A resource for schools Adapted from the resource, Reverencing the Dignity of All, created by the Renfrew county Catholic School District. Background: The focus for Pink Shirt Day this year is Cyberbullying. Even though the technology we have today was not around when Jesus walked the earth, we can still apply His teachings to the current situations around Cyberbullying. Jesus showed us unconditional Love and called on us to love others as He loves us. He is our joy. He lives in the heart of each one of us, and so, we treat each other with reverence and kindness. In this way, our acts of kindness show our reverence for Jesus. On Pink shirt day we are encouraged to think twice about posting something negative on the internet and instead use the internet to spread kindness; to spread God s love! In this Resource: Lesson Plans (Pages 2 14) o Adaptable across grade range (K 12) o Classroom Prayer for beginning and end day o 5 lessons, each with a different picture book and theme related to stopping and preventing bullying (Peace, Acceptance, Noble, Kindness, Teaching of St. Francis) o Do not have to be used in order, can use only one, or a select few. Pink Shirt Day Prayer o A prayer that can be read over morning announcements Activity ideas for Pink Shirt Day 1
Lesson Plans & Picture Books to combat Bullying and encourage kindness Page in Document Theme Picture Book Pages 3 5 Peace What does Peace Feel like By Vladimir Radunsky Pages 6-8 Acceptance Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun By Maria Dismondy Pages 9-11 Be Noble Mr. Peabody s Apples By Madonna Pages 12-14 Kindness Each Kindness By Jacqueline Woodson 2
Peace Lesson plan and Classroom Prayer Classroom Prayer: Today we focus on being peaceful. Being Peaceful ends bullying by building relationships and understanding. Being peaceful means I am not being aggressive or fighting with others. If I am peaceful, I am playing with my friends and enjoying my time with others. When somebody is being teased or made fun of in the school, do I stand by? Do I join in? Do I seek help? Am I a peacemaker? Listen to the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. (Mt 5:9) Jesus calls all of us his friends. He showed us how to live as friends by laying down his life for us. He calls each of us to live his command to love one another, by putting aside unkind words, by never saying or doing anything that would hurt anyone else; by being an example of friendship and welcome with everyone, especially those who feel left out. Let us live in the love of Jesus as friends. Please join me in our morning prayer. Lord, help us to be Peaceful in our daily thoughts, words and acts. Together, let us pray the prayer of St. Francis and ask for help to be peaceful. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen End of the day Announcement: Today we focused on being peaceful, remembering the words of Jesus, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. 3
Peace Activities for Teachers/Students: The following lesson plan was taken from the Teach Peace Now website. Grade Level: Kindergarten through high school Introduction Peace begins in our hearts and our minds, but must be fostered by the actions we take. Young children need to know that adults value a peaceful world and are willing to work towards this goal. Procedure 1. Read students What Does Peace Feel Like. 2. Brainstorm a list of ways students could help create a more peaceful school, community, and world. 3. Pass out dove patterns (template below) and invite students to write their ideas on the dove. Younger children can draw themselves acting as a peacemaker. 4. End by hanging up the doves in the classroom or school. Keep the list of ideas the children brainstormed and put stars next to an idea each time student, or someone in the school, community or world (check the news) carries out the idea. Here is how one school carried out this project. 4
DOVE TEMPLATE 5
Acceptance Lesson Plan and Classroom Prayer Classroom Prayer: Be Accepting: Today we focus on being accepting. Being accepting ends bullying by making sure that everyone feels comfortable and accepted, and that no one is excluded or isolated. Being accepting means that we go out of our way to make connections with all of the people we meet each day, not just those that we count as our friends. If I am being accepting, it means that I know that each person I meet is important. When someone is being left out, do I try to include them? Do I make the effort to make sure that everyone feels that they belong? Am I including every one as God asks us to do? Listen to the words of the prophet Jeremiah. Here, God says to Jeremiah: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations. (Jer 1, 4-5) God knew us before we were born. He brought each of us into the world for a special reason. And so, we must always include and treat each other with love and respect, because God has a special place for all of us in his great plan. Please join me in our morning prayer. Lord, help us to be accepting in our daily thoughts, words and acts. Together let us pray the prayer of St. Francis and ask for help to be accepting. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen End of the Day Announcement: Today we focused on being accepting, and remembering to build community with each other by remembering the words of St. Paul to the Romans: We are one body in Christ. 6
