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National Center for Bullying Prevention

Supersized
A Role Play

By Barbara Roy

AUDEINCE: Designed for middle- and high-school students to present to elementary-school students.

PURPOSE: The role play is an interactive method designed to creatively engage elementary-school children to learn options for handling bullying.

GOAL: Children learn what to do when they see bullying or are bullied.

PLACE: School Playground

CHARACTERS:

ANN, a girl targeted by bullying
BOBBY, a boy who teases Ann
SYLVIA, a girl who teases Ann

SITUATION: BOBBY has been teasing ANN about her weight for almost a year. Every time he sees her, he tells everyone that she has been “supersized” and makes other comments about her weight. Lately, SYLVIA has been joining in. ANN comes to the playground where BOBBY and SYLVIA are playing. BOBBY starts teasing ANN and SYLVIA joins in. ANN asks them to stop but when they don’t, she just sits and takes it. After awhile, ANN starts to cry softly.

DIALOGUE:
(Bobby and Sylvia are on the playground at school. Bobby is sitting on top of the slide. Ann is climbing up the steps of the slide. Sylvia is near by on the swings.)

BOBBY: Hey, look! Here comes ANN! Hey, Fatty, can you even climb up the ladder to the slide?

ANN: Sure I can. I do it all the time.

BOBBY: I bet you can’t since you’ve been SUPERSIZED!! Right, Sylvia?

SYLVIA: That’s right . . . and if she ever gets up to the top, she’ll get stuck trying to go down the slide . . . stuck like a big fat WHALE in a net!

BOBBY: A supersized WHALE . . . a bigger than normal WHALE! MEGA WHALE!

SYLVIA: Supersized WHALE!

BOBBY: Blub, blub (as if a fish underwater). Blub...(gets another idea) blubber...blubber...

SYLVIA and BOBBY: (laugh wildly and point . . . “swim” around and act like fish)

ANN: Please. Just leave me alone, okay? I just wanted to go down the slide. (Ann retreats down the steps of the slide. She walks to the bench near the playground and sits.)

BOBBY: Wow! Look at SUPERSIZED WHALE now. She can’t even get up one step of the ladder. She’s so tired she has to put her blubber on a bench!

ANN: (moves to another spot, but BOBBY and SYLVIA follow . . . taunting and laughing)
Please. Just go away. OK?

BOBBY: (mimics) Just go away . . . please . . . just leave me and my SUPERSIZED butt alone . . . please.

ANN: (starts to cry)

BOBBY and SYLVIA: (chanting) SUPERSIZED! SUPERSIZED! I ATE SO MUCH I’M SUPERSIZED!! (BOBBY and SYLVIA move around ANN like they are enormous human balls . . . or sumo wrestlers)

THE END

Audience Discussion

1. What did you think about this story?
Explore the students’ reactions. Focus on the responses that indicate Bobby and Sylvia’s actions were hurtful. Emphasize that kindness is important and makes you feel good, but being cruel to someone often brings more cruelty.

Ask the students how they think BOBBY and SYLVIA would feel if they were called names?

Option: Act out the following scenario. BOBBY continues in the role of BOBBY, but is now the target of bullying. SYLVIA takes on the role of OLDER KID.

OLDER KID: Hey! Bobby . . . Baby Bobby!! You loser! Get off my playground right now. . . I said run or else!! Loser! Baby!
BOBBY: But I want to play too!
OLDER KID: Too bad! You’re too little and too stupid to play here!
BOBBY: (cries)

Talk about how Ann doesn’t deserve to be teased and taunted. She is a target, and the bullying isn’t her fault. Remind the children that no one deserves to be bullied. Everyone deserves respect.

2. What could you do if you were Ann?
A. Students may say, "Run away." Discuss that leaving or even avoiding the situation might be one way to cope, but it might not work if there was nowhere to go. For example, students may be required to stay on the playground during recess or there may be only one way back to the classroom.

B. Students might say, "Find some other friends to play with." Ask a student to play the role of FRIEND with the actor playing ANN.

Suggested dialogue)
ANN: (runs to friend) Can I play with you? Bobby and Sylvia are calling me names again! I’ll play whatever you want.

FRIEND: Sure, come on. Let’s play with chalk on the sidewalk over here.

C. Students may say, "Tell a teacher or other adult." Ask a student to play that scenario with ANN.

(Suggested dialogue)
ANN: Teacher, can you help, please?

TEACHER: What’s going on, Ann?

ANN: Bobby and Sylvia . . . they are calling me names . . . they say I am supersized and a whale . . .

TEACHER When we return to class, we will review the rules for name calling.

D. Students may say, "Ann shoudl stand up for herself." ANN, BOBBY, and SYLVIA act this out.

(Suggested dialogue)
ANN: (looks BOBBY right in the eye) You know what, Bobby? I'm really tired of you calling me names.

BOBBY: Oh, yeah?

ANN: Yeah, and you too, Sylvia. You used to be nice to me. I don’t need to play with either of you! (Ann walks away proudly)

E. Students may say, "Hit or punch Bobby and Sylvia." Discuss why this isn’t a helpful response. Physical violence usually leads to more violence. Often, everyone involved ends up in trouble.

Outcomes

3. What could you do if you saw this happening to Ann?
A. Students may say, "Stick up for Ann." Ask two students to role play this scene with Ann.

(Suggested dialogue
STUDENT 1: (stand by Ann): Hey! Leave Ann alone! She’s my friend and I like her!

STUDENT 2: (stand by Ann) Me, too! Come on, Ann, let’s go play ball over here. You’re a great catcher!

Discuss how giving Ann a compliment--“you’re a great catcher!”--and standing by her physically will boost her self-esteem when she is feeling bad about what Bobby and Sylvia said. It’s another example that shows kindness is important.

B. Students may say, “Call Bobby a name.” Discuss how someone who bullies may not be able to control his or her emotions and might not think before acting. Name calling might make Bobby even angrier, and it really won’t help Ann or Bobby.

C. Students may say, “Hit or shove Bobby.” Remind students that responding physically to someone usually makes the situation worse.

D. Students may say, “Tell a teacher or adult.” Discuss why it’s a good idea to tell right away. Find a teacher, playground aide, or parent.

OUTCOMES:
Students will understand that standing near the target and complimenting him or her are powerful ways to be a friend. They will realize that violence or name calling can make things worse. They also will understand that involving a grown-up is essential.

WRAP UP:
Speak Up: Show respect—for yourself and others—by responding to bullying and also by understanding why someone might bully. Reach Out: Be responsible—by standing up for yourself and the target. Be a Friend: Give your best—be the best friend you can be.