Personal & social development // Responsible Decision-Making
Bystanders and Upstanders
Understand the bystander role — that when someone witnesses unkind or unfair behaviour, they have a choice: they can be a passive bystander (doing nothing), join in, or be an upstander (speaking up or getting help) — and develop the confidence to be an upstander
Quick check
If the learner sees a group of children being mean to someone at school, do they have the courage to say something, walk away with the person being targeted, or tell a teacher — rather than just watching?
Ask this to see whether the topic is secure.
Topic // Mastery
What mastery looks like
- Explain the difference between a bystander and an upstander
- Describe at least two safe actions an upstander can take
- Give an example of a time they or someone they know stood up for someone else
Topic // Map
Where this fits
- RequiredMust come first
- HelpfulHelps, but not essential
Before this
3 topics- Understanding BullyingRequired
Responsible Decision-Making // Ages 7 to 9
Bystander/upstander builds on understanding what bullying is
Responsible Decision-Making // Ages 7 to 11
The bystander/upstander distinction is entirely vocabulary-dependent — these specific terms must be taught first
- Everyday Kindness and CareHelpful
Empathy & Social Awareness // Ages 5 to 7
Being an upstander builds on caring for others
You are here
Bystanders and Upstanders
Ages 7 to 9 // Concept
Leads to
2 topics- Peer Pressure and Resisting ItRequired
Responsible Decision-Making // Ages 9 to 11
Peer pressure resistance builds on bystander/upstander awareness
- Prejudice and DiscriminationHelpful
Empathy & Social Awareness // Ages 9 to 11
Standing against discrimination benefits from upstander skills
Topic // Standards
Curriculum standards
- IB PYP Personal, Social and Physical Education (PSPE) Scope and Sequence
- PSPE.INT.P1.CU.5PSPE.INT.P2.LO.11
Personal & social development // Responsible Decision-Making
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