1. Using Information for Good
Communication | Trust | Connection | Honesty

2. What is a Rumor?
A Rumor is information that may or may not be true (you are not sure)
Rumors spread from person to person, often changing slightly as they are told
Rumors can be very hurtful to people, families, relationships, and organizations

3. What is Gossip?
Gossip is spreading someone else’s information without their knowledge
Gossip can be true, a lie, or a rumor
Why do we gossip?
For entertainment/out of boredom
To feel superior
To get attention
To feel like we belong
To hurt others

4. How can gossip and rumors hurt?
Gossip and rumors affect at least 3 people: the person spreading the information, the listener, and the victim
The person spreading the information:
Might lose the trust of those around them
Can be seen as a “gossip”
Can get hooked on gossiping and lose control
The listener:
Can’t “unhear” the information
Might have wanted to be left out of the situation
The Victim:
Whether the gossip was true, false, or a rumor, this information spreading about the victim can hurt their feelings, their friendships, or their chances at success
How would you feel if people were talking about you in a negative way?

5. How can rumors and gossip hurt?
As a class, play “telephone” or a classroom-version of Telestrations. Compare this to rumors and gossip.
In your notebook, draw a picture of what gossip looks like, sounds like, or feels like. Use your imagination! Be sure to label it as “Gossip.”

6. Character Matters
We want to be known as people with good character traits
People that choose not to gossip have:
Honesty
Trust
Integrity
Respect

7. If you find out information about someone/something…
Most of the time, you should keep it in your head and ignore it I imagine a box that I store it in, where the information doesn’t affect me or get out.
If it directly affects your life, try to find out if it is true by talking TO the person instead of ABOUT the person
If you have an urge to share negative words about someone, start by saying two true, positive things about them. Your urge to gossip will lessen!
Try the same strategy if someone else is gossiping. They often will stop!

8. Role play: What should you do if…?
Your little brother believes in the tooth fairy, but you found out that this was just something to pretend about. Your brother just lost a tooth and is putting it under his pillow…

9. Role Play: What should you do if…?
Your best friend told you a really racist joke. You know it’s not appropriate. Your friends ask if you know any good jokes…

10. Role Play: What should you do if…?
You saw on on your teacher’s computer that a boy in your advisory has lunch detention for writing a bad word on the side of the school. Your friends ask why he has lunch detention…