 If you're watching this, hopefully it's because you're planning on teaching a lesson using the Message Sent video and lesson. Message Sent is a short video created by young people from Tratharis School in Cornwall as part of the Head Start Kearno project. It's a really powerful video and a great way to get young people talking about gossiping, bullying and friendship. The lesson video that I've put together is designed to be a complete lesson resource in and of its own right, so it's totally ready to go. Of course if you have the time and the desire then you can chop it and change it and make it your own but it is in essence ready to go. The video introduction includes a brief introduction from me to set the scene, the full video of Message Sent which is about three minutes long, questions and pause points to help you explore the film with your class, additional input from the pupils who were involved in the making of the film, which further explores the questions and the themes that the film raises and a chance to signpost support for your pupils at the end of the video. At the end of this video you'll get a chance to watch the full lesson video. I'd really highly recommend that you do watch it in full before you deliver it as a lesson. Now just a few things for you to bear in mind if you're the teacher or the adult in the room who's going to be delivering this lesson or similar lessons. First of all please have a think about either establishing or re-establishing your ground rules for this kind of lesson. What you're looking to do is to create a scenario where pupils feel able to talk openly and honestly about these slightly tricky topics without fear of judgment from other people or fear that what they say will be repeated outside the room. We also need to ensure that pupils understand that if they've got personal experiences that those are important but this isn't the time for big personal disclosures. We should make it really clear about what they should do if they've got concerns about themselves or a friend. It's important that you take time to reacquaint yourself with your school's policies and procedures with regards to bullying before you teach this lesson. That means you'll be able to answer any questions that come up and you'll be able to guide your pupils as we go through the lesson. So just ask yourself do you know what your school's policies and procedures are with regards to bullying and what would happen if a pupil were to raise a concern about themselves or about someone else. It's important that you're able to tell pupils both what they should do if they have a concern but also really importantly what will happen next if they raise an issue because often uncertainty about what will happen next is the thing that stops pupils disclosing issues in the first place. It's also super helpful to be able to share details of websites and helplines that pupils can access in addition to asking for help in school. That's good because sometimes pupils aren't ready yet to make a face to face disclosure but they might feel that they're more able to seek the input of someone anonymously online or on a helpline. I do share some ideas for these at the end of the video. If you've worked with my resources or been taught by me before this next piece of advice will feel very familiar but it's such a useful one and that is that when you're teaching about this or any other sensitive topic imagine as you are both preparing for the lesson and delivering the lesson that right in the very centre of the front row you have a pupil who is directly impacted by the issues that are brought up in the lesson. If you make this lesson appropriate for them you will make it appropriate for everyone. With that pupil front and centre in mind ask yourself do I need to inform any of my pupils about the content of the lesson ahead of the lesson? Should I be informing pastoral staff, safeguarding staff or tutors? The parents or carers need to know that this topic is coming up. How would I support this pupil if they were to become distressed during the course of the lesson? Finally if you've got any ability to affect when this lesson is delivered it can be super helpful to timetable it just before a scheduled break in the day or at the end of the day so that if it does raise concerns for any of your pupils they're able to remain behind afterwards and seek support from you. Good luck! I really hope that you enjoy teaching this lesson. I was really excited to be able to put it together. I think that the Pupils Dynatrotharis have done such a great job of their video and I wanted to turn it into something that we could all use as part of our PSHE and health education provision. I'd love to hear how you find teaching it and if you've got tips and ideas about how you adapt this lesson for use with your pupils that might work for other teachers too please do leave them as a comment on this video because then other people might be able to use those ideas as well. Now I'm going to play the full lesson video so that you have a chance to preview it before you teach it. Please do take time to watch it before you deliver the lesson so there are no surprises for you. This lesson is about gossiping, bullying, rumors, well like a whole bunch of stuff really and it's based on a video called Message Sent. That's a video that was written and produced by a group of young people down in Cornwall and I was lucky enough to work with them to understand why they created the film and what they thought were the important questions that young people should be exploring and so I created this lesson with their input and their ideas based on what they thought mattered. I hope you'll find that it's stuff that matters to you too, that it helps you ask some important and