Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 5

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Define bullying and know how it's different from teasing.
• Identify different forms of bullying: physical, verbal, social, and cyberbullying.
• Describe how bullying affects everyone involved.
• Learn strategies for what to do when you see or experience bullying.
• Understand the importance of showing empathy and respect to others.

Lesson summary

Bullying is a serious problem that affects many learners in South Africa.

It can happen anywhere: at school, on the playground, online, or even at home. It's important to understand what bullying is, how it makes people feel, and what we can do to stop it. In South Africa, with its diverse cultures and backgrounds, bullying can sometimes arise from misunderstandings or prejudice. Recognizing and addressing bullying is crucial for creating safe and inclusive learning environments where every learner feels respected and valued, as mandated by the CAPS curriculum's emphasis on personal and social well-being.

Lesson notes

What is Bullying? Bullying is a type of aggressive behavior that involves a power imbalance. It's not just any argument or disagreement. It’s when someone repeatedly and intentionally tries to hurt, control, or intimidate another person. The person doing the bullying often has more power – either physically, socially (more friends), or psychologically – than the person being bullied. This power imbalance makes it difficult for the person being bullied to defend themselves.

Key characteristics of bullying: Intentional: The bully wants to hurt or upset the other person.

Repetitive: It happens more than once; it's not a one-time event.

Power Imbalance: There’s a difference in strength, popularity, or social status.

Types of Bullying: Physical Bullying: This involves hurting someone's body or damaging their possessions.

Examples include: Hitting, kicking, pushing, shoving, tripping Stealing or breaking someone's belongings Spitting

Example: Sipho takes Lindiwe's lunch money every day and threatens to beat her up if she tells anyone. This is physical bullying because Sipho is using physical threats and theft to intimidate Lindiwe.

Verbal Bullying: This involves using words to hurt or humiliate someone.

Examples include: Name-calling, insults, teasing in a hurtful way Making threats or spreading rumors

Example: A group of learners consistently call Thabo "Dumbo" because of his ears, making him feel ashamed and embarrassed. This is verbal bullying.

Social/Relational Bullying: This involves damaging someone's relationships or social status.

Examples include: Excluding someone from a group Spreading rumors or gossip Trying to get others to dislike someone

Example: Aisha starts a rumor that Zola steals from other learners and convinces everyone to stop talking to her. This is social bullying because Aisha is intentionally damaging Zola's reputation and relationships.

Cyberbullying: This involves using electronic devices (computers, phones, tablets) to bully someone.

Examples include: Sending mean messages or emails Posting embarrassing pictures or videos online Creating fake profiles to harass someone

Example: Bongani creates a fake Facebook profile in Nomsa's name and posts embarrassing photos of her without her permission. This is cyberbullying.

The Impact of Bullying: Bullying can have a devastating impact on both the person being bullied and the person doing the bullying.

For the person being bullied: Feelings of sadness, anxiety, and fear Difficulty concentrating in school Low self-esteem Physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches Social isolation and loneliness For the person doing the bullying: Increased risk of problems with the law later in life Difficulty forming healthy relationships May be struggling with their own problems and using bullying as a way to feel powerful What to do if you are being bullied or see someone else being bullied: Tell someone you trust: This could be a teacher, parent, counselor, older sibling, or friend.

Don't blame yourself: Bullying is never the victim's fault.

Try to stay calm: If possible, try not to react with anger or fear, as this can give the bully more power.

Walk away: Sometimes the best thing to do is to remove yourself from the situation.

Report the bullying: Most schools have policies in place to deal with bullying. Why is Bystander Intervention Important? A bystander is someone who witnesses bullying. Bystanders have the power to stop bullying by: Speaking up: Telling the bully to stop.

Supporting the victim: Comforting them and letting them know they're not alone.

Reporting the bullying: Telling a trusted adult. Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Mandla is being called names like "Fatty" and "Piggy" by a group of boys every day during break. What type of bullying is this, and what impact might it have on Mandla?

Solution: This is verbal bullying. The impact on Mandla could include feelings of sadness, low self-esteem, and social anxiety. He might also feel ashamed and avoid going to school.

Question 2: Lerato saw a group of girls excluding Zanele from their games and whispering about her behind her back. What type of bullying is this, and what should Lerato do as a bystander?

Solution: This is social bullying. As a bystander, Lerato could speak up by telling the girls to include Zanele, support Zanele by talking to her and letting her know she is not alone, or report the bullying to a teacher.

Question 3: Someone created a fake WhatsApp profile in Siphesihle's name and is sending embarrassing messages to his friends. What type of bullying is this, and what should Siphesihle do?

Solution: This is cyberbullying. Siphesihle should tell a trusted adult (teacher, parent), take screenshots of the messages as evidence, and report the fake profile to WhatsApp.

Question 4: Ayanda constantly takes Sifiso's stationery without asking and then breaks it. What kind of bullying is this? What impact can this have on Sifiso?

Solution: This is physical bullying.