Bully Proof Teacher Guide Bully Proof Teacher Guide
Confidential Case File
Subject: Defining Bullying vs. Social Conflict (Grade 4)
Mission Objective
Students will learn to identify the three defining characteristics of bullying (RIP: Repeated, Imbalance of Power, Purposeful) and distinguish bullying from common social conflicts, accidents, or one-time mean acts.
The RIP Criteria
Repeated
Imbalance of Power
Purposeful
Investigation Procedure
1
The Briefing (10 mins)
Distribute the Bully Alert Reference . Discuss the difference between "Rude" (unintentional), "Mean" (purposeful but once), and "Bullying" (RIP criteria met). Use the RIP acronym to help students memorize the key markers.
2
Evidence Gathering (25 mins)
Play Bully Bingo . Hand out bingo cards. Read scenarios aloud. Students must evaluate if the scenario is "Bullying," "Mean Act," "Rude Act," or "Conflict." They mark the corresponding square on their cards.
3
Debrief (10 mins)
Discuss the scenarios that caused the most debate. Why was something "Conflict" instead of "Bullying"? How does power change the situation? Review reporting procedures at your school.
Bingo Master Scenario List
Scenario Description Correct Bingo Match A student cuts in front of you in the lunch line without noticing. Rude Act A classmate tells a lie about you to your teacher to get you in trouble once. Mean Act A taller student pushes a smaller student every day when the teacher isn't looking. Bullying You and your friend disagree on the rules of a game and stop playing together. Conflict Sending mean texts to someone multiple times because they are "different." Cyberbullying Leaving someone out of a game once because you were frustrated. Mean Act Accidentally spilling juice on someone's drawing and not apologizing. Rude Act Telling a secret you promised to keep because you are mad at a friend. Mean Act Repeatedly teasing a student about their clothes because they can't afford new ones. Bullying Someone grabs your favorite pen and breaks it on purpose, but only once. Mean Act A group of older kids blocks the stairs so 4th graders can't get to recess every day. Bullying Talking during a movie when you didn't know you were being loud. Rude Act Two siblings fighting over who gets the last cookie. Conflict A student posts an embarrassing video of you on a game site multiple times. Cyberbullying Tripping someone in the hall once because you were in a bad mood. Mean Act A popular student tells the whole class to ignore you for the rest of the week. Bullying Forgetting to hold the door for the person behind you. Rude Act Two teammates arguing about whose fault it was that they lost the game. Conflict Stealing someone's lunch money every Friday. Bullying Calling someone a name once because they stepped on your shoe. Mean Act
Teacher Tip
Encourage students to ask "Does this meet the RIP criteria?" before marking their cards. This reinforces the core lesson objectives during play.
Bully Proof Presentation Slides Case File #404
BULLY
PROOF
An Investigation into Social Conflict
Classification: Grade 4
The Evidence: RIP
R
Repeated
It happens more than once. It is a pattern of behavior over time.
I
Imbalance
The person doing it has more power (bigger, older, more popular).
P
Purposeful
It is done on purpose to hurt someone's feelings or body.
To be bullying, it must meet ALL THREE criteria!
Rude or Mean?
Rude
Inadvertently (accidentally) saying or doing something that hurts someone else.
Cutting in line without thinking
Bumping into someone in the hall
Mean
Purposefully saying or doing something to hurt someone once (or twice).
Calling a name during an argument
Not letting someone play one time
BULLYING
Behavior that is REPEATED over time, involves an IMBALANCE OF POWER, and is PURPOSEFUL.
Social Conflict
A disagreement between two people with equal power. Both are upset, but no one is being targeted.
Cyberbullying
Bullying that happens using technology (phones, games, social media) to hurt others.
Mission: Bully Bingo
Test your detective skills!
1
Listen closely to the scenario read by your teacher.
2
Apply the RIP Criteria to decide the type of act.
3
Mark the square on your board. First one to 5 in a row wins!
Bully Proof Bingo Cards Bully Bingo
Detective Field Exercise
Name: ________________________
Date: ________________
Listen to the scenarios read by your teacher. Determine if the behavior is Bullying, Mean, Rude, Conflict, or Cyberbullying. Mark the matching square on your card!
CARD A
Mean Act
Bullying
Conflict
Rude Act
Bullying
Cyber-bullying
Mean Act
Rude Act
Conflict
Mean Act
Conflict
Rude Act
FREE SPACE
Mean Act
Bullying
Mean Act
Conflict
Cyber-bullying
Bullying
Rude Act
Bullying
Mean Act
Conflict
Bullying
Cyber-bullying
CARD B
Bullying
Rude Act
Cyber-bullying
Bullying
Mean Act
Conflict
Mean Act
Bullying
Rude Act
Conflict
Rude Act
Conflict
FREE SPACE
Bullying
Mean Act
Cyber-bullying
Bullying
Conflict
Mean Act
Rude Act
Mean Act
Cyber-bullying
Bullying
Conflict
Bullying
CARD C
Bullying
Mean Act
Cyber-bullying
Bullying
Conflict
Conflict
Rude Act
Bullying
Mean Act
Cyber-bullying
Mean Act
Conflict
FREE SPACE
Rude Act
Bullying
Bullying
Mean Act
Conflict
Bullying
Rude Act
Conflict
Cyber-bullying
Bullying
Mean Act
Conflict
CARD D
Cyber-bullying
Bullying
Mean Act
Conflict
Bullying
Rude Act
Conflict
Mean Act
Bully Proof Reference Sheet Field Guide
Subject: Identifying Bullying
REF: BP-404-RIP
The "RIP" Investigation
To determine if a behavior is Bullying, it must meet all three of these markers:
R
REPEATED
The behavior happens over and over again. It is not just a one-time thing.
I
IMBALANCE
The person doing it has more power (age, size, popularity) than the target.
P
PURPOSEFUL
The behavior is done on purpose to hurt the other person's body or feelings.
Behavior Types
RUDE (Unintentional)
"I didn't mean to hurt you."
Accidentally saying or doing something that hurts someone else. Usually happens once.
MEAN (Purposeful, Once)
"I wanted to hurt you this one time."
Purposefully saying or doing something to hurt someone once, often during an argument.
BULLYING (RIP)
"I am targeting you on purpose, repeatedly."
Meets all three RIP criteria: Repeated, Imbalance of Power, and Purposeful.
SOCIAL CONFLICT
"We are both mad at each other."
A disagreement between two people with equal power. Both people are involved in the problem.
Report the Evidence
If you see or experience bullying, follow these steps:
1
Stay Calm & Walk Away
2
Tell a Trusted Adult
3
Be an Upstander