Anti-bullying Week 2020: Celebrating differences

Monday 16 November marks the beginning of Anti-Bullying Week 2020. It is a time to celebrate everybody’s differences and emphasise there is no shame in being different. This is vitally important because of the backdrop of divisions and arguments around Brexit, Black Lives Matter and trolling on social media. Divisions across society have become more stark in recent years - for example, recent research found that 95% of young Black Britons have heard and witnessed racist language at school. Taking time to highlight the importance of including others, celebrating differences and respecting others will lead to happier individuals and school communities.

Michal in storyworld series Secrets of the Opera

The campaign from the Anti-Bullying Alliance this year has a particular focus on being united against bullying. Here is a great short film which teachers can share with their students.

Although 2020 has been an unbelievably tough year, it has shown that when we come together we can overcome huge challenges. The same approach is one way to tackle bullying in all its forms.

Our Secrets of the Opera storyworld series showcases inspiring human stories that will get students to think more deeply about bullying and the effect it can have. Students have the opportunity to meet a range of inspiring people with fascinating stories and are invited to consider how bullying affects others in a highly personal way. Students can:

Explore the Big Ballet Studio storyworld and meet Michal, a young man with aspirations to become an ice hockey player, who unexpectedly discovered his love and talent for ballet.
Discover activities that challenge the idea of gender stereotypes.
Discuss the reasons why Michal was initially reluctant to reveal his ballet career to his friends.
Meet opera prompter Lini, in the Main Stage storyworld. Find out why Lini set aside her dreams of being an opera singer because of the judgemental behaviour of her peers.

These interactive spaces and soundscapes, multimedia content, and real-life stories offer an ideal stimulus for discussions on bullying, prejudice and how change starts with us.

The Lyfta platform contains over 100 ready-made lesson and assembly plans that teachers can use or adapt such as the assembly plan that focuses on challenging stereotypes and looks at Michal's story, and his hobby which makes him stand out. The film in this storyworld is a great way to reflect on celebrating differences and accepting those that break from the norm.

National curriculum objectives in PSHE (KS2) fit perfectly with this lesson and Anti-Bullying Week. R32 is about respecting the differences and similarities between people and recognising what they have in common with others; L9. about stereotypes; how they can negatively influence behaviours and attitudes towards others; strategies for challenging stereotypes.

United nations sustainable development goals

The 17 SDGs

This lesson ties in nicely with the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals (SDGs) 3, 4, 5, 10, and 16, which are all about good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, reduced inequalities, and peace, justice and strong institutions.

We believe that it is imperative for our children to know what the SDGs are and to feel empowered to make a positive contribution to a better and more sustainable world.

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