Laughing Leopard Press
  • Welcome
  • About
    • The Team
    • This is A. Blob
    • A. Blob on a Bus
    • Internships
  • Shop
  • Authors
    • L.A. Kefalos
    • Author Visits
  • Blog
    • Book Extension Crafts and Activities
  • Contact
  • News and Media

Picture

September Series: Integrating Bullying Prevention Part III: History

9/26/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Sometimes, the best way to go forward is to look back. History is an excellent teacher of what works, what doesn’t work, and what can be possible. That is why the next subject in our series on integrating bullying prevention throughout the classroom is history.
​

​History is chock full of examples of individuals who were bullied or different, but succeeded despite the odds. It is filled with people who chose to respond to cruelty with kindness, and ended up changing the world. 
​
​For many students, the past can seem like little more than distant stories that have no bearing on their lives. However, the reality is that the people and difficulties of the past weren’t much different than the people and difficulties of today. As a result, we can learn a lot from their struggles and successes, and discover in the process that we are not alone. 
Picture
History can serve as a warning, but it can also serve as an inspiration for what is possible. The activities below have been designed with this in mind. I hope they get your students excited about the past and inspire them to create a better future. 
​

​Living History

​Atticus Finch once said “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” What better way to do this than to LIVE history? Allow your students, for one day, to completely immerse themselves in the experience of a time gone by. 
​

​For example, hold an Ellis Island Day. Allow your students to feel what it would be like to come to a new country where they didn’t know the culture or the language; a place where they looked and acted differently than others and didn’t fit in with those around them. Assign students nations of origin and allow them to only speak to other students that are from the same country. 
​

Picture
​
Set up an inspection station mimicking the inspections immigrants went through upon arrival. Encourage your students to dress in the traditional garb of their nations and read personal accounts of people who immigrated to Ellis Island as children.​
​ Afterwards, talk with your students about how it felt to look different than their peers, to be inspected, and to be cut off from communication. Discuss how this experience can translate into their lives today. Will it change how they treat new students? Or how they interact with others who might look or act differently?
​

You can also use this opportunity to talk about all the wonderful foods, innovations, and traditions we have as a result of immigration in the U.S. If you have the participation of parents, hold a party at the end of the day with each student bringing in a dish representative of the nation they were assigned or even a family recipe. Your students will leave the classroom with a greater appreciation for the struggles faced by their ancestors, greater empathy for those who are new today, and a better appreciation for the benefits of differences and diversity.
​

​Wall of Upstanders

​Despite research which reports that, 57% of the time, bullying stops within 10 seconds when someone interferes, over 80% of children continue to stand by silently while their peers are bullied. Why is this? 
​

​Studies show that children choose to be bystanders for a multitude of reasons, including fear of retribution, uncertainty of how to act, and just plain shyness. While skits and books make good starting points for teaching children how to stand up to bullying, they can also feel fake or forced. This is where history can be helpful.
​

PictureImage found on Pinterest.com, original pinner unknown
​
The wonderful thing about stories in history is that they aren’t just stories; they really happened. You don’t need to look far for examples of individuals who stood up against injustice or helped the oppressed. Why not give your students real people to emulate? As you learn about upstanders throughout history, create a collage filled with their pictures, quotes, and articles about them. Talk about what it means to be an upstander and why they are so important, drawing connection between the past and the present. As you learn about different upstanders throughout history, add them to the collage. 

​When issues such as bullying and unkindness arise in the classroom, refer students to the leaders of the past. How did they handle conflict? Why do we admire them? What can we imitate?
​

BE an Upsatander

​This project is a combination of the first two. When I was in elementary school, one of my favorite projects was an oral report on a figure from history. Each student was assigned to research the life of a well known historic figure and then make a presentation while dressed as that individual, speaking from his or her perspective. We were allowed to choose anyone we wanted (within reason) and it was with great enthusiasm that I spent the next several weeks immersing myself in the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
​

​By the time presentation day rolled around, I was an expert on all things Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Since the assignment required me to speak in the first person, my presentation was more than a regurgitation of facts; it also included Laura’s personal thoughts and reactions to the events of her life, providing a far more rich and full portrait than any written report ever could. As the other students presented, I was fascinated to hear them speak like their characters and learned so much, not only about the historic figures, but about the students who had chosen them, as well.
​

