Week 2 Lesson 4
THE POWER OF WORDS
Embedded Files
What should you do when someone uses mean or hurtful language on the internet?
50 minutes
50 minutes
Video Lesson Overview (5 min.)
1 - We Do (5 min)
2 - You Do (15 min)
3 - We Do (5 min)
4 - You Do (10 min)
5 - We Do (10 min)
Video Lesson Overview (5 min.)
Warm Up: Same Word, Different Meaning (5 min.)
WE DO
WE DO
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1
1.Project Slide 4 and ask: Imagine when you walked in, I said to you [in a friendly tone, with a big smile] "Hello!" Which emoji would fit?
Have students show their answer by holding up fingers (1, 2, 3, or 4). If anyone holds up a number other than 1, ask them to share out why.
2. Repeat this two more times, saying Hello differently each time: once with an angry tone and a scowl, and once with a nervous or scared tone.
3. Project Slide 5 and ask: What about if you're just reading it? How does it make you feel now?
Point out how when something is just in text, it can be even more difficult to interpret what someone means. Explain that their responses might be different depending on who they are because we all interpret the world a little differently. Clarify that interpret means to understand something based on our point of view. (Slide 6)
4. Say: Because words can be interpreted differently by different people, it's important to think about the words we use and how they affect people. We might say something just to be funny, but someone might take it seriously, and it might hurt their feelings. This can happen in person, and it can also happen online. It may even happen more online, because the words are just text -- we're not actually face-to-face with other people.
Introduce Vocabulary: Interpret
The Power of Words: Video (15 min.)
we do
we do
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2
Watch the following video. (see Teacher Video Discussion Guide)
What does this video say about:
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me"?
After the video: Call on students to share out whether the statement about Sticks and Stones is true or not. Emphasize that sometimes it is hard to ignore what someone is saying when it's a mean name. Names CAN make you feel sad or hurt.
1. Ask: Why do you think those other players said those things to Guts? (Slide 8)
Invite students to respond. Answers will vary, but possible reasons include they were trying to joke around or they feel badly themselves and are taking it out on someone.
2. Ask: What does Guts do in response to the mean words?
Invite students to respond and clarify that Guts talked to someone he trusted, who was able to empathize with him and give him some good advice. Define empathy as imagining the feelings that someone else is experiencing. (Slide 9)
3. Project Slide 10 and review the acronym S-T-O-P for responding to mean words online.
Vocabulary: Empathy and S-T-O-P (5 min.)
We DO
We DO
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3
If you receive a hurtful message, try these steps.
S-T-O-P!
Investigate: What's the Problem? (10 min)
You DO
You DO
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4
Distribute the Words Can Hurt Student Handout and read the directions aloud. Allow pairs five minutes to complete the activity.
Invite pairs to share their answers. (Refer to the Teacher Version for possible responses.)
Wrap Up: Crossing The Line Activity (10 min.)
We DO
We DO
5
5
Place a string across the length of the classroom.
Mark one half of the room "OK." Mark the other half "Not OK."
Have students all stand on the OK side of the line.
Statement 1
Statement 2
Statement 3
Statement 4
Statement 5
VOCABULARY: INterpret
VOCABULARY: INterpret
It's easier to interpret the meaning of someone's words if you trust them.
Definition: To understand something based on your point of view.
Definition: To understand something based on your point of view.
In a sentence: I interpreted her comments on my project to be positive because I trust her as a friend.
In a sentence: I interpreted her comments on my project to be positive because I trust her as a friend.
VOCABULARY: Empathy
VOCABULARY: Empathy
Empathy is about seeing the world through someone else's eyes.
Definition: To imagine the feelings that someone else is experiencing.
Definition: To imagine the feelings that someone else is experiencing.
In a sentence: I have empathy for him since he lost his phone because that happened to me, and I know how it feels.
In a sentence: I have empathy for him since he lost his phone because that happened to me, and I know how it feels.
Lesson Planning: The Power of Words (commonsense education website)
Lesson Materials
Piece of String (to divide the room into 2 sections)
Lesson Quiz (Google Classroom Assignment, Quiz as text with answers highlighted)
For Teachers: Click to add as a Google Classroom assignment
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