Acceptance Lesson plan: The following lesson plan was taken from Education world website. Brief Description Students use the activity of building a necklace to learn more about each other and explore diversity. Time: 45 minutes Materials Needed Bowl of different styles of beads to string on a necklace Piece of jute or material (boondoggle) for stringing the beads Small envelope for each student with a small piece of paper in it Book: Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Author Maria Dismondy Preparation Lesson Plan 1. Put a small piece of paper in each envelope. 2. Collect a variety of beads. Send a note home, ask the teacher, or go to a craft store. You may be able to get a donation since a school is a non-profit, but plan for the donation process to take a few weeks. 3. Make sure the beads fit on the necklace material. 4. (Optional) Choose a book to read following the lesson (see resources at end). Part 1: Reading the book and Making the Unity Necklace (10 minutes) 1. Read the story Spaghetti in a Hot dog bun by Maria Dismondy 2. Discuss the message of the story. 3. Individual choice. Everyone will choose a bead that he or she likes. Ask students to think about the reason they chose their bead. 4. Envelopes. Pass out the envelopes and have each student put his bead in his envelope and write his name on the inside flap. Do not seal the envelope, just tuck the flap. 5. Redistribute. Collect the envelopes and then give each student someone else s. To keep the interest level high for the following discussion, ask students not to look inside yet. Part 2: Discussion Points (35 minutes) 1. Individual differences: Each of us picked a different bead. We each have different thoughts about what our favorite color might be, what might taste good, or to what music we like to listen. What do you think about that? 7
So as we look around at each other, we can see difference among us in hair color, eye color, body size. In what other ways are we different? Do you think it would be better if we were all the same? Would that make a better group? Think about a family. Let s say that everyone in the family is very good at playing with the younger kids. But no one is good at cooking. How about if everyone is very good at eating dinner, but no one is good at going to the store to buy food? 2. List: Let s list on the board some differences about people. For example, some of us are quite helpful, or friendly, or cheerful, or brave. 3. Challenge: Now here is a challenge for you. Each of you will get an envelope with someone's name on it. Don t let anyone see whose envelope you have. Take out the piece of paper and write one strength or positive thing you have noticed about that person. Give some examples: A person can be polite, helpful, good at music, or a strong athlete. And yes, sometimes it s a little difficult to find that positive thing about someone but take the challenge and try! 4. Collect the envelopes. Sit in a circle. Open each envelope and read the name and the comment. If it s not kind, please do not share it. The person who wrote the unkind comment will get the message that it was not appropriate. 5. Necklace: As you read each one, the student will put his bead on the necklace. Ask a student who needs to be involved (maybe someone with attention issues) to hold the necklace for the class. 6. Reactions: Why do you think we made this necklace? You ve created this teaching opportunity don t lose it to a lecture on diversity. Listen to the student ideas. Guide as needed, but let them find the points. Hang the necklace in a central spot. 8
Be Noble Lesson plan and Classroom Prayer Classroom Prayer: Be Noble: Today we focus on being noble. Being noble ends bullying because if we are being noble, we are careful and respectful of each person s dignity and pride. Being noble means that we do not engage in gossip, cyberbullying or the spreading of rumors that could hurt someone else. If I am being noble it means that I recognize the greatness of all of God s children and that I treat others with the compassion that God treats us with. When I hear a story or rumor about someone else do I repeat it? Do I get involved in destroying the reputation of others or do I act in a noble way and refuse to participate in these activities? Listen to the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew: In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. (Mt 7, 12) Jesus tells us that when we treat each other with kindness, we are living by God s law. Let us ask Jesus to help us to live his law of love by treating one another as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of God. Please join me in our morning prayer Lord, help us to be noble in our daily thoughts, words and acts. Together let us pray the prayer of St. Francis and ask for help to be noble: Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen End of the Day Announcement: Today we focused on being noble. If we are noble, then we are living as St. Paul described to the Ephesians, Be imitators of God, as beloved children. 9
Be Noble Lesson plan: Plan adapted from Lesson by Kristen Savage Book Title: Mr. Peabody s Apples; Author: Madonna Anticipatory Set: (How will you get their attention and activate schema or background knowledge?) Line up children in a row across the room. Starting at one side of the room tell the children that you are going to whisper something very important into the first students ear. Tell that that when it gets to the end of the line that their homework will be given regarding the message. When the last person receives the message have them whisper it in your ear. Then write the original message up on the board and have the children come sit back on the carpet. Write what the message was turned into by going through so many people. Talk about how drastic it was changed and how the importance of the message was changed as it got passed along. Listening Focus: (What should the students focus on as they listen?) Explain to the children that you would like them to