THE POWER OF WORDS ANTI-BULLYING

LESSON PLAN

THE POWER OF WORDS

8th grade
1 session, 27 minutes

BIG IDEA
Throughout time and across cultures, people use words to inflict emotional hurt or
to help heal others in need.
LESSON SUMMARY
The students will engage in a classroom dialog exploring the effect that words can
have on others by identifying both hurtful and healing words. The students will
participate in a group activity that visually communicates the impact of the words
used by bullies on their victims. The students will express words that have been
directed towards them in a negative manner by peers or adults. Conversely, they
will express the healing words as well in an effort to empower students to make
wise choices about what they say about others.
EDUCATION STANDARDS ADDRESSED
1.6.6.A: Listen critically and respond to others in small and large group situations.
Respond with grade level appropriate questions, ideas, information, or opinions.
11.2.6.H: Describe positive and negative interactions within patterns of
interpersonal communications.
11.2.6.A: Contrast the solutions reached through the use of a simple decision
making process that includes analyzing consequences of alternative solutions
against snap decision making methods.
9.4.8.D: Describe to what purpose philosophical ideas generated by artists can be
conveyed through works in the arts and humanities

TODAYS OBJECTIVES
Students will learn about the power of hurtful and healing words.
Students will examine their own use of words towards peers, adults and siblings.
Students will create two infographic posters representing the effect that words
have on an individual.
Students will practice mindfulness when communicating with peers and adults.
MATERIALS NEEDED
2 sheets of 20x30 paper
30 Band-Aids
60 Address Labels
Black Sharpies
Colored Markers
ACTIVITIES/PROCEDURES
Hook:
Students will be given one Band Aid, two white labels, one black Sharpie, and one
colored marker. The students will gather in small groups of 3 or 4 to engage in
discussion regarding words that they have may have used to be hurtful towards
someone. The words can be words that were used against them by a peer, adult, or
sibling. The students will also choose a positive word that they have used towards a
peer, adult or sibling; or one that they have been told by someone else.
Development:
Each student will each choose a hurtful word and write it on the Band Aid with a
black Sharpie. The Students will then write a positive on a label using the colored
marker. Once the students are finished (5min) the co-facilitators will randomly
gather three Band Aids and three labels from the students. One teacher will
represent the hurtful words and the second will represent the healing words. Each
teacher will place a corresponding word on the poster they represent. The first
word represents the first word of the day that a student may hear from someone at
home. One group will be called up to place their Band Aid/ labels on the
corresponding poster. The teachers will then place another word on the poster in
reverse, giving the negative poster a positive label and vice versa. The remaining
groups will place their words on the posters. Lastly, the teachers will place their last
words on their posters representing the last words a student may hear before going
to bed. (10 min.) Begin open dialog about the questions. (10 min.)

Closure:
End with students writing a positive or helping word on the remaining label. Once
that is finished, ask them to pass it on to their neighbor. (2min.)The student will be
encouraged to wear the label, place it on a folder, or pass it on to another student.

PREPARATION
Teacher will create two infographic posters depicting a Keith Haring like silhouette.
On one poster will say, Sticks and stones may break my bones, but wordscan
hurt me.
The second will say, Sticks and stones will break my bones, but wordsHeal me.
Teacher will cut label sheets into individual labels.
VOCABULARY
Self-esteem
Healing
Identity
Reflectiveness
Self-restraint
Empathy
TODAYS QUESTIONS
How may hurtful words impact anothers self-esteem, confidence, and identity?
What words have you used towards others? How did it make you feel after you
said them?
Can you imagine what it would be like to be someone who hears more hurtful
words than positive healing words.
How do you feel when you are the recipient of positive healing words from peers
or adults?
SUMMARY/CLOSURE

Students will be asked to write a positive word on a separate label and then pass it
to the person next to them. The students will be asked to place the label on their
shirt, or book bag. If the student feels uncomfortable wearing the label, they will be
encouraged to pass it on to another peer.