Working with others

Bullying: Stand Strong, Stand Up

No one deserves to be bullied, and no one has to face it alone. Learners tell bullying apart from everyday conflict, practice what to do when it happens to them, and learn safe ways to step in for someone else.

4 sessions · adapts to all four learner tiers (K–college)

Start session 1 Print a Rep Card

Core tool

The 4 Upstander Moves

Notice it · Name it ("That's not cool") · Support the person being targeted · Report it to a trusted adult. Pick the move that's safe for you; every one of them counts.

Before you start: quick self-check

Rate each line from 1 (not yet) to 5 (definitely) before session 1, then again after your Real-World Rep.

I can tell the difference between conflict and bullying
I know what I'd do if I saw someone being bullied

The sessions

4 sessions, three beats each.

Every session runs Hook → Rep → Reflect, so learners know what to expect each time.

  1. Session 1

    Bullying or Conflict?

    Hook5–10 min

    Three scenes: a bad day, a disagreement, and someone targeted again and again

    Rep10–30 min

    Sort scenarios into conflict, a mean moment or bullying (repeated, a power imbalance, meant to hurt)

    Reflect5–10 min

    Write one line on your Rep Card: what I tried, what happened, what I'll try next.

  2. Session 2

    If It's Happening to You

    Hook5–10 min

    What bullying depends on: silence and feeling alone

    Rep10–30 min

    Practice a calm, confident response, script how to tell a trusted adult, and map your safe people and places

    Reflect5–10 min

    Write one line on your Rep Card: what I tried, what happened, what I'll try next.

  3. Session 3

    From Bystander to Upstander

    Hook5–10 min

    Most bullying happens with other kids watching

    Rep10–30 min

    Role-play the 4 Upstander Moves and choose the one that's safest for you

    Reflect5–10 min

    Write one line on your Rep Card: what I tried, what happened, what I'll try next.

  4. Session 4

    Online and Offline

    Hook5–10 min

    Cyberbullying follows you home

    Rep10–30 min

    Practice screenshot, block, report and tell; write a group pledge for how you'll treat each other online

    Reflect5–10 min

    Write one line on your Rep Card: what I tried, what happened, what I'll try next.

Real-World Rep

Make one upstander move this week: check on someone, include someone who's left out, or report something you saw. Log what you did.

By age

How it adapts for each learner tier.

K–5

Sprouts

20 min sessions

Puppet scenes about teasing, leaving others out and unkind words. Practice a strong voice, walking away and telling a grown-up.

6–8

Builders

30 min sessions

Group chats, rumors and exclusion; what an upstander can do in the hallway and online.

9–12

Launchers

40 min sessions

Cyberbullying, hazing and harassment; documenting and reporting; supporting a friend who's being targeted.

College & first-year adults

Leaders

50 min or self-paced sessions

Hazing, harassment and workplace bullying; your rights and the campus and workplace reporting channels.

For teachers & facilitators

Never ask a targeted student to work it out face to face with the person bullying them; forced mediation can make things worse. Follow your school's bullying policy and reporting process. Bullying based on race, disability, sex or other protected traits may also be harassment schools are required to address. Watch for signs of distress and connect students with a counselor. More guidance: StopBullying.gov.