Lesson 9.3: Youth Violence, Bullying, and Gangs

Overview

This lesson focuses on understanding what youth violence is and how to reduce or stop violence, including bullying and gang violence.

Learning Targets

  • Explain how bullying and cyberbullying are similar and how they are different.
  • Describe common characteristics of a bully and a victim.
  • Explain how victims of bullying can help themselves.
  • Describe the risks and consequences of gang involvement.
  • Identify places where school violence may occur.
  • Explain how to avoid and report gang violence.

Preparation

For the Warm-Up Activity: Write the journal question on the board, or identify (and copy as needed) the worksheets you plan to use:

For the Content Focus: Open the Lesson 9.3 PowerPoint slides, or make copies of the Lesson 9.3 Note-Taking Guide.

For the Lesson Focus: Copy the Copy the Lesson 9.3 Analyzing Influences on Bullying Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet.

Warm-Up Activity

Select a warm-up activity to help get your class focused and on task.

  • Journal Question: Do you think teasing someone is the same as bullying? Explain your answer.
    • Option: Write or project the question, and have students respond in their journals as they enter class.
    • Option: Have students discuss the question with a partner or in a small group.
  • Vocabulary Review: Have students work individually, in partners, or in small groups to complete the Lesson 9.3 Vocabulary Review Worksheet.
  • Quiz: Have students complete the Lesson 9.3 Quiz to assess their prior knowledge.
    • Option: Collect the quizzes, and use them alongside posttests to demonstrate student learning.
    • Option: Have students share their answers with a partner and then go over the answers together as a class.

Lesson Content

Review the content from the textbook lesson.

Option: Use the Lesson 9.3 PowerPoint slides to review the chapter content.

Option: Have students use the Lesson 9.3 Note-Taking Guide to review chapter content. Ask students to work alone, in pairs, or in small groups. Review the questions as a class if time permits.

Lesson Focus: Analyzing Influences on Bullying

  1. Provide each student with a copy of the Lesson 9.3 Analyzing Influences on Bullying Skill-Building Challenge Worksheet.
  2. Ask students to work individually to complete the worksheet.
  3. When students are almost done, write the following categories on the board: individual, peer, family, media, technology, and societal. Have students come up and write down at least one influence under at least one category. Consider having them write more if the class is smaller. Allow students to come up in groups or as a class in order to avoid individual discomfort.
  4. Go over the influences in each category with the class. Ask volunteers for more influences that did not make the board. Identify each influence as positive or negative.
  5. Have students share with a partner the strategies they came up with to overcome two of the negative influences (from worksheet).

Challenge Activity

Have students who need an additional challenge work on the following critical-thinking task.

What kinds of things could be done in your community to help prevent kids from joining gangs? Come up with at least one idea, and explain why you think it would work.

Reflection and Summary

Review the critical content from today’s lesson. Review the learning targets, and ask students to answer each question posed.

Can you…

  • Explain how bullying and cyberbullying are similar and how they are different?

    Bullying is an unwanted aggressive behavior. It is often done in person or face-to-face, such as hitting or shoving someone. Cyberbullying is done through technology. Starting rumors, saying cruel things, and harming someone’s reputation are common in cyberbullying. Both types of bullying can lead to similar consequences for the victim, such as social isolation, anxiety, depression, and self-harm.

  • Describe common characteristics of a bully and a victim?

    Bullies are often people who want power and attention. They may have been the victim of bullying or violence themselves. Usually, bullies have lower self-esteem (they don’t like themselves, and they make themselves feel better by picking on others), and they lack empathy. Victims of bullying are often minorities or have a difference in their appearance. Victims are often viewed as weak or small, and they may be socially awkward or different.

  • Explain how victims of bullying can help themselves?

    If you are being bullied, it is important to do something to try to stop the behavior. Here are some tips: Speak up and tell someone. Ask the bully to stop. Don’t respond; instead walk away. Avoid a physical confrontation. Stay close to friends and adults.

  • Describe the risks and consequences of gang involvement?

    People may get involved in gangs if they are around drugs and alcohol, other gang members, or other forms of violence or delinquency; when they lack role models; and when parents are violent or abuse drugs or alcohol. Gang members are more likely to drop out of school, go to jail, or be seriously injured or killed by violence.

  • Identify places where school violence may occur?

    School violence can happen anywhere on campus or at a school event. Hallways, restrooms, playgrounds, isolated areas, and buses are common places where school violence might happen.

  • Explain how to avoid and report gang violence?
    • Avoid gang violence by doing the following:
      • Use a strong voice, stand up tall, and be clear that your answer is no.
      • Give a reason why you are saying no.
      • Walk away, and go to a safe place, such as your classroom, home, or a community center.
    • To report gang violence, you can talk to adults you trust. If you are a victim of gang violence and you don’t know where to turn for help, you can call the National Center for Victims of Crime (855-484-2846) or text or call the HopeLine (919-231-4525 or 877-235-4525).

Assessment

Complete one or more of the following assessment tasks for this lesson.

  • Quiz: Have students take the Lesson 9.3 Quiz.
  • Vocabulary Review: Collect the Lesson 9.3 Vocabulary Review Worksheets, and evaluate them for accuracy.
  • Note-Taking Guide: Collect the completed Lesson 9.3 Note-Taking Guide, and spot check one or more items for completion and accuracy.
  • Skill-Building Worksheet: Have students submit the Lesson 9.3 Analyzing Influences on Bullying Skill-Building Challenge Worksheets, and use the Analyzing Influences Holistic Rubric to evaluate their skill development.
  • Journal Question: Ask students to respond to the journal question again, adding information they learned from today’s class. Require a one-paragraph response that uses proper grammar.

Take It Home

Reach out to a younger kid in your neighborhood or community, and teach them what they should do if they are ever bullied.