbal and relational bullying*
- Coping with bullying as a target or bystander*
- Talking to a parent or trusted adult about bullying and other social concerns*
- Issues of cyber bullying*
- Preparing for social changes in middle school (including more frequent use of technology and cyber bullying)
*Several topics are review from previous curricula. It is important to ensure that certain elements of anti-bullying and character education are reviewed and discussed comprehensively as students progress through the program each year.
Training for Teachers and Staff
Not only is it essential for children to understand these concepts, it is important that teachers, school staff, and parents/guardians join together to become part of this effort. A 90-minute training for teachers and staff will include direct delivery of information, and small and full group discussion and activities. Topics that teachers and staff will learn about and discuss include:
- Defining and de-mystifying bullying
- Bullying and other aggressive behaviors
- Signs that a student is being bullied
- Signs that a student may be bullying other children
- Different types of bullies
- Different types of bullying behavior
- The roles of the bystander, witness and ally, and the role of the teacher
- Bullying and the law
- Effective mediation strategies
- Handling bullying situations that arise in and out of the classroom
A Meeting for Parents
During the meeting with parents/guardians, the parents’ role in bullying and bullying education will be discussed, as will effective strategies for helping children understand acceptance, empathy, and compassion, and how families can cope with physical, verbal and relational bullying (as parents of a target or bystander). We will also discuss how to help a child if he or she is exhibiting bullying or other aggressive behaviors. Topics that parents will learn about and discuss include:
- Defining and de-mystifying bullying
- Types of bullying behavior
- The parents’ role in bullying, and empathy education at home
- Strategies for helping children understand acceptance, empathy, and compassion
- How families can cope with physical, verbal and relational bullying (as parents of a target, witness or bystander)
- How to help a child if he or she is exhibiting bullying behavior
- Signs that a child may be a target of bullying or other cruel behaviors
