Summary: Appreciative Inquiry uses images to invoke feelings and reflect on the meaning of these feelings. The goal of the project is to use images to self-reflect and discuss how bullying can influence the school community and what can collectively be done to change negative impacts.
Curriculum components: writing; presentation; discussion; listening; analytic thinking
Connection to bullying: understand our school environment; empower sense of ability to change the environment around us; strategize a common goal and how to work towards it;
Age range: Grades 7 – 12
Materials needed: source of pictures, such as magazines or the internet; paper/pens to write about photos
Time needed: 1 – 2 class sessions
Activity instructions:
- Have individuals or teams of students look through sources for pictures. Instruct each student or group of students to choose a photo that depicts what bullying feels like, and to write a statement about how the image can be related to bullying (This step is called the “Describe” step. You could prompt the students to fill in the blank: “This picture describes bullying because….”). Students could be instructed to write a short poem instead of a statement.
- Have students share their picture and poem/statement.
- Next, have students select a second photo that depicts a world without bullying (This step is the “Dream” step). Have students then describe what a future without bullying would feel like, answering questions such as:
- Without bullying, I would feel…
- Without bullying, my school would be…
- Finally, with the dream photo, students write a few sentences about how they could “design or deliver“ this dream. It could be something changed at the school, it could be a decision to reach out to vulnerable people, or a dedication not to spread bullying messages when they see them. Have students share how they might help deliver their dream and discuss these with the class.
- [optional]. Together, the class could list the strategies they have identified to help deliver their dream.