SUBJECT(S):U.S.History,LanguageArts,Health
GRADES:912,Homeschool
DESCRIPTION
Thisdiscussionguide,basedonthedocumentaryfilmBeing
Ginger,willhelpstudentsbetterunderstandtheissues
concerninghowperceiveddifferencesandstereotypescanresult
indiscriminationandisolationbyothermembersinour
communitiesandschools.
TheBeingGingerlessonplanalsoprovideseducatorswithseveralprojectbasedlearning
activitiesthataddressstudentstrategiesforcopingwithbullyingandovercomingfeelingsof
socialisolationatschool,homeandinsocietyatlarge.
Note:Discussionofissuesrelatedtobullying,isolationandselfharmcanelicitstrong
responsesfromstudents.Teachersshouldbeawareofthisandcloselymonitorclass
discussion.
LEARNINGOBJECTIVES
AfterviewingthedocumentaryfilmBeingGinger,studentswillunderstandthefollowing:
Theroleofdiversityinsocietyandtheimportanceofsharedvalues,humanrightsand
civicbeliefsinanincreasinglydiverseAmericansociety.
Increasedstudentawarenessonhowemotional,physicalandverbalbullyingimpacts
boththeselfesteemandselfworthofthepersonbeingbullied.
IssuesconcerningthedisparitiesbetweenidealsandrealityinAmericanpoliticalandthe
impactofstereotypesbasedonphysicalattributes,genderorrace.
Understandhowdifferentgroupsattempttoachievetheirgoals(e.g.,thegrievancesof
minoritygroups)andtheirreferencetothenationscharterdocumentstorectifypast
injusticeslocalcommunityefforts.
LicensedunderaCreativeCommonsAttributionNonCommercialShareAlike3.0UnportedLicense.
PreparedbyDerekE.Baird,M.A.|NotendorsedbyoraffiliatedwithBeingGinger.
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BEINGGINGERTEACHERDISCUSSIONQUESTIONS
1. BeforeyouwatchedBeingGinger,whatdiditstitlemeantoyou?Didthatchangewhen
youcompletedthedocumentary?
2. Ifyouweretocreateavideoblog,asScottdidinBeingGinger,towhomwouldyou
addressit?Whatwouldyousay?Whatcouldyousayinavideothatyoucouldn'tsay
facetoface?
3. InBeingGinger,Scottsharesthestoryofbeinghumiliatedbyateacherinfrontofthe
entireclassroom.Askstudentsiftheyvehadasimilarexperienceandhowitmadethem
feel.Afterseeingthefilm,wouldtheyresponddifferentlytowitnessingbullyingbya
teacher(scoutmaster,coach,musicteacher,clergyorpriest)?
4. Askstudentsiftheyveeverwitnessedbullyingbyateachertowardsastudent.Howdidit
makethemfeeltowatchaclassmatebehumiliated?Whyorwhynotdidtheyreportthe
incidenttoatrustedadult?
5. Bullyingandisolationatschoolcanleadsomestudentstosuicidalthoughts.Whatare
someofthewarningsignsforsuicidalexpression?Talkaboutresourcesareavailableto
helpthosestrugglingwithdepressionand/orsuicidalthoughtsinyourcommunity.
6. WhendidScottfinallyfeellikehebelongedtoacommunity?Whatconditionsmadethis
possible?HowdidthishelpScotttaketherisktobeopenaboutwhohewas?
7. Whyitisimportanttofeelasenseofbelonging.Whatdoesiffeelliketonotbelong?
Whatmakesthemfeelliketheybelong?Havetheyeversharedbeliefs,feelingsor
actionsthatsetthemapartwithfamilyorfriends?Whatpromptedorenabledthemto
taketherisk?Whatweretheresults?
8. Inthefilm,Scottshareshowhewaslookingfortheclassmatethathebulliedsohecould
apologize.Askstudentsiftheyvehadtoapologizeforpoorbehaviorandhowitmade
themfeelaftertheirapology.
9. WhataspectsofScottsschoolbullyingexperiencecanyourelateto?Arewesometimes
tooquicktotellpeopleto"getoverit?Howmightwebemorecomfortingtothosewho
arestruggling?DoyouthinkthebullyingScottdescribesinthefilmfitsasasymptomof
PTSD?DoyouthinkbullyingcancausePTSD?
10. Doespopularcultureandmediaplayaroleinfuelinganddefiningstereotypesand
societalbiasagainstaparticulargroup?Shouldweallowtvshows,liketheinfamous
BeatAGingerepisodeonSouthPark,tobebroadcast?
LicensedunderaCreativeCommonsAttributionNonCommercialShareAlike3.0UnportedLicense.
PreparedbyDerekE.Baird,M.A.|NotendorsedbyoraffiliatedwithBeingGinger.
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