listen for the lesson Mr. Peabody teaches the boys on the baseball team. Method for Sharing: (How will you present the story?) Read the story all the way through Then discuss listening focus. Instruction: (How will you teach about the intended concept and how will students apply and practice the concept (can use concrete object here)? Ask the children how they thought the lesson of honesty Mr. Peabody taught everyone might be connected to the telephone chain before they read the book. Help them make the connection that just as important things can become distorted we need to always remember to tell the truth and not things that might have been passed along or changed. Talk about what honesty means and where we can be honest. Give the children each a feather and ask them why you might have given that to them. After discussing the symbol it represented in the story by Madonna have them take it home to put somewhere in their room that they would see and remember what it stood for. Have them explain it to their parents about what they learned about. Activity: Have students choose one of the activity cards to do. 10
Activity Cards: Mr. Peabody s Apples Activity #1 Make a list of the main events that occurred in the book we read, titled Mr. Peabody s Apples. Don t forget to record what happened at the beginning of the book, what happened in the middle of the book and what happened at the end of the book. Blooms Level: Knowledge Mr. Peabody s Apples Activity#4 Write about your feelings in relation to the book we read in class. How do you think Mr. Peabody felt when people were spreading rumors that weren t true? Think of a time when people said things about you that weren t true. How did this make you feel? Blooms Level: Synthesis Mr. Peabody s Apples Activity#2 Paint or draw some aspect of the story that you liked. Remember to do your nicest quality of work and take time to review the story if you have a hard time remembering something to draw. Blooms Level: Comprehension Mr. Peabody s Apples Activity#5 What was the turning point in the story? Think back to what happened and specifically when things started to change in the town. Write down your ideas. And why you think things changed. Blooms Level: Analysis Mr. Peabody s Apples Activity#3 Do you think that the story of Mr. Peabody s Apples could have occurred in real life? Think about it and write your reflection and talk about why or why not you think it could take place in real life. Blooms Level: Application Mr. Peabody s Apples Activity#6 Do you think Tommy Ticklebottom is a bad person or a good person? Talk with a partner about what you come up with and then write down in no more than three sentences why you came to that conclusion. Blooms Level: Evaluation 11
Kindness Lesson plan and Classroom Prayer Classroom Prayer: Today we focus on being kind. Being kind ends bullying because if I am being kind my actions and words are caring and gentle and others feel safe and secure. Being kind means that I am acting as one who loves others the way the God loves all of us. If I am being kind I am not mocking anyone, making fun of others, or teasing and taunting the people around me in a cruel way. Do I treat everyone I meet with kindness? Do my actions and words come from the love in my heart for others? Listen to the words of the Prophet Isaiah. Here God gives these words to Isaiah to say to Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. you are precious in my sight and I love you. (Is 43 1b, 4a) God calls each of us by name to be with Him forever, because we are precious in His eyes. Let us ask God to help us use each other s names only in kindness. Please join me in our morning prayer. Lord help us to be Kind in our daily thoughts, words and acts. Together let us pray the prayer of St. Francis and ask for help to be kind: Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen End of the Day Announcement: Today we focused on being kind. If we are kind, remembered the words of Jesus spoke in John s gospel, Love one another as I have loved you. 12
Kindness Activity: Prepare for this activity ahead of time by marking the word, you on a number of polished river rocks with waterproof, indelible ink. Obtain a large, clear, open, container that can be filled with water for use during the activity. Begin the activity by reading the book, Each Kindness, as a group. Note that Each Kindness is a powerfully emotional story that identifies missed opportunities for friendship, and describes what happens when kind actions are not chosen in interpersonal interactions. In the story, a new student is mocked and shunned by classmates who criticize her physical appearance and refuse to play with her at recess. The story points out the long-lasting and far-reaching effects that result when kindness is not shown to others. Discuss the story as a group by helping the students identify the feelings experienced by both the victim and the bullies throughout the story. Be sure to mention what could have been done differently and the feelings that would have come from the different, kinder, behaviors. Bring out one of the rocks with the word you painted on one side, showing only the unmarked side to start, and the container of water. Ask the class what they think the rock represents, and lead them to understand that the rock represents each one of them and their individual behaviors toward other people. Turn the rock over to reveal the word you, for emphasis. Brainstorm with the class some of the significant and meaningful ways in which they can show kindness toward others. Ask the class what they think the bowl of water represents. Help them understand the bowl of water could be their classroom, their playground, their