Presentation to be used with 5th graders about Rumors and Gossip

1. RUMORS AND
REPUTATIONS

2.  the common opinion that people have about someone or
something : the way in which people think of someone or
something
 Mr. Peabody’s reputation at the beginning of the story?
 What happened to tarnish his reputation?
 How do you think he felt when he found out why there
were no players on the field?
 Do you think Tommy’s reputation was tarnished? How is
this similar to the movie clip that we saw?

3. A rumor is a piece of information or a story
that has not been verified, meaning that the
person telling it doesn’t know if it’s true or
false
Gossip is talking about the private details of
other people’s lives

4. Rumors and Gossip might be true, they
might be partially true, or totally made up.
Unless you heard the information
directly from the source…you must
consider that it may not be true!

5. They can change slightly each time they’re told, so
they get more exaggerated.
Example: Game of telephone
“Noisy Ned Needs Nuggets” became “Dirty Mitts Make Dirty Mugs”
“Lightening McQueen likes loaded nachos” became “Laney McQueen makes
mackerels”

6.  Why did Mr. Peabody tell the boy to meet him with
a pillow stuffed with feathers?
 What request did Mr. Peabody make?
 Was this request possible?
 What message was Mr. Peabody trying to teach
him?

7.  Suppose your friend told you something that was very personal and
asked you not to tell anyone else. Maybe it was something about his
mom and dad having an argument about something. Then…
 you tell someone else
 they tell someone else and the story starts going round
 while the story is going round, it is changing as each person adds a
bit more that may have happened
 when the story gets back to him, it could be that everyone now
thinks that your friends' parents are fighting, or even getting a
divorce!
◦ how upset and worried would your friend be if he heard that
particular bit of gossip about his parents and himself?
◦ how would his parents feel?

8. To feel superior
To feel like part of a group
For attention
For control or power
Out of jealously/revenge
Out of boredom

9.  What does glitter and gossip have in common?
 Challenge: The leader (the person with the glitter
first) must spread it to everyone else in their team.
(pass it from person to person)
 You can not have ANY glitter left on your hands
 All of the glitter must be put back into the container it
came in.
 No glitter could be found on your hands-not even one
spec!
 You have 5 minutes.
 Discussion: Answer the original ?

10.  Gossip is like Glitter
 It spreads quickly
 You can’t control where it goes
 It sticks with people
 you can’t take it back
 It seems fun, but creates a big mess

11.  Heads down
◦ Raise your hand if you have ever heard a rumor or
heard gossip about someone else.
◦ Raise your hand if a rumor has been spread about
you.
 Words hurt
 Gossip and rumors can be a form of exclusion - leaving
someone out-consequences
 Gossip and rumors destroy trust
 Gossip and rumors destroy repuations

12. Decide whether the rumor or gossip is
hurtful or harmless by asking yourself
the following questions.

13.  Feelings: How would YOU feel?
 Everyone: Does Everyone need to know?
 Anger: Could someone get angry at me or others?
 Truth: Do I know firsthand that this story is the truth?
 Hurtful: Who could it hurt?
 Embarrassed: Could someone be embarrassed?
 Respect: Treat others the way that you want to be
treated…would you want it said about you?

14.  If it is something that would embarrass or hurt
the person who is being talked about, then:
◦ say, "I don't listen to gossip," and walk away
◦ don't pass on what you have heard
◦ tell the teacher if it is happening in school

15.  Follow-up Activity found in School Counselor's October
Activity Pack @
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-
Counselors-October-Activity-Pack-Savvy-School-Counselor-
1457576
◦ Something to Crow About: When a statement or action is “Something
to Crow About,” it’s a good thing. Unfortunately, some statements and
actions made by others are hurtful and only said to spread gossip and
rumors. Decide which crows are spreading gossip or rumors and which
ones have something to crow about. Sort the cards on the sorting mat
putting the mean crows closest to the scarecrow. (3-5)

16.  I printed the following saying on feather clipart,
laminated them and turned them into bookmarks:
Words and Feathers are easily scattered but not
easily gathered.