Take your class through this book as a group, adding in responses on the first few pages. Teacher instructions from the lesson plan can be found in the margins.

The primary task is for students to create a new rhyme to replace 'Sticks & Stones may Break my Bones...'. They will write text and perform the rhyme.

Put a copy of the 2 page template in the library that you share with your students. Each student will then make a copy and create their own rhyme, or you can choose to have students work in pairs or small groups.

Ask the students the question on the page.

 Change the numbers on the characters' sweatshirts to reflect the number of yes and no answers.

Follow up by asking students if they think the saying is true.

If necessary, explain that the saying is a rhyme that is often used to respond to name-calling. Many of these students may never have heard this phrase as it's not as widely used today as it was 20-30 years ago.

Say: We're going to watch a video called The Power of Words. As we watch, continue to think about whether that statement is true.

Watch the video.

Invite students to share what the video says about whether or not the statement is true. Students' answers may vary, but emphasize the idea that sometimes it's hard to ignore what someone is saying when it's a mean name. Names can make you feel sad or hurt.

Sometimes we might say something to be funny or without thinking about how our words can impact someone else. When we do this, we can hurt someone's feelings. This can happen in person, and it can also happen online. It may even happen more online because the words are just text -- we're not actually face-to-face with other people, and we can't see their full reactions.

Whether you're online or face-to-face, it's important to show empathy toward others. Showing empathy is imagining the feelings that someone else is experiencing. In the video, Guts talked to someone he trusted who was able to empathize and give Guts some good advice.

Tell A Trusted Adult

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Step Away

Pause & Think

Discuss the four rules for responding to mean words online, using STOP as the acronynm.

Have students brainstorm images that can be put into the panels to represent the four rules. Have them get creative and use images that aren't typical representations. 

Try emojis (+, pen). 

If you have Book Creator premium, try out the noun project icons (+, shapes, type in words).