sports team, their after-school club, their family, their community, or any place where they find themselves in the company of others. Lead a discussion about how the actions of one person can affect other people. Gently drop the rock into the water with the word you showing, to illustrate the ripple effect the actions of one person can have. Fuller suggests using a concrete example directly from the class discussion as the rock is dropped in the water. You can make a statement such as, In the same way this rock makes ripples when it goes into the water, when you choose to say good morning to someone you pass in the hallway, the action you just took toward that one person creates ripples, or waves, of kindness that will reach many, many, other people that day. The person who heard good morning from you may smile and say good morning to someone else, and so on. Talk about how kindness spreads. Remind students that the rock represents them and the water represents anyone they encounter in their daily lives. Drop the rock into the water many times with multiple examples for maximum effect, always with an explanation such as, You can smile at a person (drop the rock in the water) and the ripples of your kindness will reach who knows how many people (watch the ripples). To help students own the experience of realizing the effects of their kindness, call on a few students to give some examples of acts of kindness they could do themselves, and let them drop a rock into the water. Discuss the ripples in terms of what others might experience in response to that one act of kindness. Print out the following page on labels and give one to each child. Have students get out a rock and write with marker, or paint a kind message on it. Have them share it with someone else. 13
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Pink Shirt Day Prayer & Morning Announcement Today is Pink Shirt Day across Canada. This day was inspired by an act of kindness in small town Nova Scotia. In that town, David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends noticed a new student was being harassed by bullies at the school so, David, Travis and some of their friends went to a discount store and bought 50 pink tank tops. They sent out message to schoolmates that night, and the next morning they hauled the shirts to school in a plastic bag. As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the new boy walked in and felt extreme support and the bullies were never heard from again. After David and Travis act of kindness many others were also inspired and the idea for Pink shirt day began to grow. Each year, around the world, a day is set aside for everyone to wear practice kindness and wear pink to symbolize that they do not tolerate bullying. In our Catholic Faith we have a Saint who has shown what it means to practice kindness and help those in need; that saint is St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis was an example of living a life of love and being accepting of all of God s creation, no matter how big or small. So today, on pink shirt day, let us pray the prayer of St. Francis, a teaching prayer which teaches us how to live our lives in a way that leaves no option for bullying. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Lord, Make me an instrument of your peace Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen 15
Activities for Pink Shirt Day Adapted from the Halifax Regional School Board The following is a list of activities for Pink Shirt Day on February 28, 2018. These ideas may or may not be applicable to all grade levels at your school; however, they may be adapted where appropriate. Encourage students to wear a pink shirt today Encourage kids to use #Pinkitforward For each hashtag, Coast Capital will donate$1 to Pink Shirt Day in support of bullying prevention programs Create anti-bullying postcards with student messages Create a school banner and have all the students and staff sign Create and post anti-bullying slogans Develop an anti-bullying policy for your school Plan individual class, and whole school assemblies Incorporate motivational music and poetry in your day Create anti-bullying role plays or scripts for the day Create art work that celebrates peace, respect and diversity Hold anti-bullying art, poetry and song contests Use story starters, such as, If you won a million dollars, how could you use it to stop bullying? Develop a list of student/educator responsibilities related to bullying situations Use local, national, and international media and stories to have discussions about bullying Discuss the effects of cyber-bullying and face-to-face bullying Review the safe internet use policy with students Have parents in for the day to listen and share their experiences with students Set up peer support circles to discuss issues students are facing and brainstorm solutions Have older students visit and discuss bullying with younger students Have an anti-bullying poster competition Decorate tiles and use them to create a path to peace in your school Nominate someone to be recognized for a noble and/or kind act Start a Sorry Box for anonymous apologies Hold a Cool to be Kind Day Create a student Charter of Rights and Freedoms for your school Prepare performance pieces, such as dance or drama for the school to experience Write your local Member of Parliament to share student concerns/successes about bullying Create mini films related to the day to share with all students Have a day filled with team building activities for individual classes and the whole school Take a photograph of the students and staff, while adding a unique flair, such as using bodies to form a peace sign or another relevant symbol. 16