5th grade students begin to understand what a rumor is, why people may choose to spread rumors, how it feels if the rumor is about you and how to stop rumors (verbal and on-line rumors)

Following a group discussion, this video from It’s My Life, the PBS kids Website, is used to demonstrate student understanding of rumors and gossip.

What is a rumor?

Sharing information that is not yours to share.

The information being shared could be true or false

Rumors spread from person to person.

Rumors can change slightly each time they are told.

Most people who spread rumors don’t care if they are true or not.

Why do people tell rumors or spread gossip?

Social status – to feel important

To get attention

To be funny – to connect with others

To hurt someone’s feelings

What should we do if we hear a rumor?

Just don’t share it. – Ignore it.

Say, “we don’t know if that’s true or not. We shouldn’t spread it.”

What if the rumor is shared online?

Don’t re-share it.

Take a screen shot.

Tell an adult (especially if the gossip/rumor is ongoing, mean or unsafe)

Ask yourself. . .

Is it true?

Is this mine to share?

Should I tell an adult?

STORY: The Dangers of Gossip

An old proverb relates the story of a person who repeated gossip – some rumor about a neighbor. Soon, the whole community had heard the rumor. Later, the person who spread the gossip learned that the rumor was untrue. The person was very sorry and went to an elder in the community who had a reputation for great wisdom to seek advice. The elder told the person, “go to your home and take a feather pillow outside. Rip it open and scatter the feathers, then return to me tomorrow.” The person did as the elder had instructed. The next day, the person visited the elder. The elder said, “go and collect the feathers you scattered yesterday and bring them back to me.” The person went home and searched for the feathers, but the wind had carried them all away. The person returned to the elder and said, “I could find none of the feathers I scattered yesterday.” “You see,” said the elder, “it’s easy to scatter the feathers, but impossible to get them back.” So, it is with gossip; it doesn’t take much to spread hurtful words, but once you do, you can never completely undo the damage.