We Are All Made of Molecules

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Inclusive Molecules”

In this activity, students will develop an antibullying strategy for their school based on textual details.

Susin Nielsen’s We Are All Made of Molecules tells a fictional story about a real problem—bullying. Jared bullies Stewart, whose retaliation at the basketball game only guarantees him further punishment. When Ashley recognizes Stewart is being bullied, she develops a strategy to create an environment where he and others can feel safe. Create your own strategy for an antibullying campaign drawing comparisons between Ashley’s strategy and yours. Use the bulleted instructions to guide your project.

• Consider areas where students might feel most vulnerable.
• Create a strategy to prevent bullying in those areas.
• Develop a flyer to generate interest and involvement in your group.
• Create an inclusionary title for your group similar to Stewart’s.
• Draw comparisons between the novel and your own strategy to prevent bullying.

When you have finished working on this activity, you will turn in your flyer and share your work. Pitch your anti-bullying campaign to peers explaining the benefits of your strategy, and distribute copies of your flyer.

Teaching Suggestion: Students may find it beneficial to discuss in small groups to generate ideas before creating their campaign. Consider encouraging students to discuss possible simple solutions in school, such as additional supervision by hall monitors or creating a place for anonymous tips.

Differentiation Suggestion: Early finishers and students who require an additional challenge may find it beneficial to research and analyze strategies used to improve school culture. Students can use this information to develop a group, similar to Ashley’s, to implement a school improvement plan, or find other young people who have fostered a more inclusive environment in their school communities.