Bullying & Kindness

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this module is to address the social difficulties kids are facing among their peers, and to teach and encourage them to overcome the negative and go the extra mile to make a positive impact, as this is our way of sharing God's light with those around us. The purpose of this lesson is to help students recognize acts of bullying and help prepare them to respond to these situations, while reminding them the importance of kindness and compassion.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Please review the previous week's lesson. (5 minutes)

Create a list of about 15-20 words, half positive and half negative. Try and include words that you have heard the students use themselves in order to make this experience more applicable (ex: sweet, funny, beautiful, ugly annoying, mean) Have the students sort these words into two categories, Friend or Bully.

Then ask the students What does it mean to be a bully? A bully is someone who treats others, or one person in specific, in a way that makes them feel bad or hurts them on purpose.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Memory Verse - " Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" Luke 6:27

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

Read together Luke 6:27-30.

Oftentimes if we are being treated badly by others we don't understand why and we are so focused on our pain. It is important to remember that usually people who become bullies are going through difficult times themselves. Maybe they are having issues at home, or even they themselves were bullied so they take it out on others. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us to do something very difficult here. He tells us to love our enemies, bless them, and pray for them. When we do all of these things to our bullies, we show them an example of Christ and give them the love that they are missing.

Read together Luke 6:31-35.

In these verses, Christ tells us to go the extra mile and if we do this, God will give us great rewards in Heaven. What does it mean to go the extra mile? For example, if someone is mean to us and says unkind words to us, we can go the extra mile by making sure to compliment them one day. Another example that Christ mentions "And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either." Luke 6:29 We can apply this to our lives in situations when someone takes something from us, we can offer them more. This not only can stop them from treating us badly, but it also shows them an act of kindness that can touch their hearts and encourage them to be nicer.

Just as Christ tells us how we can respond to those who treat us badly through these verses, He also shows us how to be kind if we are the bullies. It is important to always be aware of how we treat others, apologize if we have not been kind, and confess and repent to ask God to forgive our sins.

It is also important to speak up if you or someone you know is being bullied. At times, our actions and kindness will not stop the problem of bullying so it is important to tell a teacher, a servant, your parents, your siblings, or even a friend if you or someone you know is being bullied.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

  • Have you ever been bullied or seen someone get bullied?
  • If you have been bullied, how did it make you feel?
  • Have you ever bullied someone? Why did you, and how did it make you feel?
  • How did Christ tell us to treat our enemies?
  • What does it mean to go the extra mile?

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Remind the children that just like God loves us, He wants us to also love each other the same way. It is difficult to do the right thing, but much more rewarding.

Have the children continually repeat the memory verse, and encourage them to repeat it to themselves when they are facing a bully or thinking about bullying someone. This will serve as a reminder to always be kind and treat others the way we would want to be treated.

ACTIVITY - 5 Minutes

Empathy Freeze

Instructions: In this game, you will play music and as long as the music is playing the children should be walking around or moving in some way. When the music stops you will say an emotion (ex: excited, annoyed, happy, sad, angry, scared, relaxed, confused, curious, frustrated) and the children should freeze and express that emotion on their face. After a few rounds of emotions, ask the students some follow-up questions.

  • Which of the emotions would someone being bullied feel?
  • How would someone who is helping someone who is being bullied feel?

Five Ways to Stop Bullying Craft

Materials

  • Construction Paper
  • Scissors
  • Colored Pencils/Markers
  • Glue

Instructions:

Have the kids trace out their hands on a sheet of construction paper and cut it out. Paste it on another larger sheet of construction paper and have them title the page "5 Ways to Stop Bullying". You may use the five methods exemplified in the craft picture, or as a class come up with five new ways. Have the children write in one method for each finger on their hand and decorate their posters. By then end, they should have a complete list of ways to help them through times they may face bullies, and to remind them to not be a bully also.

SERVANT RESOURCES

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Review the memory verse with the children and encourage them to pray for their peers every night and mention those who are being bullied.