Omega Wolf Bert Gives Anti-bullying Lesson #1 to Trent, Kent, and Meredith (grades 2 to 7)

Here is the sequel story scenario you can use to help teach about one of the many anti-bullying techniques: Good Posture.

To read the prequel to this story, please click on the following story and role-play:

1. Communication Skills Tale: Little Red-Riding-Hood and Omega Wolf Bert
2. Communication Skills Role-play: Little Red-Riding-Hood and Omega Wolf Bert
3. Let's Discuss Little Red-Riding-Hood and Omega Wolf Bert
4. Mini Lesson Plan: Little Red-Riding-Hood and Omega Wolf Bert

If you are using this story in your classroom of grades 2 to 7, it would be helpful if you first conduct this vocabulary discussion:

• Click link for Vocabulary: Good Posture

Here is the prequel tale where Trent first meets Omega Wolf Bert.

• Sequel Tale: Omega Wolf Bert Gives Anti-bullying Lesson #1 to Trent (grades 2 to 7)

Introduction

This story teaches about the vital importance of using good posture. The story is called "Omega Wolf Bert gives anti-bullying lesson #1: Posture - Part 2." This is the sequel to the story involving only Omega Wolf Bert and Trent.

When Trent went home the previous evening and started practicing using good posture, his two younger siblings wanted to know why he was doing that. Trent told them about his amazing adventure with Omega Wolf Bert.

That's when Trent discovered that his younger brother Kent and his younger sister Meredith were also victims of bullying from the kids at school. Trent decided that they also needed to learn and practice anti-bullying techniques from Omega Wolf Bert. Here is the story about Trent, Kent, Meredith and Omega Wolf Bert called "Omega Wolf Bert gives anti-bullying lesson #1: Posture - Part 2."

Section 4: Read Anti-Bullying story: Omega Wolf Bert gives anti-bullying lesson #1: Posture - Part 2

A. Teacher reads story to the class called "Omega Wolf Bert gives anti-bullying lesson #1: Posture - Part 2."

B. Story Description: This story teaches about the vital importance of using good posture. The story is called "Omega Wolf Bert gives anti-bullying lesson #1: Posture - Part 2." This is the sequel to the story involving only Omega Wolf Bert and Trent.

When Trent went home the previous evening and started practicing using good posture, his two younger siblings wanted to know why he was doing that. Trent told them about his amazing adventure with Omega Wolf Bert.

That's when Trent discovered that his younger brother Kent and his younger sister Meredith were also victims of bullying from the kids at school. Trent decided that they also needed to learn and practice anti-bullying techniques from Omega Wolf Bert. Here is the story about Trent, Kent, Meredith and Omega Wolf Bert called "Omega Wolf Bert gives anti-bullying lesson #1: Posture - Part 2."

• Note to Teacher: For your convenience, all discussion questions are built into the story.

Omega Wolf Bert gives anti-bullying lesson #1: Posture - Part 2

© 2011 by Debbie Dunn

Chapter 1: Omega Wolf Bert meets Trent's two younger siblings

Trent walked up to the wolf pen carrying his little sister, Meredith. Huffing and puffing beside him was his younger brother, Kent.

Omega Wolf Bert loped over to rising sixth-grader Trent. From inside the pen, he asked, "Trent, I've been waiting for you to show up. Who do you have with you?"

As Trent put his little sister down, he said, "Bert, this is my little sister, Meredith? She's older than she looks. She's actually going into the second grade."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Does she have trouble walking? Is that why you carried her?"

Meredith said, "No. I just couldn't keep up with his long legs."

Trent said, "I guess I did walk a little fast."

Kent said, "I'll say. It was all I could do to keep up. After all, it is a two-mile walk from our house to the zoo."

Trent said, "Bert, this is my little brother, Kent. He's going into the fourth grade."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "I'm happy to meet both of you."

Then Omega Wolf Bert paced a little distance away. He said, "Uh, Meredith and Kent, would you excuse us a moment? I have a question to ask Trent."

Trent's younger siblings nodded. Trent walked over to join Omega Wolf Bert. He got on his knees so that he could hear the wolf's whisper. Trent asked, "What is it, Bert?"

Omega Wolf Bert whispered, "Uh, -- , I'm happy to meet your littermates; however, how are you and I going to practice with them here?"

Trent looked puzzled a minute. He asked, "Littermates?"

Teacher Says or Asks: What does the term littermate mean?"

