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CLASSROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE
YOU’RE
NOT ALONE
PACER.org/Bullying
®
Bullying can happen anywhere and it can happen to anyone. When a person experiences bullying, they often feel alone
and that no one cares. Peers can take action and make a powerful difference by showing that they care, giving support
and letting students who experience bullying know that they are not alone.
This discussion guide provides an opportunity for students to think through and share options on how to be supportive.
—Instructions—
Step One
Read and review the “Ways to Be There: Kids and Teens” booklet with the students.
No
po
Step Two
• Ask the students to share what they think it means to “be there” for someone.
• Encourage students to think about a time when someone—parent, teacher, friend, peer—was there
for them. Ask them to describe how that made a difference.
Step Three
• Ask the students to read each of the scenarios.
NOTE: There are two sets of scenarios: one for elementary school students and another for
middle and high school students.
• Review each of the options on how to be there.
• Discuss each option and determine if the students view it as a way to be there to help someone
in a bullying situation.
• Encourage students to share why the option can be a helpful response.
• Ask for their ideas on how they think they can be there for someone.
CLASSROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS: WAYS TO BE THERE
“I go on the swings at recess every day, but now these two older boys keep coming up to
me and pushing me off the swing and I don’t like it, but I can't get them to stop.”
Abbey, 3rd grade
What are some ways to be there for Abbey? Options:
1. Get a group of kids and swing with Abbey.
2. Tell a teacher what is happening.
3. Let her know that she doesn't deserve to be pushed.
4. Ask her to come play on another part of the playground.
5. Other ideas?
“A new kid came into our science class yesterday. She seemed to be really nice, but when
the teacher told her to sit next to me, she said she didn’t want to because I was gross and
she wanted to sit by someone else. Everybody laughed. This really hurt my feelings.”
Anna, 4th grade
What are some ways to be there for Anna? Options:
1. Let her know that you think she is nice and that it’s not right that the other kids laughed.
2. Ask other kids to let Anna know that they are glad that she is in the class.
3. Ask the teacher if you can sit next to Anna.
4. Talk with the teacher about the situation or encourage Anna to talk with an adult.
5. Other ideas?
“Every day at recess, these boys chase me. I think they think it’s funny, but I don’t like it.
I've asked them to stop and they just keep doing it.”
Josh, 2nd grade
What are some ways to be there for Josh? Options:
1. Ask Josh if you can hang out with him during recess.
2. Encourage other kids to be near Josh during recess.
3. Talk with the teacher about the situation or encourage Josh to talk with an adult.
4. Tell Josh that what the boys are doing is wrong, and that when it happens it’s ok to tell someone.
5. Other ideas?
©2015, PACER Center | 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN 55437 | PACER.org/Bullying | 952.838.9000
The National Bullying Prevention Center is a program of PACER Center
No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photcopying, recording, or otherwise,
without express written permission of PACER Center, except for brief quotations or critical reviews. One copy may be downloaded from PACER.org for personal use.
CLASSROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: WAYS TO BE THERE
“Yesterday when I was walking to class, one of my best friends grabbed my backpack and
threw it on the floor. I asked him what he was doing but he just laughed and kicked my
backpack over to his friends. They opened it up and poured out all the stuff on the
ground! It was so embarrassing and there were a lot of things in there that I didn’t want
other people to see. You ignore it the first time or two, but now I can't stop him. I
thought he was my friend, but why would a friend do that?”
Mikayla, 7th grade
What are ways to be there for Mikayla? Options:
1. Encourage her to talk with a teacher, her parents, or another adult.
2. Let her know that she doesn't deserve to be mistreated by someone she considers to be a friend.
3. Ask your friends to walk with her in the hallways.
4. If you see other people laughing, help pick up the items, and help Mikayla get away from the situation.
5. Talk with a teacher.
6. Other ideas?
“Do kids who call other people “retard” and “gay” even know what they’re saying? My
brother has Down syndrome, and it really hurts me when people use a word that makes
fun of who he is. Same with gay. It’s used to insult everything unpopular. Everybody just
laughs and goes along when they hear it. How can I make them see how hurtful those
words are?”
Laura, 11th grade
What are some ways to be there for Laura? Options:
1. Encourage her to talk with adults at the school to see if she and others can raise awareness about the
impact of language.
2. Make sure you never perpetuate this issue by using those kind of words yourself.
3. Remind friends how hurtful these words are for you and for others, and ask them not to join in.
4. If someone else is also hurt by these words, talk to them about it to see what you both can do.
5. Other ideas?
©2015, PACER Center | 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN 55437 | PACER.org/Bullying | 952.838.9000
The National Bullying Prevention Center is a program of PACER Center
No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photcopying, recording, or otherwise,
without express written permission of PACER Center, except for brief quotations or critical reviews. One copy may be downloaded from PACER.org for personal use.
CLASSROOM DISCUSSION GUIDE
MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: WAYS TO BE THERE
“This girl named Heather is going around the school making everyone sign a petition that
I should leave this school. The petition itself hurts my feelings, but there are a few people
who are actually signing it! I feel like no one likes me “
Veronica, 10th grade
What are ways to be there for Veronica? Options:
1. Encourage her to tell a teacher, her parents, or another adult about the petition.
2. Remind her that she deserves to be treated with respect and has the right to feel safe.
3. Tell your friends about what's happening and encourage them not to sign the petition.
4. Ask the person to stop and tell her that it’s not cool to humiliate another person.
5. Ask friends to tell Veronica that they WANT her to be at the school.
6. Other ideas?
“There’s this kid, Owen, who is getting pushed around and teased a lot. He dresses and
acts way different than most of the other kids. When kids tease him, he gets real mad. I’m
scared to do anything, but he doesn’t deserve this. He has no friends and seems really sad.”
Allie (concerned about Owen), 8th grade
What are some ways to be there for Owen? Options:
1. Include Owen by asking him to hang out during assembly, class, or other free times.
2. Encourage friends to help get Owen away from a situation in which he is being teased.
3. Talk with adults at your school and ask how you and your friends can be supportive of Owen so that he
has someone to sit by at lunch.
4. Let Owen know that he deserves to be treated with respect. Encourage him to tell someone about being teased.
5. Other ideas?
“Last week, while I was standing in the lunch line, a boy cut in front of me. I was annoyed,
but I didn’t say anything. But then he turned around and flipped my lunch tray all over me
and got my clothes all dirty. Everybody laughed. It was so embarrassing. He has been
doing stuff almost every day now, and I have stopped going to lunch.”
Jack, 9th grade
What are ways to be there for Jack? Options:
1. Ask if you can go through the lunch line with him and sit with him.
2. Tell your friends what happened and ask them to stand near Jack in the lunch line.
3. Encourage Jack to talk with a teacher, his parents, or another adult.
4. Ask the lunchroom staff if they can keep an eye on the situation.
5. Other ideas?
©2015, PACER Center | 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN 55437 | PACER.org/Bullying | 952.838.9000
The National Bullying Prevention Center is a program of PACER Center
No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photcopying, recording, or otherwise,
without express written permission of PACER Center, except for brief quotations or critical reviews. One copy may be downloaded from PACER.org for personal use.