15 Bullying Prevention Month Activities for the Classroom

A positive classroom culture is not created with one assembly or one worksheet.

It develops through the small choices students make every day: including someone in a group, speaking respectfully, asking for help, noticing when someone feels left out, and knowing what to do when they see bullying.

That is why Bullying Prevention Month can be a useful opportunity to move beyond simply telling students, “Be kind.”

Instead, teachers can give students concrete ways to practice kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and safe help-seeking.

PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center describes October as National Bullying Prevention Month and provides classroom activities built around those same themes. Its 2026 Unity Day takes place on October 21.

Here are 15 practical activities you can adapt for elementary or middle school classrooms.

1. Create a “United for Kindness” Collaborative Poster

Start with a whole-class art project.

Choose a simple message such as:

United for Kindness

Everyone Belongs Here

Choose Kindness

Together We Include

Give each student one section of a larger image to color or decorate.

When every section is finished, assemble the pieces into one large classroom poster.

The final display becomes more meaningful because every student contributed to it.

If you already have a design, the PosterCutter Printable Poster Maker can divide a large image into individual printable pages for a collaborative classroom activity.

Good visual themes include:

• hands joined together;

• a friendship tree;

• puzzle pieces;

• hearts;

• a rainbow;

• students standing together.

2. Build a Classroom Unity Tree

Create a large tree trunk on your bulletin board.

Give each student an orange paper leaf.

Ask students to complete one sentence:

I can make our classroom safer by...

I can include others by...

Kindness looks like...

If someone needs help, I can...

Attach all the leaves to the tree.

The result becomes a visual reminder that every student has a role in creating a positive classroom.

PACER also recommends a Unity Tree as one way students can express what kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and unity mean to them.

3. Kindness Scenario Cards

Give small groups age-appropriate classroom scenarios.

For example:

A new student is sitting alone at lunch. What could you do?

Someone keeps laughing when another student reads aloud. What could you do?

Two classmates will not let another student join their game. What are some safe choices?

Students discuss several possible responses.

The goal is not to find one perfect answer.

Instead, encourage them to think about:

• including the person;

• getting help from a trusted adult;

• offering support;

• avoiding escalation;

• using respectful language.

4. “What Would You Do?” Reflection Worksheet

Turn similar scenarios into a printable individual activity.

Create three columns:

Situation What could I do? Who could help? Someone is repeatedly teased A student is excluded from a group Mean messages are being shared online

This helps students think beyond simply saying “stop.”

They begin identifying safe actions and trusted adults they can turn to.

5. Kindness Word Search

Use vocabulary connected to a positive classroom community.

Possible words:

kindness

respect

include

friendship

support

acceptance

courage

empathy

unity

help

After students find the words, ask them to choose three and explain what each one looks like in real life.

You can build the puzzle from your own vocabulary list with PosterCutter's Word Search Maker.

This turns a simple word search into a vocabulary and discussion activity.

6. Create a Chain of Positive Actions

Cut strips of orange paper.

Each student writes one action that could make the school more welcoming.

Examples:

Invite someone to join your game.

Sit next to someone who is alone.

Tell an adult when someone needs help.

Listen without laughing.

Use people's names respectfully.

Connect the strips into one long paper chain.

Display it across the classroom or hallway.

PACER uses a similar activity called Project Connect, where messages on orange paper strips are linked together as a visual symbol of unity.

7. “Kind Words Matter” Sorting Activity

Prepare cards containing different statements.

Some might be supportive:

Do you want to work with us?

You did a great job explaining that.

Are you okay?

Others can show unhelpful or disrespectful communication without using extreme examples.

Students sort them into categories such as:

Builds People Up

and

Needs a Better Choice

Then ask students to rewrite the negative examples.

This makes the lesson practical rather than abstract.

8. Design a Kindness Bookmark

Give students a printable bookmark template.

They can add:

• an encouraging sentence;

• an illustration;

• a favorite kindness quote;

• three ways to include others.

Examples:

Everyone belongs.

Small actions matter.

