Why is Everybody Always Picking on Us? Curriculum (EN & ES)

Understanding the Origins of Prejudice: A Comprehensive Curriculum for Young People

This downloadable curriculum is designed for young people who are concerned about being treated unfairly and want to understand how to peacefully cope with prejudice by exploring its origins. With insightful lessons and interactive activities, this curriculum guides students through the complex dynamics of prejudice, where it comes from, and how it can be overcome.

Why This Curriculum Is Important: In today’s world, prejudice is a significant factor in bullying and discrimination—whether it happens at home, in schools, at work, or even on a global scale. Despite many efforts to stop bullying, it continues to persist and is often fueled by underlying prejudices. But where does prejudice really begin? Is it something external, based on differences between people, or does it start within our own minds and perceptions?

This curriculum encourages young people to ask the right questions and uncover the roots of prejudice in order to stop it from shaping their thoughts and actions. By understanding how our brains are conditioned to fear or hate those who are different, students learn to rise above prejudice and embrace diversity.

What Students Will Learn:

• The Psychological Roots of Prejudice: Students will explore how prejudice is formed in the brain and how external influences—such as cultural, social, or familial conditioning—can reinforce these biases.
• The Impact of Prejudice: Through discussions and activities, students will examine how prejudice leads to pain and suffering, whether it’s based on skin color, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or other differences.
• Peaceful Coping Strategies: Practical tools and exercises are provided to help students handle feelings of being picked on or singled out. They will learn to respond to prejudice with understanding and compassion instead of fear or hostility.
• Empathy and Understanding: The curriculum fosters a mindset of empathy by helping young people see the world from different perspectives by breaking down stereotypes and challenging their own conditioned thoughts.

Engaging and Interactive Content: This curriculum is designed to be engaging for young learners by using a mix of interactive activities, thought-provoking discussions, and role-playing exercises that challenge students to confront their own biases and learn effective strategies for resolving conflicts peacefully. Each section is structured to encourage self-reflection and critical thinking with lessons that build upon one another for a comprehensive understanding of prejudice and its effects.

A Valuable Resource for Educators and Parents: Not just for students, this curriculum is a powerful resource for parents, teachers, and counselors who want to help young people navigate the challenges of prejudice and bullying. It offers thoughtful, constructive approaches to guide discussions and foster understanding in classrooms, homes, and communities.

Key Features:

• Age-Appropriate Lessons: Designed for young people ages 8 to 14, the curriculum uses clear, relatable language and examples that resonate with this age group.
• Downloadable PDF Format: This curriculum is available as an easy-to-download PDF which makes it accessible across various devices and perfect for both in-person and online learning environments.
• Comprehensive and Flexible: The curriculum includes multiple modules that can be used as a complete program or adapted for specific lessons, allowing educators to tailor the material to their students’ needs.
• Real-Life Scenarios and Role-Playing: Engaging exercises and real-life examples help students relate the lessons to their own experiences and practice responding to prejudice in constructive ways.

Fostering a New Generation of Compassionate Leaders: By equipping young people with the knowledge and tools to understand and overcome prejudice, this curriculum aims to create a more compassionate and inclusive future. Students will gain the confidence to peacefully confront prejudice, foster empathy, and break free from conditioned biases which leads to more respectful and harmonious relationships in all areas of life.

Empower young people with the skills to challenge prejudice and cultivate understanding with this essential downloadable curriculum—an invaluable resource for schools, educators, and families.