Picture
Photo by Eunique Jones Gibson, part of his photo series showing children dressed as role models of past and present. Found on http://www.today.com/slideshow/mini-role-models-54829292
​
What I love about this project is that it’s fun for students but it also works on a variety of important skills such as research, writing, reporting, and public speaking. To incorporate bullying prevention, narrow the assignment to upstanders or individuals who overcame obstacles or found nonviolent solutions to problems or spread kindness in their communities. As students step into the shoes of these leaders, they will gain a better understanding of the fears and struggles upstanders of the past faced and how they overcame them, internalizing these lessons in a way they never would if they simply read out of a textbook.
​

​If you lack the time to do such a research-heavy assignment, simplify it to a short before-class discussion. Write a bullying issue or scenario on the board along with a historic figure at the beginning of class.  When students walk in, discuss how they think that figure would react to the situation. Assignments such as this not only help connect the past and the present, they build the all important skill of empathy.
***
Bullying, unfortunately, is nothing new, but neither is courage or justice or kindness. ​Human history is filled with people who stood up for the oppressed, overcame obstacles, and made the world a more peaceful place.

With the many tests and standards that must be met in schools today, adding lessons on bullying prevention can seem daunting, but it doesn't need to be. Lessons about acceptance and tolerance are all around us and, with a little creativity, you'll soon discover that you had the tools right in front of you all along!

I hope you enjoyed this series and that it helped take some of the apprehension out of bullying prevention. Let us know in the comments if you try any of these activities or if you have your own creative ways of integrating bullying prevention into the classroom! 

Check back here next week as we dive into National Bullying Prevention Month!

Integrating Bullying Prevention: Part 1 Math, blog cover
Integrating bullying prevention, part 2 art, blog cover
Beyond bullying prevention month:integrating bullying prevention all year long, blog cover

This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos picture book cover
​At Laughing Leopard Press, books are one of our greatest tools for education. Our newest book, This is A. Blob, by L.A. Kefalos combines powerful text with vibrant illustrations to help children learn that bullies come in all shapes and sizes-- and there is usually more to people than meets the eye. The first in a series of picture books, This is A. Blob introduces young children to vital topics such as empathy, kindness, and differences. Find it on Amazon.com or right here on LaughingLeopardPress.com!

A. Blob on a Bus, by L.A. Kefalos picture book cover
​​BOOK 2 NOW AVAILABLE!​
A. Blob is back, and this time it's on a bus! As the slimy bully pokes and pesters the children of Lincoln Elementary School, it seems like they will never be able to ride the bus in peace. That is, until one brave girl takes stand. 

Can one act of bravery change everything--including A. Blob? Find out in this second installment of The Blob Series!
0 Comments

    About Laughing Leopard Press

    Hello! We are Laughing Leopard Press, an independent book publisher from Akron, Ohio. At Laughing Leopard Press, we’re interested in publishing works that contribute to our understanding of this wonderful world. Through this blog, we hope to add to that understanding with commentary on life, literature, and a few things in between. We hope you enjoy the blog and take some time to talk with us in the comments or on our social media sites. Happy reading! 

    For some more great reading, check out our latest release, This is A. Blob by L. A Kefalos. This is A. Blob  is a picture book that deals with the sticky issue of bullying through an unlikely character that is a bit sticky itself! As readers follow the antics of A. Blob, they learn to put themselves in the shoes of another and discover there may be more to this bully than meets the eye…

    Picture
    This is A. Blob by L. A Kefalos. $14.95


    $1.00 is donated to charity for each book sold on this site--half to St. Jude's and the other half to PetFix Northeast Ohio.

