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tips for
Activities for Students:
K-2- The Toothpaste Activity:
Ask for a volunteer to come to the front of the room. Place a strip of masking tape on the length of the table. With a tube of toothpaste, have the
volunteer run a bead of toothpaste on the length of the masking tape. Now ask the participant to put the toothpaste back in the tube. Obviously, it can’t
be done. This is an example of how hurtful words, once spoken, cannot be taken back. Bullies say hurtful words frequently and need to know the impact
that their words have on their victims.
3-5- Wrinkled Wanda:
On chart paper, have the participants trace an outline of a full body person. Once the outline has been traced, the participants will write unkind, rude,
and disrespectful statements all over the outline. These are statements that could be made to another person like, “You’re a loser,” “Nobody likes you,” and
“You are dumb.” Identify the drawing as a girl named Wanda. After Wanda is completely filled with a variety of negative comments, have the participants
crumple the drawing, and then un-crumple it. Post the wrinkled drawings around the room. Explain to the class that these drawings are examples of what
negative comments can do to a person who is bullied. Bullying comments can destroy a person’s self-image and often leads to a defeated body language
in the victim.
Next have the participants do the drawing again. This time write as many positive comments on the drawing as possible. Statements like, “You did such
a nice job,” or, “I enjoy your friendship.” Fill it with really nice statements. Cut this drawing out, but don’t wrinkle it. Post these drawings around the room.
This person is now just called Wanda. What is the difference between the two? Have the participants get into base groups and discuss how they would
introduce this lesson to their students and invent any variations on the activity that would be helpful to their students.
6-9- Who am I?
Have the participants write down on a sheet of paper names that they were called when they were younger or that they may even be called now. After
they have done this, have them crumble up the paper and throw it in the garbage can as indicator that they will never be called this name again if they
don’t want to be. Next have the participants write down on another sheet of paper what they want to be called, as an indicator that this is what their name
actually is.
In their classrooms, teachers can have their students do this activity and write down the names that they want to be called and with the use of a name
book describe all the positive attributes that that their name has connected with it. For example, James means truthful. Post the students names around
the room on laminated cards and celebrate each student’s name, what it means, and who they are.
Always Remember: Little things can make a big difference. Simple and genuine gestures, such as regularly greeting students, talking to students, and
addressing students by name, help to make students feel connected and safe.
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community outreach - Rise Above/Anti-Bullying Campaign