Choose words that help.

Laminate the finished bookmarks if possible and let students use them during independent reading.

9. Create an Upstander Action Plan

Introduce the idea that students can help without putting themselves in an unsafe situation.

Create a simple printable with choices like:

When I see someone being treated badly, I can:

• support the person afterward;

• invite them to join me;

• tell a trusted adult;

• report what happened clearly;

• avoid sharing hurtful messages;

• ask another responsible person for help.

Students can highlight two or three actions they feel comfortable using.

This gives them practical options instead of expecting them to confront every situation directly.

10. Unity Day Orange Classroom Activity

PACER’s Unity Day is October 21, 2026, and the organization encourages schools to wear and share orange as a visible message of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

Turn the day into a learning activity rather than only a dress-up event.

Students could:

• wear orange;

• create orange kindness cards;

• decorate orange paper hearts;

• make a class banner;

• write messages of inclusion;

• create an orange bulletin board.

Finish with a short reflection:

What can we continue doing after Unity Day?

That final question is important.

Bullying prevention should not end when October ends.

11. Make an “Everyone Belongs” Bulletin Board

Give each student a small printable shape.

It might be:

• a hand;

• heart;

• puzzle piece;

• leaf;

• star.

Students decorate their piece and add something that makes them unique.

Combine every piece around the heading:

Everyone Belongs in Our Classroom

This creates a display that celebrates both individuality and community.

12. Read and Discuss a Story About Inclusion

Choose an age-appropriate book in which a character experiences exclusion, friendship problems, differences, or kindness.

After reading, ask:

How did the character feel?

What choices helped?

What could another character have done differently?

Who helped solve the problem?

What would you have done?

The discussion is often more valuable than a worksheet because students can explore situations indirectly through characters.

PACER also includes books and videos within its bullying-prevention classroom resources.

13. Complete a Kindness Challenge

Create a one-week classroom kindness challenge.

For example:

Monday

Say something encouraging to someone.

Tuesday

Include someone in an activity.

Wednesday

Thank someone who helped you.

Thursday

Help without being asked.

Friday

Write an appreciation note.

Students can check off each activity as they complete it.

Avoid turning kindness into a competition.

The purpose is practicing positive habits, not determining who is the “kindest” student.

14. Create a Classroom Help Map

Students sometimes hear “tell an adult,”But they may not know exactly whom they can approach.

Create a worksheet titled:

People Who Can Help Me

Students identify trusted people such as:

• classroom teacher;

• school counselor;

• administrator;

• parent or caregiver;

• another trusted staff member.

They can also write where they can find each person.

This makes help-seeking much more concrete.

15. Build a Bullying Prevention Mini Activity Pack

If you want activities ready throughout October, combine several printables into one small classroom pack.

For example:

Bullying Prevention Classroom Pack

• kindness word search;

• Unity Day coloring page;

• scenario cards;

• reflection worksheet;

• kindness challenge;

• classroom pledge;

• collaborative poster;

• “Everyone Belongs” writing page.

Teachers can use one activity at a time instead of trying to complete an entire lesson in one day.

For additional classroom resources, teachers can also browse Teachers Pay Teachers, Eduki, and Tes Resources.

You can also explore printable classroom resources through PosterCutter Explore.

Make Bullying Prevention Part of Everyday Classroom Culture

The most effective activities are not necessarily the biggest ones.

A five-minute discussion about including others can matter.

A student knowing exactly which adult to approach can matter.

A classroom poster can reinforce a message students have already discussed.

A reflection worksheet can help students think through a difficult situation before they encounter one.

And a collaborative project can remind the entire class that creating a safe, welcoming environment is something everyone contributes to.

PACER’s October activity materials similarly emphasize continuing kindness, acceptance, inclusion, and bullying-prevention efforts beyond a single event or week.

Use Bullying Prevention Month as a starting point — then keep those conversations alive throughout the school year.

If you are preparing your own classroom printables, PosterCutter can help turn your designs into large printable posters, collaborative activities, and custom word searches.