RESOURCES: Middle Level Lesson Plans

Lesson #1: Reflections - Four short pieces - a story, two essays, and a poem - provide students with personal reflections on name-calling by young people who have been targeted because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, and mental ability.

Lesson #2: Using Literature as a Tool to End Name-Calling - Guided use of books to help solve problems: They can be used to address name-calling both by supporting the targets of bullying as they express their feelings and learn coping strategies and by helping those who bully to increase their empathy for others.

Lesson #3: Name-Calling in Our School - Students are provided with the opportunity to objectively observe the way in which name-calling and other types of disrespectful language are used in school over a three-day period.

Lesson #4: Creating an Anti-Slur Policy - Students work collaborately to develop an anti-slur policy for their classroom. Learn from this activity.

Lesson #5: I Was Just Kidding! - Sample lesson plan from the Resource Kit. Students consider the difference between good-natured teasing and bullying through discussion of fictional scenarios and reflection on real-life situations.

Lesson #6: Instant Replay - Students discuss and practice safe and realistic responses to name-calling and bullying by role-playing fictional scenarios. They use the “instant replay” technique, in which they rehearse and retry responses to name-calling, and receive support from their peers.

Lesson #7: Don't Just Stand By - Sample lesson plan from the Resource Kit. Students discuss what it means to be a bystander to bullying and brainstorm ways to intervene.

Lesson #8: Instant Replay - Students begin by articulating their values regarding conduct toward others and fash-ioning their statements into a class “code of ethics.” They look at why they sometimes stray from their values and participate in hurtful behavior when tempted or pressured to bully. Students also consider the feelings of those who are targeted for bullying, and apply what they have learned

Lesson 9: What's in a Name? - Students consider the extent to which name-calling is a part of their lives and the damage that can be done by the names they use so casually.

Lesson #10: Beauty is Skin Deep - Sample lesson plan from the Resource Kit. Students learn about media literacy and examine media images for "attractiveness messages" that impact our attitudes and behavior towards others.

Lesson 11: Are You Part of the In-Crowd? - Students think about the impact of group labels and social hierarchies on their sense of identity, self-esteem, and the way they socialize with others. Through discussion, poetry and personal narrative, students explore ways to bridge social boundaries. They learn to plan a special event for their school.