Chat Two

Have your child/ren think of a scenario where someone witnesses a scene and can either choose to become a Bystander or an Upstander. They may have been in a situation themselves, seen/heard of other situations with friends/peers, or have an idea from news stories. Have them create a stop motion video showing the scenario with the character choosing to be an Upstander. 

A few suggested stop motion apps to help with your entries:
Click here to try Stop Motion Studio
Click here to try FlipaClip

If your child is having trouble coming up with a scenario, here are some suggested scenarios they could use.

1. Some Muslim students are observing Ramadan and are fasting from sunup to sundown. At lunch, several other students begin to mock the fact that the Muslim students aren’t eating, and poking fun at their religion. The Upstander provides support for the Muslim students by going to sit next to them in a quieter place. They learn that Ramadan is more than just fast from food, but rather about it’s about self-reflection, self-control and refraining from anger or bad behavior. The next day, the Upstander and many other friends continue to support the Muslim students by remaining with them in the “calm room" at lunchtime.
2. Walking home from school, a group of teens are talking about how Covid has changed their lives. One student states “I’m so sick of the China virus. I’m annoyed that ‘those people’ had to cause a sickness that’s changing my life forever,” The Upstander points out that this statement is hurtful, racist and not okay and provides questions/discussion on how to change the wording.
3. On the baseball team, there is a boy who never has the right bat or glove, and he always has to borrow things from the coach. His teammates notice that he has old, worn-out shoes and that he seldom has any snacks to eat during practice. Many of his teammates make fun of him and call him “gross,” or “poor kid.” The coach steps in and helps the boy’s family to get support from a local organization and the boy is able to get new shoes and equipment. The coach talks with the other boys about how teammates always help each other and never tease or bully each other. And that the value of a human being is universal and not defined by economics.
4. A group of Latina students is hanging out before school in the commons area and chatting about life in their native Spanish. A few other students walk by and comment “We are in America. We speak English here. If you don’t want to speak in English so that the rest of us know what you are saying, just go home to your own country. You don’t belong here.” The Upstander speaks up to state that English is a very difficult language to learn and that everyone has their own way of communicating. The Upstander then encourages the group of Latinas to enjoy their conversation and asks about maybe joining them sometime to practice the Spanish skills she has learned in her Spanish class and learn to be a better Spanish speaker.
5. An orthodox Jewish boy is standing around wearing a traditional yarmulkes or head covering. A group of kids come by and yell derogatory slurs and make the Hitler salute.  A Bystander stands between them and tells the kids to scram, that he is human being with feelings like anyone else before telling the boy he is sorry that he had to experience the ignorant and belittling comments and actions of these boys.  He asks the boy if he could please educate him on the significance of the head covering.