Bullying and Impact

Overview

This 45-minute lesson (Lesson 3 of 6) supports Year 7 students in developing empathy and critical understanding of bullying within the context of refugee experiences. It aligns with the History National Curriculum for England, specifically focusing on social and cultural understanding of communities and the impact of historical and contemporary migration.

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National Curriculum Links

• History Key Stage 3 (applicable for Year 7 transition):

  • Pupils should be taught to understand… the development of social and cultural history including migration and diversity.
  • Develop awareness of the impact of individuals and groups within the wider community historically and today.

• Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) statutory guidance (linked to History themes):

  • Understanding diversity, inclusion and the impact of bullying.
  • Developing empathy and respect for others.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will:

1. Define bullying and identify examples relevant to refugee experiences in the context of the book previously studied.
2. Analyse the impact of bullying on individuals and wider communities, understanding emotional and social consequences.
3. Demonstrate respectful communication and inclusion during group discussions, fostering empathy.
4. Reflect on ways to challenge bullying and promote inclusion within their own school community.

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Resources Needed

• Printed extracts or character summaries from the book covering refugee experiences and examples of bullying
• Whiteboard and markers
• Post-it notes and pens
• “Feelings and Effects” worksheet (simple chart for students to note bullying impacts)
• Group discussion prompt cards

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (5 minutes)

Activity: Quick Think-Pair-Share

• Pose the question: “What is bullying? Can bullying happen to anyone?”
• Students think silently for 30 seconds, then pair up and discuss for 2 minutes.
• Volunteers share definitions and examples with whole class.
• Teacher records key points on the board emphasising inclusion of indirect and subtle bullying (e.g. exclusion, name-calling).

Purpose: Activate prior knowledge and set the tone.

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2. Linking Bullying to Refugee Experiences (10 minutes)

Activity: Character Bullying Identification

• Distribute extracts or summaries that illustrate moments where characters in the book face bullying linked to their refugee status or background.
• In pairs, students highlight or underline instances of bullying.
• Each pair writes on post-it notes:
  • The type of bullying (physical, verbal, social)
  • How the character might be feeling
• Collect and briefly display notes categorised on the board.

Purpose: Contextualise bullying historically and socially, linking to the refugees’ lived experience.

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3. Group Discussion: Impact of Bullying (15 minutes)

Activity: Structured Group Discussion

• Divide students into 2 groups of 5.
• Provide each group with prompt cards covering:
  • Emotional impact on individuals
  • Consequences for family or community relationships
  • Long-term effects on confidence and opportunities
  • How bullying divides or impacts communities
• Groups discuss each prompt for 2-3 minutes, noting key ideas on flipchart paper or whiteboard.
• One spokesperson per group shares highlights with the class.

Teacher Role: Facilitate discussion ensuring respectful language, probing for deeper understanding and links to current times.

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4. Reflection and Inclusion Brainstorm (10 minutes)

Activity: Personal and Community Response

• Give students the “Feelings and Effects” worksheet with two columns:
  • Bullying effects noted from discussion
  • Actions to promote inclusion and challenge bullying
• Individually, students write one effect and one action they think can help in school.
• Share a few examples aloud to build a collective anti-bullying strategy from the lesson.

Purpose: Empower students to become active contributors to an inclusive environment.

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5. Plenary (5 minutes)

Activity: Exit Ticket

• Students write on a slip of paper:
  • One new thing they learned about bullying and refugee experiences
  • One commitment they will make to help others feel included
• Collect slips for formative assessment and feedback.

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Assessment and Differentiation

• Formative assessment:
  • Observation of student contributions during discussions
  • Review exit tickets for understanding and empathy
• Differentiation:
  • Support pairs with sentence starters for those needing scaffolding
  • Allow use of drawings or symbols for students who struggle with writing
  • Extension: Challenge more able students to consider how bullying might differ in various cultural contexts

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Teacher Notes / Tips

• Frame bullying as a historical and ongoing social issue connected to migration and identity.
• Use calm, inclusive language to create a safe environment.
• Encourage students to relate learning to school life, promoting real-world relevance.
• Highlight resilience and positive community support from the text to balance sensitive content.

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This lesson plan embeds History curriculum goals with PSHE elements, helping Year 7 students develop historical empathy and social awareness through active engagement with issues around bullying and refugee experiences.