interesting questions and then it gives you some ideas about how to maybe do things a little bit differently in future. So let's start by watching the film. As you watch it I'd like you just to think about what's happening, why and how could things maybe have turned out differently. Okay let's roll the film. Now you've seen the film we're going to re-watch some of the specific parts of the film and explore them in a bit more depth and try and understand what's going on here and how could things have been different. Okay so let's start at the end. So at the end of the film we rewind right back to the beginning and we see that actually things could have worked out differently so let's just refresh on that bit and I want you just to think about how things have worked out differently in this different scenario. I just saw Jack in Greek sleep, do you think they're hooking up? No, Grace is just up. Now we've had a chance to think about how things worked out differently in this instance. I want you to think about where there are other times in the film where maybe things could have turned out differently if someone did or said something different when were those moments and how could things have been. Okay we're going to roll the next clip now. This is the bit where the notes being passed in class. Now reflecting on that clip I want you to have a think about this from the different points of view of different people in the room. How do you think the bully is feeling? How is the victim feeling? And how are the bystanders feeling? And what could or should the bully, the victim and the bystanders have done next? The next clips are really short one. It's a conversation between Jackson and Grace who are the main characters that the film centres around. It's short but I think it's really important. How did you do that? Didn't do anything. So I want you to think in your groups now about how else could this conversation have gone between Grace and Jackson. What could Jackson have said or done differently? And what could Grace have said or done differently here? And here's what one of the young people who was involved in the filming thought about this. I really think Jackson the character should have supported Grace a lot more through the tough time because he simply assumed that it was her fault rather than listening to her. And he could have stuck by her when the other girls came to confront her but he let those rumours continue when he could have easily put them to rest. And I think that he really should have asked her if she was okay at least and maybe apologised for assuming the worst of her. But he just let her spiral into this kind of pit of despair and I think he was supposed to be our friend and I just think he wasn't there when she truly needed him to be. Throughout the film there are several times when there are bystanders so people who are kind of observing the bullying and the gossiping happening but they don't actually intervene so they're just standing by. So I want you to think now is there a difference between a bystander who's watching the bullying happening and the bully and here's what one of the young people who was involved in the filming thought about this question. A bystander can be as bad as a bully because they're still hurting the victim nonetheless but not directly they're indirectly hurting them by seeing what's happening sometimes and not telling anyone and the first victim who's being bullied might see them and think oh this might get better but it never does. Thinking a bit more about the bystander thing why do you think it might be difficult for someone who is a bystander to intervene in a way that might be appropriate what might stop them why is it hard to do the right thing and here's what one of the young people who was involved in the filming thought about this. The bystander might not tell because they feel like the bully if they tell they might class it as snitching and they might start to bully them and then someone won't tell for them so they're scared inside not to tell. And finally on the theme of bystanders what is the right thing to do what could or should a bystander do in this situation what could you do if you were in this situation and here's what one of the young people who was involved in the filming thought about this question. As a bystander you should tell someone you can trust maybe an adult or a teacher who can help things get better or just try and talk to the victim and see what's going wrong and maybe talk to the victim's parents if they can speak to the bully's parents maybe to help them. As a bystander you could also step in to stop it before it comes a problem and help the victim even if you don't know them just to stop them from getting bullied. Also as a bystander you could go out of your way to find out why the victim is being bullied and what's happened. The film ends with this idea is it true is it kind is it necessary? What do you think is meant by that is it true is it kind is it necessary and how could you apply this in your kind of life and here's what one of the young people who was involved in the filming thought about this. Rumours can ruin friendships very easily I can't number the amount of times I've heard people in our year breaking up or using friendships purely because of a rumour. Sometimes when people mis-consume, misinterpret or take things out of context issues it can result in people being mistreated or misunderstood. This easily results in a broken up friendship purely because someone didn't listen or didn't understand or didn't check the facts. Make your speech truthful because it can be the most important thing in any discussion. Slacking off people can be really fun you feel better about yourself and you get to criticise someone for who they