Tapestry of Faith: Sing to the Power: A Social Justice Program for Children Grades 4-5

Activity 4: Anti-Bullying Book Covers

Activity time: 13 minutes

Materials for Activity

  • Newsprint, markers, and tape
  • Brown paper shopping bags, scissors, and pencils and markers

Preparation for Activity

  • Make a practice book cover so you can demonstrate for the group. If needed, see "How to Make a Paper-Bag Book Cover" on the About.com website.
  • Post blank newsprint.
  • Optional: To maximize time for children to write slogans and decorate covers, cut each paper bag so it lies in a single, flat sheet.

Description of Activity

Participants create book covers with anti-bullying slogans and advice, so their school books can "shine" a message to take action against bullying.

Ask participants to share actions young people can take to prevent bullying, to interrupt bullying when it happens, and to support people who are being bullied. Prompt by reminding them of solutions they generated for the bullying scenarios they have just discussed (Activity 3). Possibilities might include standing next to someone who is being bullied; suggesting the person walk away with you; telling a teacher or principal; using humor to defuse a tense situation; making a point of including people in your group who you think might otherwise be bullied; affirming different kinds of diversity; or, when someone tells a mean joke, saying you don't like it.

If participants suggest fighting back physically or getting revenge, gently point out that while it may be tempting, those sorts of solutions tend to escalate the problem and make it worse. Emphasize that fire power is action for justice and good. We would not use it to hurt someone else. Write all suggestions on the newsprint.

Now invite participants to decorate the blank side of a brown paper bag with tips and/or slogans to prevent or stop bullying. Invite them to "shine" their message by putting their book cover on a book they take to school. Their action will help others act to stop and prevent bullying.