Friday, September 23, 2011

Stop Bullying

Speak Up and Tell a Teacher

 “Stop Bullying Now – Episode 1” (2:20)
Activity:
“BEATeam Bully Skit – 2008” 

(Modifications by Marilyn Valentini – 31 August 2008)

Skit and Response Questions:

Premise:
1.      Attempt to include the WHOLE class (if possible)….kids are more “invested”. e.g. use “chorus” part to include.
2.      Use “props” to help get them “into” the concept of “Readers’ Theater”
3.      The skit should/can be utilized for both primary and secondary elementary levels and should be considered a “starting point”. Teachers should be encouraged to improvise/add to/or change the dialogue as they see fit with the assistance of the BEATeam liaison.
4.      The “chorus” sections are “chanted” to a Rap beat.

 Sketch/Bully Skit for BEATeam 
2008-09
(These two know each other but are not quite friends. One is smaller and cautious of the other one who is bigger and bolder. One avoids sitting with the other usually but today is different. Because of how they are sitting together today, they experiment with friendship. The “set” is a mock up of a bus with “riders” seated in rows and the bus driver in front. The “chorus” is seated together on the bus as well. Character #3 is seated across the aisle from the other two, doing his/her own thing, and becomes the observer/witness. Classroom teachers will select/assign the characters and chorus members and rehearse the skit prior to the final “performance” during BEAT Week.)

The “bully” is character #1
The “target” is character #2
The “witness” is character #3
The “bus driver” is character #4
Situation: 
Target and Witness sit across the aisle from each other doing their own thing when the bully gets on and chooses to sit with the target and forces him/her over to the window side of the seat where he/she is trapped.

Chorus: (chanted to rap beat)
On the bus ride to our school
Something happens that’s not cool
Listen and see if you know,
How these bully – problems go.

Bully:                    

Hey, you move over.

Target:                 
Hey, yourself. (moves)

Bully:                    
What’s that?

Target:                 
Nothing

Bully:                    
Give it to me.

Target:                 
No, it’s mine.

Bully:                    
What is it???

Target:                 
Something I made.

Bully:                    
Give it to me. (tries to grab it)

Target:                 
No, leave it alone – You’ll break it – STOP IT!!!

Bully:                    
Come on – just give it to me!! (reaching and grabbing)

Target:                 
NO, STOP IT!!!!

Chorus: (chanted to rap beat)
Has this ever happened to you?
A bully’s telling him what to do!
Should he get help or let it go?
Without help, watch the problem grow


Bully:                    
Just hand it over now!! (another grab)

Target:                 
NO, STOP!!! 
Leave it alone (they yank on the item and it breaks)
You broke my project.

Bully:                    
That’s what you get for not giving it to me.
It was a silly project anyway.

Target:                 
NO, what you did was mean.

Bully:                    
What did you say to me?

Target:                 
Just leave me alone.

Bully:                    
No way. I’ll do what I want!

Witness:              
HEY! – Cut it out. Quit bothering him!

Bully:                    
You can’t tell me what to do either, so back off!!

Chorus:                
This bully problem may not end,
Without the help of an adult friend.
Our bus drivers are there for us,
They can help with bully-fuss!


Bus Driver:          
Now let’s go back in time and see what happens when they get help.

(Characters go in reverse motion until in their original positions and the scene starts over again)

Bully:                    
Hey, you.

Target:                 
Hey, yourself (moves in)

Bully:                    
What’s that?

Target:                 
Nothing

Bully:                    
Give it to me.

Target:                 
No, it’s mine.

Bully:                    
What is it?

Target:                 
Something I made, my project.

Bully:                    
Give it to me (tries to grab it)

Target:                 
No, leave it alone – You’ll break it – STOP IT!!!

Bully:                    
Just give it to me. Come on. (grabbing and reaching)

Target:                 
NO, STOP IT!!!
BUS DRIVER, BUS DRIVER, he won’t leave me alone.

Witness:              
He’s being a bully!!

Bus Driver:          
What’s going on back there?
Stop it right now!

Bully:                    
I can’t believe you called the bus driver!
Uh-oh…..the bus is stopping….

Witness:              
I told you to stop it,
We’re in BIG trouble now.

Bus Driver:          
OK you two, what’s going on?

Target:                 
He tried to grab my project.

Witness:              
I saw it; he was being a BULLY.

Bus Driver: (to bully)
OK, come with me.
You’ll be sitting up front with me until you can show me you can sit with others without bullying them.
When we get to school you will tell your principal why you were moved up front.

Chorus: (chanted to rap beat)
Telling the driver was the way to go,
Then the bully-problem did not grow.
Our drivers will come to our aid,
No matter what our size or grade.

Witness:              
Are you OK?

Target:                 
Yes, Thanks for trying to help.

Witness:              
Hey, that’s a cool project. Did you make it yourself?

Target:                 
Yup, I spent a long time on it.

Witness:              
That’s REALLY good.
I bet you’ll get a “A”!!

Target:                 
I hope so!
Thanks!!!

Chorus:                
Working together it would seem…
Drivers and students make a unBEATable team.
Keeping our buses bully-free,
Safe for you and safe for me
Keeping our buses bully-free,
Safe for you and safe for me
(ask audience to “join in” the rap)

Keep our buses bully-free,
Safe for you and safe for me
(3-4 times as finale)


As students return to their seats in the audience (to raucous applause), 
BEATeam speaker poses questions to the group.

  1. What happened in the first version that could have been avoided?
  2. What did the witness do to help?
  3. How do you know if someone is being a bully?
  4. How can you get the bus driver’s attention?
  5. What can the bus driver do to make the bully stop?
  6. Who should you tell if a bully picks on you?
  7. What happens to a bully?
  8. If yo stick up for someone, might you both become friends?
  9. Which situation would you rather see on your bus?
  10. Can you trust your bus driver to protect you?
  11. Can words hurt just as much as a punch or a kick?
  12. Name some ways we can stop bullies from hurting our friends and classmates?