Invisible Weapons

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Invisible Weapons

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

This Emmy award-winning program offers solutions to the bullying epidemic with perspectives shared by both victims and bullies.

FAMILY DISCUSSION GUIDE

These discussion questions are provided for families to extend learning as they watch Invisible Weapons. Be advised that videos deal with mature topics including violence and sexual harassment. Adults should preview videos before showing them to younger students.

Click number to proceed.

PART 1

1. The narrator says, “the weapons they use are invisible”. What does this mean? Do you think Invisible Weapons is a good title? Why or why not?
2. Do the adults in your community or school take bullying behaviors seriously? Why do you say so?

VIDEO SEGMENTS

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PART 2

3. Sarah says of school, “You pretty much get trained not to make new friends”. Describe why you think she felt that way.
4. Sarah says, “I thought everything was my fault”. Why do you think students who are targeted by bullying behavior blame themselves?
5. Sarah, like many students who have been targeted by bullying behavior, avoids telling parents or another trusted adult. Why do you think that happens?
6. Why do you think that verbal harassment bullying is common on social media? What ideas do you have to help prevent youth from targeting others on social media?
7. In the video we see a parent discussing that she found out that her daughters were exhibiting bullying behaviors on social media. What actions should a parent take if they find out their children have been involved in this type of bullying behavior? Why would your idea or ideas be appropriate?
8. A student says, “If everyone talks bad about someone you don’t feel bad about talking about them either”. What is the problem with this type of thinking? What is a good thing to tell yourself if you hear others talking negatively or lying about someone else?
9. In the case of Ashley and Sarah, Ashley apologized, and she and Sarah are now friends. What do you think caused Ashley to change the way she treated Sarah? Do you think this happens often? Why or why not?
10. What advice about bullying behavior do you think Ashley would offer? Why do you think so?

VIDEO SEGMENT

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PART 3

11. Most of the people we meet in the video series either participated in bullying others or were targeted by bullying behavior. Doug, on the other hand, was a witness. Describe how bullying behavior negatively affects the people who are witnesses.
12. What actions did Doug take regarding bullying behaviors in his school? Why do you think his actions were effective?
13. The expert in the video says, “The temptation is ‘I don’t want that to happen to me, so I better keep my mouth shut; it’s very understandable”. Why is this mindset a problem?
14. Does our local school need a student-led group on campus like Doug started at his school? Why or why not? Who are the trusted adults in our school who could help with prevention efforts if needed?
15. Why would a student-led bullying prevention program work?

VIDEO SEGMENT

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PART 4

16. Dr. Tim Jordan says, “There’s usually a lot of negative energy in the cafeteria”. Are there places in your school where there is negative energy? Do the adults in your school know about these places? Why or why not?
17. How do the role-playing exercises we see in the video help these students deal with bullying behavior?
18. Dr. Ken Haller discusses body language. Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
19. Some of the students in the segment mention that adults do not see bullying behaviors. Is this a problem in your school? If so, what actions are needed?

VIDEO SEGMENT

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