Situation Sort Cards Detective Cards
Cut along the dotted lines!
Leo gets mad during a soccer game and yells, "You're bad at this!" He hasn't said it before.
Every single day at lunch, a group makes Sarah sit alone and calls her "Stinky Sarah."
Maya accidentally bumps Ben in line. Ben yells, "Watch where you're going, dummy!"
An older student tells a younger student to give them their snack every day or they'll get in trouble.
Two friends have a fight and one says, "I'm not your friend anymore!" but they make up the next day.
A student sends mean notes to the same person every morning for a whole week.
Evidence Folders
Glue your findings here!
Detectives:
Folder #1: Just Mean
CLUES: Happens once, unplanned, someone is mad.
Evidence Area
Folder #2: Bullying
CLUES: Repeated, on purpose, power imbalance.
Evidence Area
Case Closed Exit Ticket Case #102
Case Closed Exit Ticket
Name:
Date:
1 Check the boxes that describe BULLYING:
☝️ Only one time
🔄 Again and again
🎯 Done on purpose
👑 Acting like the Boss
2 Which folder does this case go in?
"Jake tells Emily she can't play tag today because he is grumpy. He has never said this before."
📁
Just Mean
📂
Bullying
3 Who is a Trusted Adult you can tell if you see bullying?
Great work, Detective!
Detective Debrief Guide Detective Debrief Guide
Teacher Resource
Lesson Duration: 30 Minutes
Lesson Goal
Students will distinguish between "mean" behavior (unplanned, infrequent) and "bullying" (repeated, intentional, power imbalance).
Pacing
0-7 mins: Introduction & Definitions (Slides 1-5)
7-22 mins: Sorting Game (Pairs/Groups)
22-30 mins: Class Discussion & Exit Ticket
Materials Needed
Detective Slides
Situation Sort (1 per pair)
Scissors & Glue
Case Closed Exit Ticket
The R.I.P. Test
R - REPEATED: Is this the first time? Or does it happen every day/week?
I - INTENDED: Was it an accident during play, or did they mean to hurt feelings?
P - POWER: Is one person acting like a "boss" or picking on someone younger/smaller/quieter?
Game Answer Key
Just Mean
Soccer yell (First time/Mad)
Accidental bump (Unplanned)
Friend fight (Equal/Resolved)
Bullying
Stinky Sarah (Repeated/Group)
Older student snack (Power/Daily)
Mean notes (Repeated/Week)
Closing Questions
"If someone is being mean , how can we solve it ourselves?" (Use I-messages, take a break, say sorry).
"If we see bullying , what is the most important thing to do?" (Tell a trusted adult immediately).
Detective Slides Final Detective Gear
Top Secret Case
Friendship Detectives
Mean vs. Bullying: Solving the Case!
🔍 📁 🕵️♂️
The Big Question
Sometimes people are unkind, but is it
being mean or is it bullying?
Look for CLUES
Spot DIFFERENCE
School Scene
Scene Photo #001
Clue #1: Being Mean
☝️
Happens once or just a few times.
😡
Happens when someone is mad or tired .
❌
Not planned on purpose.
😤
"You can't play today!"
Clue #2: Bullying
Repeated (keeps happening).
On Purpose (meant to hurt).
Power Imbalance (feeling bigger).
🗣️
Same mean name every day.
Bullying Evidence ID: 99-04-B
The R.I.P. Test
R
Repeated
Again and again?
I
Intended
On purpose?
P
Power
Being the boss?
Investigation
"Tom trips Alex in the hall every morning. He laughs when Alex falls."
JUST MEAN?
BULLYING?
School Hall
LOCATION: HALLWAY C
Exhibit A
DETECTIVE
Game Time!
Case Files Ready!
START MISSION