Students Respond: That is the term used for puppies born to the same mother at the same time.

Story continues --

Omega Wolf Bert said, "You know, your brother and sister."

Trent said, "Oh. Well, -- uh, -- , it's like this. Yesterday, I was walking around the house trying to use really good posture. Kent and Meredith noticed and asked what was going on."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Oh. Do you slump at home too?"

Trent said, "Yeah. I've been slumping just about everywhere for a long time."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Yeah, so have I. It's kind of hard to break that habit, isn't it?"

Trent said, "I'll say. Well, anyway. They asked what was going on. I finally told them the whole story. Turns out, they've been getting bullied at school too. So I decided that they needed to come take lessons from you as well."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Oh. -- , Wow! That kind of makes me feel important. Almost like, -- ., well," he ducked his head in embarrassment, " -- , almost like I was an Alpha Wolf."

Trent said, "You're my Alpha Wolf. As for Meredith, Kent, and I, we can be your Beta Wolves. No Omega Wolves for us!"

Omega Wolf Bert laughed and called, "Kent? Meredith? Come over and join us."

The two kids looked relieved. They weren't sure how the wolf was going to react to them showing up uninvited.

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Trent said that you two would like to take anti-bullying lessons with us. Tell me about what you've been dealing with."

Meredith went first. She asked, "What should we call you: Omega Wolf Bert or Bert?"

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Call me Bert. After all, I'm practicing so that I don't ever have to be an Omega Wolf again."

Meredith said, "Connie said that you're like a Cinderella wolf. Is that true?"

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Oh, yeah. She told me that story quite a while back. Let's see what I recall. Is Cinderella like a servant or slave?"

Meredith said, "Yeah. She had to do all the cooking and all the cleaning."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Well, I was like the servant or slave of all the wolves in my pack. What else?"

Meredith said, "Cinderella didn't always get enough food to eat. They sometimes just fed her on bread crusts and leftovers. She also didn't have a good place to sleep. They made her sleep in the attic where it was either too hot or too cold."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Yeah. That kind of happened to me too. I went hungry a whole lot. I never got to eat any of the good stuff. Plus, sometimes, I wasn't allowed to sleep anywhere near the wolf pack. Anything else?"

Meredith said, "Her stepmother and two stepsisters made fun of her all the time and talked really mean to her."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Wow! That happened to me all the time. I guess you could say that I was sort of like a Cinderella Wolf of my wolf pack. Poor girl! Did it ever get any better for her?"

Meredith said, "Yeah. She ended up going to a dance and marrying a prince. After that, she was the princess of the land. Nobody could mistreat her after that."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Well, I like the way that story ended. Let's all try to be like Cinderella at the end of the story rather than Cinderella at the beginning of the story."

Trent, Kent, and Meredith laughed. Trent said, "That sounds good to me."

Kent said, "Yeah. Me, too."

Meredith said, "Me three."

Omega Wolf Bert asked, "So, what kind of bullying happened to you?"

Meredith said, "Well, I'm small for my age."

Omega Wolf Bert asked, "Were you the runt of the litter?"

Meredith asked, "What's that?"

Teacher Says or Asks: What does the term runt of the litter mean?

Students Respond: That is the term used for the smallest of the littermates. Usually, he or she is born last. Quite often, this puppy is so weak and sickly that he or she ends up dying.

Story continues --

Omega Wolf Bert said, "That's what I was. I was born last. I was the smallest and weakest of all my littermates. I think my mother thought I might even die. But I didn't."

Meredith said, "Yeah, I was born early. I was extra small. I had to live in an incubator at the hospital for the first couple of weeks of my life before Mom and Dad could bring me home."

Omega Wolf Bert asked, "Were Trent and Kent mean to you like my littermates were to me?"

Trent said, "No way! We were so scared that she might die that we kind of spoil her at home."

Kent said, "Yeah! Nobody messes with our little sister when we're around."

Meredith smiled with pleasure. Then she frowned. She said, "I wish they'd feel that way at school. The kids call me 'shrimp' and 'small fry' and 'half pint' and 'shorty' and 'runty' and other mean names. They won't let me play on some of the playground equipment because they say I'm too small. They push me around. One girl even likes to hit me or pinch me when the teacher isn't looking."

Meredith looked like she was about to cry. Omega Wolf Bert whined in sympathy. He said, "That's too bad. I hate to see a pretty little girl like you get mistreated."

Meredith said, "You think I'm pretty?"

