Educational worksheet to help students identify bullying scenarios.

Here’s the solution to the “Is it Bullying?” worksheet, with explanations for each scenario:

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1. Harold sees a group of girls laughing across the room. He can’t hear them and doesn’t know why they’re laughing.
✔ Answer: Not bullying
Explanation: Since Harold doesn’t know what they’re laughing about or if it’s directed at him, there’s no evidence of intentional harm, repetition, or power imbalance — key elements of bullying. It could just be harmless laughter.

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2. Jen sits behind Jeremy in school. She pokes him in the back with a pencil each day.
✔ Answer: Bullying
Explanation: This is repeated (each day), intentional (she chooses to poke him), and likely meant to annoy or hurt him. Repeated physical actions like this, especially when targeted at one person, qualify as bullying.

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3. Kyle got new braces on his teeth. He doesn’t say much all day. Joey says, “I can so I can see your braces.”
✔ Answer: Bullying
Explanation: Even though it may seem “light,” pointing out someone’s appearance (especially after a change like braces) in a teasing or mocking way can be hurtful. If it’s done repeatedly or with intent to embarrass, it counts as verbal bullying. The fact that Kyle stops talking suggests he’s upset — a sign of emotional impact.

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4. Jose and Bobby won’t let Taylor play hide-and-seek with them. Jose says, “We don’t play with babies like you.”
✔ Answer: Bullying
Explanation: This is social exclusion + name-calling (“babies”). Excluding someone from a group activity based on an insult or put-down is relational bullying. It’s intentional, repetitive (implied by “won’t let”), and meant to hurt socially.

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5. Ben sends his friends an email with an untrue rumor about his classmate, Miles.
✔ Answer: Bullying
Explanation: Spreading false rumors online is cyberbullying. It’s intentional, harmful, and can damage someone’s reputation. Even if done via email (not public social media), it still qualifies as bullying because it targets a peer with lies.

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6. Patty has a sprained ankle and she limps when she walks. Bobby and Freddy pretend to limp whenever they see her as a joke.
✔ Answer: Bullying
Explanation: Mimicking someone’s disability or injury for laughs is mocking behavior. It’s intended to humiliate and make fun of Patty’s condition. This is verbal/physical bullying disguised as “joke” — but it causes emotional harm.

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7. Francis is outside and hides behind a tree with a squirt gun. When his sister walks by, he squirts her. They laugh and run away.
✔ Answer: Not bullying
Explanation: This sounds like playful sibling roughhousing. Both are laughing and running away together — indicating mutual fun, not one-sided harm or intimidation. No power imbalance or intent to hurt — just a prank between siblings.

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✔ Final Answers Summary:

1. Not bullying
2. Bullying
3. Bullying
4. Bullying
5. Bullying
6. Bullying
7. Not bullying

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📌 Key Reminder for Students:
Bullying involves:
- Intentional harm (meant to hurt)
- Repetition (happens more than once)
- Power imbalance (one person has more power — physical, social, etc.)

If any of these are missing — especially intent and repetition — it’s usually *not* bullying, even if it seems mean.

Let me know if you’d like a printable version or discussion questions to go with this!