This web-exclusive curriculum is proven to counteract gender bullying in the early grades.
This is a part of Gender Doesn't Limit You! [1], also available as a PDF [2].
Note: Substitute your school's name for "St. Francis." You can replace the provided student names with names of your students, too.
Problem: Sometimes a group of children won't let another kid play with them just because of their gender. Gender is whether you are a boy or a girl. Sometimes boys will say that a girl can't play with them. Sometimes girls will say that boys can't play with them.
Rationale: This isn't nice. It is wrong to exclude someone just because they are a boy or a girl, or because of their gender. Not letting someone play with you just because of their gender is called bullying, and bullying is not allowed at St. Francis.
Questions:
What should you do if someone says you can't play in their game just because you are a boy or a girl?
You should answer: "You can't say, 'Boys [girls] can't play.'"
Case Practice
I. Okay, so let's practice what we should say if someone won't let us play with them because we are a boy or a girl! Mark and Steve are playing on the jungle gym, and Sylvia wants to join them, but they tell her that she can't. They say "Girls can't play this game." What do we tell Mark and Steve? One, two, three GO!
Answer: "You can't say, 'Girls can't play.'"
II. Good job! Let's try another one. Lisa, Laura and Mary are playing on the jungle gym and Andrew wants to join them. They tell him, "Only girls can play this game." What should we tell Lisa, Laura and Mary? One, two, three GO!
Answer: "You can't say, 'Boys can't play.'"
III. Good job! Let's try another one. Sarah and Kaisha are playing in the sandbox, and Adam wants to join them, but they tell him that he can't because he is a boy. What do we say? One, two, three GO!
Answer: "You can't say, 'Boys can't play.'"
IV. Good job! Let's try another one. Esteban and Manuel are playing with blocks during playtime in class. Tina really likes playing with blocks and decides to join Esteban and Manuel, but they tell her, "Girls can't play with us today!"What do we tell Esteban and Manuel? One, two, three GO!
Answer: "You can't say, 'Girls can't play.'"
Links:
[1] http://www.tolerance.org/gender
[2] http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/tt_gender_doesnt_limit-2.pdf