GRADE 8: RESPONDING TO HATE SPEECH  NAME 

Scenario C: Marcus    
DATE 

Directions  
Read the scenario below and then think about the Reflect question. 
 
Marcus is an eighth-grader at the local middle school. He creates a fake Instagram account, not under his name, and posts a picture of his 
rival school's basketball team. The rival school's basketball team is mostly black, and Marcus posts a racist message about the players 
underneath the image. Other students from Marcus' school find the post and also post racist jokes about the players.  
 
Reflect​: Think about your experiences at your school and what your school is like. Could a scenario like this happen at your school? How 
likely would it be? Make sure to include your reasons when you share. 
 

During the Discussion Round ... 

REMEMBER THE NORMS  THINK CRITICALLY 

1. Speak your truth.  ● Consider other perspectives.​ ​How are your classmates thinking 
2. Respect others' viewpoints.  about this differently from you? How does that affect your opinions 
and ideas? 
3. Don't interrupt. 
● Question your assumptions. ​Are any of your ideas based on 
4. Disagree respectfully. 
stereotypes? Why do you think what you think? 
● Consider how those involved might feel or think. ​What would  
you think if you were the person posting the messages? What if you 
were the target? 

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GRADE 8: RESPONDING TO HATE SPEECH  NAME 

Scenario C: Marcus    
DATE 

 
Exit Ticket 
1. If a scenario like this did happen at your school, how would you react? What actions would you take? Why? 
 

 
 
 
2. What challenges might there be to doing the actions you describe above? How could you address those challenges? Are there 
alternative actions you could take? 
 

 
 

commonsense.org/education  
Shareable with attribution for noncommercial use. Remixing is permitted.  
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