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Yeah. You look mighty cute to me with your eye patch and purple-framed glasses. I like the way you look."

Meredith said, "A bunch of the kids make fun of me. They accuse me of being a pirate or a raccoon since I have to wear this eye patch a lot. I was born with a lazy eye. The doctor said that if I am good about wearing the patch and my glasses, I might not have to have eye surgery. I just wish they would see that I'm really a nice person even if I do have problems with my eyes."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Well, we'll work on all that this summer. What about you, Kent? What kind of bullying do you have to put up with?"

Kent said, "Well, I have kind of the opposite problem from Meredith. I was born late. There was a snow blizzard coming when I was due to be born. The doctors found a way to give my Mom medicine to delay the delivery. So, when I was born, I was extra heavy and pudgy."

Trent said, "You were a cute, roly-poly thing when you were a baby."

Kent said, "Well, it might be okay to be roly-poly and chubby when you're a baby, but the kids at school sure like to make my life miserable about it now."

Trent said, "Bert, my brother Kent has a thyroid problem that keeps him from being able to lose weight. The doctor said it might straighten itself out in a few years. For now, he has pills he has to take every day and special exercises he is supposed to do."

Kent said, "I don't eat that much more than the other kids. But because I have this thyroid problem, kids just assume that I must be stuffing my face every moment when I'm home. I wish they'd stop teasing me about my weight. I can't help it that I have a bad thyroid. It's just not fair."


Chapter 2: Omega Wolf Bert and the three kids practice using good posture

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Trent, I see why you decided to bring your two littermates with you. I think we need to practice walking like an Alpha Wolf. But first, Trent, let's do something funny. Let's show Kent and Meredith how silly we looked when we first started trying to walk straight and tall."

Trent laughed and said, "Yeah! Hey, Kent and Meredith, get a hold of the two of us walking like a robot with a pretend stick up our backs."

Omega Wolf Bert and Trent walked up the fence line looking all stiff and stilted. Kent and Meredith laughed at how unnatural they looked.

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Okay, Kent and Meredith, it's your turn. Walk like a robot with a stick up your back."

Trent's younger siblings walked in the manner Omega Wolf directed. They too looked ridiculous. A woman exploring the zoo with her young child shook her head when she saw the four of them collapsed in happy laughter.

Teacher Says or Asks: Let's get a couple of volunteers to walk like a robot with a pretend stick up your back.

Students Respond: (Choose an eager volunteer or two to try this out. You might want to give everybody in the class a turn. They could stand up by their desk and walk three steps forward and three steps back. That way, no one will feel left out. Additionally, they all can kinetically feel how they should NOT walk.)

Story continues --

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Okay, that is how we should NOT walk. It looks stiff, unnatural, and silly. We need to walk straight and tall in a way that looks natural and normal."

Trent said, "Yeah, we need to walk like we know we are cool."

Meredith said, "Hey, I heard a TV character once say, 'Fake it until you make it.'"

Kent said, "Yeah, I heard that too. Okay, I'm ready to try."

The four of them walked up and down the fence line a few times using really good posture. They were having a great time.

Trent glanced over at Kent and watched him walk. He said, "Kent, I've just noticed something. When you are using good posture, you look a lot thinner."

Kent asked, "What do you mean?"

Trent said, "I wish there was a mirror nearby so I could show you what I'm talking about."

Meredith looked around and said, "What about using Bert's pond? It's kind of close to the fence line. I think we would be able to see our reflection."

The four of them wandered over to the section of the pen that housed the pond. Omega Wolf Bert said, "Hmmm! I've never noticed this before. With the sun shining bright like it is, I can see myself in the water."

Trent said, "Hey, I can see myself too."

Meredith said, "Let's take turns walking like a robot with a stick up our back and see what we look like."

All three kids and Omega Wolf Bert all took a turn. The four of them collapsed in happy laughter again.

Kent said, "Okay, Trent. Explain what you were talking about. How did I look thinner?"

Trent said, "Kent, first try walking next to the pond and walk how you usually walk. You know, all slumped over."

Kent did so. He saw his reflection and frowned. He said, "Man! Is that how I really look? I look even fatter than I am."

Trent said, "This time, walk next to the pond but use good posture."

Kent straightened his back and shoulders the best he could and walked along the pond-line. Kent smiled and said, "Wow! I don't look nearly as fat now."

Trent said, "That's true. You look about ten or twenty pounds lighter than you are."

