When a joke does not feel funny

Learning goal

Practice a clear response to an unwanted joke and a help request.

Materials

The student page below and a pencil.

Opening question · 3 minutes

“How could the student ask for adult help?”

A school situation · 5 minutes

A made-up student keeps calling Kai a nickname. Kai does not like it. Kai is not sure how to respond.

One possible response · 4 minutes

Kai can say, “Use my name,” or go straight to a school adult. Kai does not have to solve repeated teasing alone.

Practice · 10 minutes

How could the student ask for adult help?

1. A classmate keeps repeating a nickname after being asked to stop.

2. A student does not feel comfortable telling the classmate to stop directly.

Possible answers

1. “The nickname keeps happening. I need help stopping it.”

2. Go straight to a school adult: “I need help with repeated teasing.”

Student page · 5 minutes

Use the ready-to-print student page at the end of this lesson. Students may write, draw, or give an answer aloud.

Exit question · 3 minutes

“Choose one of the stories. What could the student say or do first?”

Student page to print

When a joke does not feel funny

Write, draw, or say your answer. You may pass.

An example

A made-up student keeps calling Kai a nickname. Kai does not like it. Kai is not sure how to respond.

How could the student ask for adult help?

One possible response: Kai can say, “Use my name,” or go straight to a school adult. Kai does not have to solve repeated teasing alone.

1. A classmate keeps repeating a nickname after being asked to stop.

How could the student ask for adult help?

2. A student does not feel comfortable telling the classmate to stop directly.

How could the student ask for adult help?

One sentence to keep

Choose one story above. Write the first thing the person could say or do.