    Archives

    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014

    Categories

    All
    10 Joyful Ways To Celebrate Christmas In July!
    11 Easy Ways To Make Labor Day
    A Blob On A Bus
    A. Blob On A Tour
    A. Blob On Bus
    Activities
    Activity
    Am I Alone? Words Of Support For Parents Of Bullies
    And Bullying
    A New Approach To Bullying Prevention: How Setting Small Goals Can Make A Big Difference Part I
    A New Approach To Bullying Prevention: How Setting Small Goals Can Make A Big Difference-Part I
    A New Approach To Bullying Prevention: How Setting Small Goals Can Make A BIG Difference-Part II
    A New Year
    Anniversary
    Art
    Attitudes Are Contagious
    Author
    Authors
    Author Tools
    Authot
    Beating The Summer Slide: 10 Strategies To Keep Kids Reading All Summer Long
    Beyond Bullying Prevention Month:Integrating Bullying Prevention Throughout The Classroom
    Blog Tour
    Book Extension
    Book Extensions
    Book Launch
    Book Release
    Book Review
    Books
    Books And Food
    Books That Heal
    Brooms
    Bully Drill
    Bullying
    Bullying: October's Other Scary Theme
    Bullying Prevention
    Bully Prevention
    Bystander
    Cake
    Childrens Books
    Chocolate Covered Bullying
    Christmas
    Collaboration
    Craft
    Difficult Times
    Do Bullies Take Summer Vacation?
    Empathy
    Employment
    Encouragement
    Engineering
    Erin Frankel
    Every Hero Has A Story
    Exercise Your Mind...Read!
    Facing The Blank Page
    Fall
    Fear-The Master Of Disguise
    Food
    Freebie
    Free Spirit Publishing
    Gift Guide
    Gifts
    Goals
    Go Set A Watchman
    Guest Blog
    Halloween
    Hands On
    Hands-On
    Hate Writing? This Could Be Why.
    Helpguide.org
    History
    Holiday
    Homemade Slime
    I Can Be An Upstander
    In A New Light
    In Another Skin
    Integrating Bullying Prevention
    Integrating Bullying Prevention Part I: Math
    Integrating Bullying Prevention Throughout The Classroom Part II: Art
    International Literacy Day
    Interview
    Is It Bullying?
    Just-A Poem About Finding Color In A Black And White World
    Kindness
    Labels
    Labor Day
    L.A Kefalos
    L.A. KEFALOS
    L.A. Kefalos
    Laughing Leopard Blog
    Laughing Leopard Press
    Lesson
    Lessons
    Librarians
    Libraries
    Literacy
    Love
    Marketing
    Math
    Mom Read It
    Myths
    My Upstander Handbook
    NaNoWriMo
    National Bullying Prevention Month
    National Novel Writing Month
    National Smile Power Day
    Neighbor Day
    New Year
    October
    October-Bats
    Orange Slime!--Celebrating Unity Day 2016
    Outwitting Bullying
    PACER Bully Prevention Center
    Parents
    Perspective
    Picture Book
    Picture Book Month
    Picture Books
    Picture Books And Bullying Prevention
    Poetry
    Publishing
    Random Acts Of Kindness Week
    Readers' Theater
    Reading
    Reading Into Thanksgiving
    Recipes
    Reluctant Readers
    School
    School Visit
    September Series: Integrating Bullying Prevention Part III: History
    September Special Series
    Slime
    Snacks
    Social/Emotional Skills
    Sort
    S.T.E.A.M.
    Stephen Covey
    Summer
    Summer Reading
    Summer Slide
    Superhero
    Support For Parents
    Sweet Treats
    Teaching
    The Case For Curiosity
    The Me Inside
    The Secret Life Of...
    The Weird Series
    This Is A. Blob
    This Is A. Blob SLIME Craft
    This Is...Learning To Look Beyond Labels
    Tips
    To Kill A Mockingbird
    Too Old For Picture Books?
    Too Old For Picture Books? Part II
    Turning Over A Good Attitude
    Understanding The Bystander Effect
    Unity Day
    Upstander
    Valentine's Day
    When Loving Isn't Easy
    When The Mask Won't Come Off
    When Things Fall Apart
    Women's History Month
    Worldwide Erase Meanness Day
    Writing
    Writing Tips

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Jet Blaque, kiera.chan, Ruth and Dave, UnknownNet Photography, htemske, Joybot, CJS*64 A man with a camera, slitzf1, fredwlangjr, adrianvfloyd, sandklef, Ruth and Dave, SuborbitalPigeon, incidencematrix, Sunshine Lady !, Darron Birgenheier, Rennett Stowe, NCDOTcommunications, T.Kiya, Peter Daniel, JerryLai0208
  • Welcome
  • About
    • The Team
    • This is A. Blob
    • A. Blob on a Bus
    • Internships
  • Shop
  • Authors
    • L.A. Kefalos
    • Author Visits
  • Blog
    • Book Extension Crafts and Activities
  • Contact
  • News and Media