LifeNotesEd.com

Star Stickers, LifeNotes CD, CD Player, Copies of “Sticks and Stones” lyrics/song

I. Introduction:

a. Teacher says to the class, “Today we will be focusing on the subject of bullying. We will be looking at the lyrics of Sticks and Stones to help us learn about this subject.”

b. Pass out clip art lyrics of Sticks and Stones.

c. Play the song while the students look over the lyrics.

d. Read the lyrics out loud with the class and discuss the key terms.

e. Key terms: worth, ‘sticks and stones’, computers, bullying, cellular phones, crime, lives, respect, cruelty, neglect, strong, negative stuff, Take a Stand, cool, beware, value, messages, abuse, No Excuse, doubt, anonymous

II. Anticipatory Activity - Crumble Paper to Understand the effects of Bullying

a. Teacher demonstrates crumbling the piece of paper into a tiny ball; may even throw it on the floor and step on it.

b. Pass out a blank piece of paper to every student.

c. Ask the students to crumble their piece of paper as the teacher demonstrated.

d. Explain that when a student is bullied and pushed around, they are left feeling hurt and scarred. Bullying hurts feelings and leaves scars.

e. Ask the students to open their piece of paper. Tell the students, “When we have been bullied we are like the piece of paper. We are beaten up and feel torn. And even when we try to make it back to the way it was the paper is now in a new form and will never be the same.” Ask the questions:

i. As much as we try to help the paper become straight, can it change back to the way it was?

ii. Relate: Tell the students to look at their paper. Ask the students, when we are bullied, or when we bully others, how are we making others feel? (hurt, torn, as if they don’t matter)

iii. What are things we can do to prevent bullying and causing others to feel loved?

f. STUDENTS CIRCLE AND SHARE WORDS OF VALUE

i. Have the students stand up in a circle.

ii. Each student will turn to their classmate next to them and share a positive comment about them. They must tell them words such as – You Matter, You are Loved, You Count, You Make a Difference, etc.

g. REPEAT THE TEACHER - Have the class repeat after the teacher.

i. TEACHER – “I MATTER,” CLASS REPEATS – “I MATTER”

ii. TEACHER – “I AM VALUED,” CLASS REPEATS – “I AM VALUED”

iii. TEACHER – “I AM IMPORTANT,” CLASS REPEATS – “I AM IMPORTANT”

iv. TEACHER – I’M WORTHWHILE,” CLASS REPEATS – “I’M WORTHWHILE”

III. Art Activity - I AM AN IMPORTANT PERSON

a. Each student will be given a copy of a “person” cutout to decorate with markers and stickers that represent unique attributes.

b. Ask students to write positive words on their cutout (example – I Matter, I Count, I Am Important, I’m loved).

c. After decorating the person cutout, the teacher can tape the cutouts together and hang the cutout banner in the classroom for the students to see their value to the class.

The children will be given a CD at the end of the program so that they will be able to continue the lesson at home along with their parents.

GRADE LEVEL:	1st – 4th
SUBJECT:	BULLYING
SONG TITLE:	“STICKS AND STONES”

LENGTH OF TIME:	50 minutes to an hour
DESCRIPTION:	In this lesson, students will discuss the effects of bullying and cyber-bullying. Students will be introduced to the importance of “self” and discuss their value.
GOALS/PURPOSE:	In this lesson the students will learn to understand their value and self worth and the negative effects of bullying.

LENGTH OF TIME:	50 minutes to an hour
DESCRIPTION:	In this lesson, students will learn to sing the song and do the choreography.
GOALS/PURPOSE:	In this lesson the students will add movement to the understanding of the lesson and it will aid in remembering the actual meaning of the lesson.

STICKS AND STONES OUTLINE (TEACHER’S GUIDE)

A TWO-PART LESSON PLAN