Dear Teachers and Students,
here are some ideas to help you build up the culture of respect and peace in schools and amongst students and peers.
- Primary / Elementary (Ages 5–10)
Theme: “Hands are for Helping, Not Hurting”
- The Wrinkled Heart Activity: Give each student a paper heart. Ask them to think of mean words or violent actions and fold/crumple the heart for each one. Then, ask them to say kind things to “fix” the heart and smooth it out.
- The Lesson: Even when you apologize and “smooth it out,” the wrinkles stay. This visually shows how violence and hurtful words leave a lasting impact.
- The “Peace Corner” (Social-Emotional Learning): Instead of a “Time Out,” create a “Peace Corner” with sensory toys, breathing exercise cards, and a “Feelings Chart.”
- The Lesson: Teach students that feeling angry is okay, but acting on that anger with violence is not. Give them physical tools to de-escalate their own emotions.
- Middle School (Ages 11–14)
Theme: “The Upstander vs. The Bystander”
- Role-Play Scenarios: Create “safe” scripts of common conflicts (cyberbullying, a push in the hallway, or an argument over a game). Have students act out three versions:
- The Violent Response.
- The Bystander Response (doing nothing).
- The Upstander Response (peaceful intervention or getting help).
- “I” Statements Workshop: Teach students a formula for conflict: “I feel [emotion] when you [action] because [reason].”
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- The Lesson: Violence often happens when someone feels unheard. Giving them a verbal “weapon” (effective communication) reduces the need for physical ones.
- High School (Ages 15–18)
Theme: “Restorative Justice and Global Peace”
- Restorative Circles: Instead of traditional punishment for conflicts, hold a “Restorative Circle.” All parties sit in a circle and use a “talking piece.” Only the person holding the piece can speak.
- The Lesson: This humanizes the “other side” and teaches that justice isn’t about hurting back (retribution), but about fixing the harm caused (restoration).
- Analyzing Media & History: Compare historical non-violent movements (e.g., Gandhi, MLK Jr.) with violent ones. Ask students to debate the long-term effectiveness of each.
- The Lesson: Critically analyzing “heroic violence” in movies vs. the reality of violence helps them develop a more mature moral compass.
General Tips for the Teacher:
- Model the Behavior: If you get frustrated with a student, narrate your process: “I’m feeling a bit frustrated right now, so I’m going to take a breath before we continue this conversation.”
- Language Matters: Use the phrasing we discussed! Use words like “unthinkable,” “non-negotiable,” and “safe space.”
- The “Why”: Students (especially older ones) resist “rules” but respect “values.” Instead of saying “Don’t fight,” explain that “In this room, we value physical and emotional safety above all else.”
@ University of San Diego, 20 Anti Bulllying Class Activities to Use In Your Classroom
you can use the attached worksheets and ideas as well