are. However it's not kind it's not productive it's not helpful and it's not fair. Again sometimes people misunderstand or take things out of context things that they've heard and this can easily result in friendships being ruined again. Whether or not it was deliberate people can misinterpret things and slagging off does nothing to help this. This is fun but it's not fair on the person who can't explain their point of view. Make your speech kind. Gossip can also be fun but it most likely doesn't concern you. In the majority of cases you've just found someone who's doing something wrong that you've heard about. Yes point out things that are wrong society and stand up for yourself because your voice always matters but not when it's small pieces of gossip because people again can be mistreated and misunderstood. Make your speech necessary. Finally I want you to take a few minutes to think about what you might do differently as a result of watching the film today. We're going to use the structure of stop, start, continue, change. So what's something that as a result of the discussions in this lesson you might stop doing you're not going to do any more in future. Well something you're going to start doing something you've not done in the past but you think you could do in future. What's something you're going to continue doing so something that you noticed from the discussions today that you already do well that you're proud of that you would like to do more of in the future and then change. What's something that you're going to do still do but do in a slightly different way in future so stop, start, continue, change. Have a think about which of those you can write something for as a result of the lesson today. I hope you found this lesson interesting and helpful. I think the pupils down in Chatharist did a great job putting together a really thought-provoking film and then working with me to kind of raise some really good questions for you to explore in your lesson. It could potentially have churned up some slightly tricky stuff for you maybe you're worried about yourself or a friend. Your teacher can outline great sources of support for you available in school or locally but I can also recommend Childline, The Samaritans or the Shout Crisis Text Line as great sources of anonymous and confidential support should you need them. And remember if you are worried about yourself or a friend you can always talk to a trusted adult in school who will be able to support and guide you if you're ready to chat face to face. Thanks so much and remember is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? Okay goodbye. This lesson is about gossiping, bullying, rumors well like a whole bunch of stuff really and it's based on a video called Message Sent. That's a video that was written and produced by a group of young people down in Cornwall and I was lucky enough to work with them to understand why they created the film and what they thought were the important questions that young people should be exploring and so I created this lesson with their input and their ideas based on what they thought mattered. I hope you'll find that it's stuff that matters to you too that it helps you ask some important and interesting questions and then it gives you some ideas about how to maybe do things a little bit differently in future. So let's start by watching the film. As you watch it I'd like you just to think about what's happening, why and how could things maybe have turned out differently. Okay let's roll the film. Now you've seen the film we're going to re-watch some of the specific parts of the film and explore them in a bit more depth and try and understand what's going on here and how could things have been different. Okay so let's start at the end. So at the end of the film we rewind right back to the beginning and we see that actually things could have worked out differently. So let's just refresh on that bit and I want you just to think about how things have worked out differently in this different scenario. I just saw Jack and Greg sleep. Do you think they're hooked? Grace is just upset. Now we've had a chance to think about how things worked out differently in this instance. I want you to think about were there other times in the film where maybe things could have turned out differently. If someone did or said something different when were those moments and how could things have been? Okay we're going to roll the next clip now. This is the bit where the notes being passed in class. Now reflecting on that clip I want you to have a think about this from the different points of view of different people in the room. How do you think the bully is feeling? How is the victim feeling and how are the bystanders feeling? And what could or should the bully the victim and the bystanders have done next? The next clips are really short one. It's a conversation between Jackson and Grace who are the main characters that the film centres around. It's short but I think it's really important. So I want you to think in your groups now about how else could this conversation have gone between Grace and Jackson? What could Jackson have said or done differently and what could Grace have said or done differently here? And here's what one of the young people who was involved in the filming thought about this. I really think Jackson the character should have supported Grace a lot more through the tough time because he simply assumed that it was her fault rather than listening to her and he could have stuck by her when the other girls came to confront her but he let those rumors continue when he could have easily put them to rest and I think that he really should have asked her if she was okay at least and maybe apologised for assuming the worst of her