Jimmy Fallon’s Unexpected Anti-Bullying Lesson Plan
A quick and easy anti-bullying lesson plan
A Prank That is Actually the Perfect Tool for Teaching Anti-Bullying
I'm not sure if Jimmy Fallon realizes this or not, but this clip of Yankee fans booing Robinson Cano is quite possibly the perfect discussion starter for a talk on cyberbullying.
The fans are happy, even giddy, to boo a picture of Cano. But as soon as he's standing in front of them, they instantly change their demeanor. They are friendly and kind and they stand in awe.
It's a perfect look at how easy it is to become a bully when we're hiding behind a screen. We feel bold enough to say things we would never say to another human's face when we don't have to acknowledge the pain and hurt we cause.
A Simple Discussion & Anti-Bully Learning Activity
So how can you use this clip as an anti-bullying lesson plan in your classroom? Here's an outline for using this clip to launch a discussion on cyberbullying in your classroom (of course, adapt however you see fit!):
- Watch the video clip (Please preview it first as there are some bleeped out words).
- Then, in pairs, ask students to discuss the following:
- What did fans do when they saw a photo of Robinson Cano?
- How did the fans treat the real Robinson Cano?
- How were these two interactions different?
- What caused fans to act differently?
- Next, as a class, connect the video to cyberbullying. Explain how the fans' actions are similar to posting negative comments, sharing photos/videos with a person's consent to boost your social capital, talking about a person behind their back, etc. The video shows just how easy it is to say things about and to people when it's just a screen when you don't actually have to acknowledge the impact your actions and words have on another person.
- Wrap up the discussion by challenging students to always ask, "Would I say this to their face?" And if the answer is no, then don't post it.
I hope this quick and easy anti-bullying lesson is impactful for your students! And if you have other clips that make for great discussion starters, please send them my way!
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Hello. I'm Janelle!
A middle school health teacher turned curriculum developer. I'm on a mission to share the easiest-to-teach, most impactful health lesson plans on the Internet. Because your time and energy is better spent on teaching and connecting, not on planning and prep.
