Bully Busters®
Bullying is a complex process involving the bully, the intended victim, the bystanders, and the climate in which the bullying takes place. Bully Busters® is an educational game that deals with the complex nature of bullying in a way that middle school students can understand and learn specific skills. Players learn that all students must take a stand against bullying. The bystanders, for example, play a key role in the bullying process. If bystanders are present during the bullying or know about it beforehand, they can take action to discourage it. Regardless of when they learn about it (before, during, or afterwards), all bystanders can refuse to give the bully the status, popularity, and power that he/she is looking for. Bullying ceases to be a useful tool for the “bully” to achieve his/her goals. Since most of the time the bully’s goals are social - status, popularity, etc., players learn that they can do a great deal to discourage bullying by doing things as simple as refusing to laugh at the bully’s mean jokes. Students will learn skills that they can use if they are:
  • a target of bullying who wants non-violent skills for stopping bullying
  • a bystander who wants to discourage bullying
  • a former bully who wants to gain popularity without resorting to bullying

Players also learn the difference between “tattling” and “telling”. Guidelines are given when it is appropriate to go to a trusted adult for help. Players pick “Situation” cards that describe typical middle school bullying situations. Players then earn play money by giving advice to targets (intended victims), bystanders who are present during the bullying, bystanders who are not present but learn of the bullying beforehand or later on, and the bullies, themselves. Bully Busters® intentionally avoids putting players in the role either of the intended victim or the bully, avoiding embarrassment and defensiveness. A 24” x 17” poster is included, so that teachers can continue to reinforce the skills learned by the players..


Grades 5-8

SCANS Skills Addressed:

Foundation Skills: Thinking Skills, Personal Qualities, Basic Skills
Workplace Competencies: Interpersonal Skills, Systems

Learning Objectives:

1. Players learn that all students can work to prevent bullying,
whether they are in the role of the target, the bystander, or the bully.

2. Players learn non-violent skills that they can use as a target to fend off bullying.

3. Players learn skills that bystanders can use to discourage bullying.

4. Players learn positive skills that they can use to achieve popularity
without resorting to bullying.

5. Players learn to identify the goals of the bullies in the typical
situations encountered in the game.



Related Products:
Franklin Learning Systems also publishes an elementary level game (Bullies to Buddies®) and a high school game (Break the Bully Cycle®). Franklin Learning Systems also publishes anger control and violence reduction games for elementary (Furious Fred®), middle school (Breaking the Chains of Anger®) and a High school (From Rage to Reason®)