Upstander Pledge Lesson Plan Our Upstander Pledge
Empowering 5th Graders to Lead with Courage
Session Time 30 MIN
Lesson Objective
Students will create a personal or class pledge outlining specific actions they will take to be an upstander, fostering a brave and compassionate school community.
Audience
Grade 5
Tier 1 Classroom Support
Why This Matters
Standing up for what is right is a foundational skill for social justice and emotional intelligence. This lesson helps students move from passive observation to active participation in creating a safe, inclusive environment.
Preparation
Review the slide deck and worksheet materials.
Prepare chart paper for the Class Pledge Poster.
Gather markers and optional art supplies.
Required Materials
Our Promise Slide Deck
My Pledge Worksheet
Class Pledge Poster Activity Guide
Chart Paper & Markers
Instructional Sequence
5m
Warm-Up: What is an Upstander?
Launch the Our Promise Slide Deck (Slides 1-2).
Ask: "What does it mean to be an 'upstander'? How is it different from a bystander?"
Facilitate a brief discussion to activate prior knowledge and define the term "Upstander".
5m
Brainstorming Actions
Display Slide 3: "Ways to be an Upstander."
Ask for specific actions in different settings (playground, classroom, online).
Record student ideas on the board. Emphasize that small actions (e.g., sitting with someone new) are just as important as big ones.
10m
Drafting Personal Pledges
Distribute My Pledge Worksheet .
Students choose 2-3 specific actions to commit to personally.
Encourage them to think about the "What, When, and Why" of their promise.
Circulate and offer support for students who are struggling to find concrete examples.
10m
Class Pledge Display
Bring the class together to synthesize ideas into a collective commitment.
Follow the Class Pledge Poster Activity guide to create a visual display.
Synthesis: Combine individual actions into 3-5 powerful class-wide promises.
Close by reading the final pledge aloud in unison.
Pro-Tip for 5th Grade
Encourage students to use "I will" statements rather than "I'll try to." This subtle shift in language reinforces personal accountability and makes the pledge feel more definitive.
Our Promise Slide Deck What is an Upstander?
An upstander is someone who:
Sees something wrong happening.
Chooses to act and help.
Makes things better for everyone.
How is this different from a bystander?
Teacher Notes
Ask students: "What does it mean to be an 'upstander'? How is it different from a bystander?" Facilitate a brief discussion.
Upstander vs. Bystander
Bystander
Sees something wrong but does nothing.
Stays silent and watches.
Might feel uncomfortable but doesn't step in.
Upstander
Sees something wrong and takes action.
Speaks up, helps out, or gets a trusted adult.
Which one will you choose to be?
Teacher Notes
Reinforce that upstanders take action, while bystanders do not. Ask for examples of each.
Ways To Be An Upstander
Speak Up
"That's not kind."
Help Out
Offer a hand or ask "Are you okay?"
Include Others
Invite someone alone to join you.
Report It
Tell a trusted adult if it's serious.
Be a Friend
Stand by someone being treated unfairly.
Set an Example
Show kindness in your own actions.
Teacher Notes
Lead a brainstorming session. Ask for specific ways they can be an upstander at school or online. Record ideas on the board.
My Upstander Pledge
What is a pledge?
A serious promise or commitment to do something.
Your pledge will include:
1
WHAT specific actions will you take?
2
WHERE will you be an upstander?
3
WHY is this important to you?
Teacher Notes
Explain that students will draft personal pledges. Connect this to the My Pledge Worksheet.
Our Class Upstander Promise
Combine our ideas into one powerful promise.
A daily reminder of how to treat each other.
Display it proudly in our classroom!
Teacher Notes
Synthesize shared ideas into 3-5 concise, powerful class pledge sentences.
My Pledge Worksheet My Upstander Pledge
A personal promise to stand up for what is right.
Name:
Date:
Being an upstander means seeing something unfair or unkind and choosing to act. It takes courage to speak up or help out. Today, you are making a personal promise to be that brave person in your community!
1. What does it mean to be an upstander to YOU?
Think about our class discussion. What is the most important thing you remember?
2. Brainstorm: How can you be an upstander?
What are specific actions you can take in different parts of your life?
In the Classroom:
On the Playground:
Online/With Friends:
Anywhere:
My Official Upstander Pledge
I, (Name):
Promise to be an upstander by taking these actions:
1
What I will do:
Where/When:
Why:
2
What I will do:
Where/When:
Why:
3
What I will do:
Where/When:
Why:
Signed commitment
Date
Class Pledge Poster Activity Class Pledge Poster Activity
Collaborative Action Project
Project Guide
Project Goal
To collaboratively create a beautiful and meaningful Class Upstander Pledge poster that serves as a daily visible reminder of our commitment to courage, kindness, and community.
Materials Needed
Large poster board or chart paper
Thick markers (black for text)
Colored markers, crayons, or paint
Glue and scrap paper (optional)
Design Tip
Encourage students to use symbols like helping hands, shining stars, or connected circles to represent their shared strength and commitment.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1
Share Your Most Important Action (5 min)
Students look at their My Pledge Worksheet and choose ONE action they believe is essential for the whole class to adopt. Each student shares their idea aloud.
2
Brainstorm & Synthesize (5 min)
The teacher records shared ideas on the board. Together, look for themes. Synthesize these into 3-5 strong, clear sentences (e.g., "We will include anyone playing alone").
3
Design the Poster (10-15 min)
Write the final pledge sentences in the center of the poster board using bold text. Students then collaborate on decorations, adding illustrations or symbols that represent their commitment to being upstanders.
4
Sign the Commitment (2 min)
Once the poster is finished, every student signs their name around the border or next to the pledge text. This "seals" the promise as a collective group commitment.
Final Reflection & Display
"This poster is more than just art—it's a contract between all of us. When you see it, remember that we have promised to be brave for each other."
Read Aloud Together