Lessons
Our group is going into a classroom, and we are going to present lessons, games, and discussions to the kids. These lessons will explain to them what they can do to help and what to do in different situations. The following paragraphs are explanations what each day will be like, and what things we will be teaching them.
Day 1
On the first day we are going to show them our suicide awareness and prevention skits (from our website). As well as showing them the skits we’ll talk about what they can learn from them. We will also show them the rest of the website. We’ll talk about what starts suicidal thoughts and why someone might commit suicide. We also are planning on making a newsletter, so their parents can see the things they are learning. In the newsletter there will be our lesson plans. They can get candy at the end of today.
Day 2
On the second day we will discuss the topic of bullying and the effects it can have on a person. We’ll start by handing out a bullying PowerPoint (that we made and printed off). Then, we’ll break into 4 groups and we can each take a group. We’ll talk the things in the PowerPoint. Then, we’ll play a game where everyone writes their name on a sheet of paper and they go around and write compliments on everyone’s paper (in their group).
Day 3
On this day we are going to talk about how everybody can help. Today we will talk to them about how they can spread awareness in their family and in their community. We’ll ask them some questions about awareness. Then, we’ll break them into groups and they’ll make their own skits or performances which we. Today we will also be giving them a flyer that shows an example of how we are spreading awareness.
Day 4
This would be the our final day that we would wrap up our lessons. We’ll ask them about each day specifically. We’ll hand out a survey about our lessons. Then, we’ll have then sign the bulletin board that we made. The bulletin board said "Stop Bullying!" and it had a border of hands. The kids went up to the bulletin board in groups and they wrote notes about how to stop bullying or why to stop bullying. Then, they signed their names.
Survey Results
The following are results from the survey we gave to the class of kids we taught at the very end of the week. When I say "Day 1, Day 2, etc." I am talking about the lesson plans that we taught to the class. These can be found above.
- Question #1: "What was your favorite part of this class?"
- Question #2: "What was your least favorite part of this class?"
- Question #3: "How are you going to take what you learned this week into your life?"
- Question #4: "Do you think these lessons helped you learn something new?"
Our Tips
- Keep it age appropriate. Keep in mind: We taught seventh graders. If you are planning on teaching a younger class we suggest you change it to focus on something more age appropriate like bullying.
- Keep them engaged. If you read the results above you might've saw that the more interactive the day was the more they enjoyed it. Personally, I think if they enjoyed it they will remember it better.
- Change things. If you notice something is going well (for example: working in groups went well for us) then add more of that to the days in the future (for example: we didn't plan on breaking into groups any other day, but we did it anyway because it worked well.
Some Extra Information.
If you want to add more days to a lesson plan you should have a talking day. During this day, kids could talk about their experiences with the topic. You could talk about your own experiences and have them share things that they know. Then, play a different game. In our experience, we found that acting games work really well.
The Following is a rap that we made up the lyrics to:
Rap (to the beat of "Can't Touch This")
Can’t touch that
Can’t touch that
Can’t touch that
Can’t touch that
My, my, my, thinking about suicide?
Need someone by your side?
You need to talk it out
What your thoughts have been all about
It brings joy, when you know you’re down
So don’t continue to wear that frown
You don’t think it’s much
But this is a life, uh, you can’t touch!
When you’re thinking of bad things(can’t touch that)
Try to remember what the good brings(can’t touch that)
Please don’t cry, please don’t pout(can’t touch that)
Cuz together we’ll work it all out(can’t touch that)
You think this is your chance
Where you stop hurting yourself and work to advance
But suicide isn’t a treat
It’s something that we want you to beat
You’re thinking, now hold on
Step back a little bit and know what’s going on
Now think, like that
We got you thinking right, don’t go back
Let yourself know you’re worth so much
And this is a life, uh, you can’t touch!
See you know(you can’t touch that)
You got the hint you're worth it(can’t touch that)
So stop causing yourself that pain(can’t touch that)
So if you just need some way
Check out help-suicide-today (.weebly.com)
Now, you know
If you need some help you have somewhere to go
You’re okay, you’re alright
Your potential will grow to great heights
You got to learn
To take all the bad and let it burn
This is legit
You got to know that it’s not time to quit
Your life’s worthy cuz you know........
Can’t touch that
Can’t touch that
Calm it down!!STOP!You’re WORTH it!!!
To help with suicide it’s said
That makes you a hero to someone that could have been dead
So raise your hand in the air
And volunteer, helping prevent death everywhere
Doing this, you can be a winner
Since you’re making the chances, of suicide thinner
Move, slide your way
Into a life, where you make their day, day, day, day
Yeah......(can’t beat that)
Help out(can’t beat that)
You better go help now because you know(can’t beat that)
Help prevent, scream and shout
Help us out! STOP! They’re WORTH it!!
(can’t beat that)
(can’t beat that)
(can’t beat that)
(can’t beat that)
(can’t beat that)
Help us out! STOP! They’re WORTH it!!
Everytime you see
Someone who needs light
Find out if they need help getting untight
Now who doesn’t need a hero?
Help them to not feel like a zero
Help all around the world, to just raise awareness
Tell em all that there is no reason to care less
And that we are here to stay
Can’t beat that
Can’t beat that
Can’t beat that
Can’t beat that
Can’t beat that
Can’t beat that
Can’t beat that
Can’t touch that
Can’t touch that
Can’t touch that
My, my, my, thinking about suicide?
Need someone by your side?
You need to talk it out
What your thoughts have been all about
It brings joy, when you know you’re down
So don’t continue to wear that frown
You don’t think it’s much
But this is a life, uh, you can’t touch!
When you’re thinking of bad things(can’t touch that)
Try to remember what the good brings(can’t touch that)
Please don’t cry, please don’t pout(can’t touch that)
Cuz together we’ll work it all out(can’t touch that)
You think this is your chance
Where you stop hurting yourself and work to advance
But suicide isn’t a treat
It’s something that we want you to beat
You’re thinking, now hold on
Step back a little bit and know what’s going on
Now think, like that
We got you thinking right, don’t go back
Let yourself know you’re worth so much
And this is a life, uh, you can’t touch!
See you know(you can’t touch that)
You got the hint you're worth it(can’t touch that)
So stop causing yourself that pain(can’t touch that)
So if you just need some way
Check out help-suicide-today (.weebly.com)
Now, you know
If you need some help you have somewhere to go
You’re okay, you’re alright
Your potential will grow to great heights
You got to learn
To take all the bad and let it burn
This is legit
You got to know that it’s not time to quit
Your life’s worthy cuz you know........
Can’t touch that
Can’t touch that
Calm it down!!STOP!You’re WORTH it!!!
To help with suicide it’s said
That makes you a hero to someone that could have been dead
So raise your hand in the air
And volunteer, helping prevent death everywhere
Doing this, you can be a winner
Since you’re making the chances, of suicide thinner
Move, slide your way
Into a life, where you make their day, day, day, day
Yeah......(can’t beat that)
Help out(can’t beat that)
You better go help now because you know(can’t beat that)
Help prevent, scream and shout
Help us out! STOP! They’re WORTH it!!
(can’t beat that)
(can’t beat that)
(can’t beat that)
(can’t beat that)
(can’t beat that)
Help us out! STOP! They’re WORTH it!!
Everytime you see
Someone who needs light
Find out if they need help getting untight
Now who doesn’t need a hero?
Help them to not feel like a zero
Help all around the world, to just raise awareness
Tell em all that there is no reason to care less
And that we are here to stay
Can’t beat that
Can’t beat that
Can’t beat that
Can’t beat that
Can’t beat that
Can’t beat that
Can’t beat that