Download the full lesson guide that accompanies Our Family.
Background:
Bullying
In Our Family, children share stories about all kinds of families. Today's children come from families living in one home or two, some are being raised by one mom or one dad, or they might have two parents/caregivers or live with grandparents or other family members. Others have parents/caregivers of different ethnic backgrounds, or who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. And some children are adopted or live in blended families. This short film is a collaboration between Our Family Coalition and Not In Our Town to encourage conversation about the many diverse family constellations, to give children the opportunity to see and appreciate their own families, and to be open and respectful to those who are different from them.
Bullying: Unacceptable for an adult, unacceptable for a child. What will you do to stand up?
Learn more about bullying solutions here.
Closed captioning available for this film. To turn on closed captioning, hit play and go to the bottom right-hand corner and click "CC."
Produced by MAKE, a professional ad agency in Minneapolis, MN. Directed by Mike Nelson and donated to Not In Our Town.
Students at Watchung Hills Regional High School in New Jersey were fascinated when they heard about an Orange Out Against Bullying in Marshalltown, Iowa. When they got together, they decided to create their own "White-Out to Erase Bullying" event. The campaign took on the flavor of their community. Even the weather cooperated, blanketing the town with snow as high school leaders tied white ribbons on snow-laden trees and students led activities pledging not to be silent in the face of bullying at their high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. Even the mayor and city council members joined the effort.
Closed captioning available for this film. To turn on closed captioning, hit play and go to the bottom right-hand corner and click "CC."
This film is a great way to spark discussion as part of a schoolwide campaign. Click here to get the Not In Our School Anti-Bullying Campaign Quick Start Guide.
The packed gymnasium erupted on a Tuesday night with applause as the Oakland High School varsity boys basketball team ran onto the court for the first home game of the season. But their usual blue and white Wildcat jerseys were replaced by cerulean T-shirts with the message “NO H8” printed on the front, and a single name printed on the back, “Sasha.”
That name refers to Sasha Fleischman, a high school senior at nearby Maybeck High School in Berkeley, CA, who was badly burned after being set on fire while sleeping on a city bus. Sasha, who identifies as agender, was wearing a skirt at the time of the attack, leading police to investigate the incident as a hate crime. A student from Oakland High School has been apprehended and charged with assault with a hate crime enhancement.
While the majority of Oakland High students had never heard of Sasha before this event, the alleged offender is one of their classmates. The “No H8” basketball game was created by the students to honor Sasha and remind the local community that Oakland High is a school where diversity is celebrated and students stand up to injustice. This event is just one part of an ongoing Not In Our School campaign by Oakland High School.
Students at Norwood Junior High School in Sacramento, CA send paper cranes as a symbol of peace and healing to the community of Oak Creek, WI after a deadly hate attack at The Sikh Temple.
Learn more about Oak Creek by viewing the NIOT film Waking in Oak Creek.
Estudiantes líderes de la escuela secundaria Del Sur en Lancaster, California visitan una escuela primaria local y enseñan a estudiantes de 4º y 5º grado cómo ser defensores. A través de dramatizaciones y actividades interactivas dirigidas por los chicos de secundaria, los alumnos de primaria aprenden el significado del término “defensor” o “upstander” y cómo intervenir de manera efectiva, buscar ayuda y apoyar a un compañero que está siendo acosado. Este proceso puede ser una herramienta efectiva para utilizar en el salón de clases con los estudiantes. Por favor siga las siguientes instrucciones y revise la “Nota de cautela” para asegurar que sea una experiencia positiva y productiva.
Nota: El proceso completo puede durar de 1 a 3 clases o reuniones de los estudiantes
Instrucciones:
Although unable to speak, read or write in English when she came to the United States in 2005, Jennifer Gaxiola's innate sense of self-worth compelled her to succeed.
Born in Bellflower, CA in 1992, Jennifer soon moved with her family to Mexico, then returned to California when she was nine years old. After her family moved to Fresno in 2007, she soon began volunteering at the Center for Multicultural Cooperation, where the 17- year-old is now Executive Youth Producer, and a voting Board Member. Volunteering at the Center helped her to understand the enormous impact the Latino community has had on shaping California, an understanding which has shaped her life and her interests. Jennifer is also an All-Star for the Fresno Youth Empowerment Studio (FresYES), President of the Fresno Youth Service Council, and a Youth Service California CATALYST Ambassador. As an ambassador, Jennifer has committed herself to various youth service-learning projects.
This skit can be used as part of the Not In Our School Student-Led Assembly Guide to launch an anti-bullying program in your school.
Here is an example of a student-led assembly at Peralta Elementary School in Oakland, CA. This assembly launched their schoolwide anti-bullying campaign. The students did a skit and talked about how to be an upstander as they took the lead in addressing bullying and intolerance. Students also learned how to be upstanders who work toward an accepting and identity safe school environment.
Not In Our School developed a guide and sample skit for a similar assembly at the middle and high school levels. Click here for the student-led assembly kit.