but he just let her spiral into this kind of pit of despair and I think he was supposed to be our friend and I just think he wasn't there when she truly needed him to be. Throughout the film there are several times when there are bystanders so people who are kind of observing the bullying and the gossiping happening but they don't actually intervene so they're just standing by. So I want you to think now is there a difference between a bystander who's watching the bullying happening and the bully? And here's what one of the young people who was involved in the filming thought about this question. A bystander can be as bad as a bully because they're still hurting the victim nonetheless but not directly they're indirectly hurting them by seeing what's happening sometimes and not telling anyone and the first victim who's being bullied might see them and think oh this might get better but it never does. Thinking a bit more about the bystander thing why do you think it might be difficult for someone who is a bystander to intervene in a way that might be appropriate what might stop them why is it hard to do the right thing and here's what one of the young people who was involved in the filming thought about this. The bystander might not tell because they feel like the bully if they tell they might class it as snitching and they might start to bully them and then someone won't tell for them so they're scared inside not to tell. And finally on the theme of bystanders what is the right thing to do what could or should a bystander do in this situation what could you do if you were in this situation and here's what one of the young people who was involved in the filming thought about this question. As a bystander you should tell someone you can trust maybe an adult or teacher who can help things get better or just try and talk to the victim and see what's going wrong and maybe talk to the victim's parents if they can speak to the bully's parents maybe to help them. As a bystander you could also step in to stop it before it comes a problem and help the victim even if you don't know them just to stop them from getting bullied. Also as a bystander you could go out of your way to find out why the victim is being bullied and what's happened. The film ends with this idea is it true is it kind is it necessary? What do you think is meant by that is it true is it kind is it necessary and how could you apply this in your kind of life and here's what one of the young people who was involved in the filming thought about this. Rumours can ruin friendships very easily I can't number the amount of times I've heard people in our year breaking up or using friendships purely because of a rumour. Sometimes when people mis-consume, misinterpret or take things out of context issues it can result in people being mistreated or misunderstood. This easily results in a broken up friendship purely because someone didn't listen or didn't understand or didn't check the facts. Make your speech truthful because it can be the most important thing in any discussion. Slagging off people can be really fun you feel better about yourself and you get to criticise someone for who they are. However it's not kind it's not productive it's not helpful and it's not fair. Again sometimes people misunderstand or take things out of context things that they've heard and this can easily result in friendships being ruined again. Whether or not it was deliberate people can misinterpret things and slagging off does nothing to help this. It is fun but it's not fair on the person who can't explain their point of view. Make your speech kind. Gossip can also be fun but it most likely doesn't concern you. In the majority of cases you've just found someone who's doing something wrong that you've heard about. Yes point out things are wrong society and stand up for yourself because your voice always matters but not when it's small pieces of gossip because people again can be mistreated and misunderstood. Make your speech necessary. Finally I want you to take a few minutes to think about what you might do differently as a result of watching the film today. We're going to use the structure of stop, start, continue, change. So what's something that as a result of the discussions in this lesson you might stop doing you're not going to do anymore in future. Well something you're going to start doing something you've not done in the past but you think you could do in future. What's something you're going to continue doing so something that you noticed from the discussions today that you already do well that you're proud of that you would like to do more of in the future and then change. What's something that you're going to do still do but do in a slightly different way in future. So stop, start, continue, change. Have a think about which of those you can write something for as a result of the lesson today. I hope you found this lesson interesting and helpful. I think the pupils down in Chatharis did a great job putting together a really thought-provoking film and then working with me to kind of raise some really good questions for you to explore in your lesson. It could potentially have churned up some slightly tricky stuff for you maybe you're worried about yourself or a friend. Your teacher can outline great sources of support for you available in school or locally but I can also recommend Childline, the Samaritans or the Shout Crisis Text Line as great sources of anonymous and confidential support should you need them and remember if you are worried about yourself or a friend you can always talk to a trusted adult in school who will be able to support and guide you if you're ready to chat face to face. Thanks so much and remember is it true, is it kind, is it necessary? Okay goodbye.