Meredith said, "Let me see, Kent. Do it again."

Kent used his best posture as he walked the opposite way along the pond-line. Omega Wolf Bert said, "That's amazing, Kent. You do look a lot lighter."

Kent said, "It's like magic. So in order for me to look thinner than I am, I just need to walk using good posture. Cool! I like that!"

Trent said, "I want to try. First, I'm going to slump. I want to see what the kids see when I slump."

Trent slumped and walked along the pond-line. He frowned and said, "Man! No wonder the kids picked on me. I was slumping to try to make them like me better. Now I see that it actually makes me look weak and wimpy."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Now, try it again while using good posture."

Trent straightened his back and shoulders and walked along the pond-line. Trent said, "Wow! I look ten times better."

Meredith said, "You look good, Trent, when you walk that way."

Kent said, "Yeah! You sure do. Good job, big brother."

Trent said, "You too, Kent. Good job, little brother."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "I want to try." He walked along the pond-line using the kind of posture and arched back that he used to have to use all the time back when he lived with his wolf pack. Then he said, "Ewwwww! That looks bad. I look weak and like a servant or slave. That explains why they felt like they could pick on me."

Trent said, "Now try walking like an Alpha Wolf using good posture."

Omega Wolf Bert followed his directive. He said, "Wow! If I didn't know any better, I would think that the wolf in the water is a high-status wolf."

Trent said, "I agree. So if that other wolf shows up to live in your pen, you need to get used to always using good posture around him or her."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "I agree."

Teacher Says or Asks: What does the term 'high status' mean?

Students Respond: It means like a popular, well-liked person. A high status person is a person that others look up to.

Story continues --

Meredith said, "It's my turn, now. I want to see what I look like when I use bad posture."

Meredith slumped her shoulders and walked along the pond-line. She said, "Ewww! That makes me look even shorter than I am."

Trent said, "Try it the good way now. Use good posture."

Meredith straightened her back and shoulders and walked along the pond-line. She said, "Hey, cool! I look taller."

Kent said, "You sure do!"

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Wow! This is amazing! When we use good posture, Meredith looks taller. Kent looks thinner. Trent looks cooler and more confident."

Meredith said, "And you look like an Alpha Wolf."

All four of them chorused at the very same moment, "Cool!"


Chapter 3: Omega Wolf Bert reveals a Secret

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Meredith, do you want to know a secret about Alpha Wolves?"

Meredith said, "Sure!"

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Even if an Alpha Wolf is not as large as the other wolves, all of us had to slump and arch our backs in such a way to look shorter."

Meredith said, "So, what are you saying?"

Omega Wolf Bert said, "So, that means that even though you are small for your age, you can be an Alpha Wolf too."

Meredith said, "What do you mean? I don't get it."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Okay, let's play wolf pack. Meredith, you are the Alpha Wolf of our wolf pack. Trent, you are her second-in-command. You're the most popular of the Beta Wolves. So, you have to make certain that you are shorter than her."

Trent asked, "Should I crouch down and try to walk?"

Omega Wolf Bert said, "No, you need to bend your body way down low so that she looks taller than you."

Trent said, "I'm gonna look really silly."

Kent said, "Go for it."

Trent bent over at the waist and started walking around looking like an upside down capital letter L. Meredith clapped her hands in delight. Then she said, "Beta Wolf, Kent, you need to look shorter than me too."

Kent bent down and walked around so that he looked shorter than his little sister. Omega Wolf Bert did the same.

Meredith said, "I like this game. I'm the tallest one here. Woo-hoo!"

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Now, it's my turn. All three of you have to walk around looking shorter than me."

Meredith had the easiest time of it. Kent struggled to walk low enough to make himself shorter than the wolf. Trent ended up falling on his face on the ground. He laughed and said, "Hmmm! I guess I am too tall to do a good job with that game."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Okay, Kent. It's your turn. You're the Alpha Wolf. Everybody has to be shorter than Kent."

Only Trent had to bend over. Everybody else could walk normally.

Then Trent said with a smile, "Okay, it's my turn. I'm the Alpha Wolf now. Everybody has to look shorter than me." Naturally, Omega Wolf Bert, Meredith, and Kent could all walk normally.

Trent said, "Wait! I've just figured something out. I could have been an Alpha Wolf or at least a Beta Wolf all along if I walked straight and tall all the time at my school. Omega Wolf Bert, that was a good game."


Chapter 4: The Balloon Wolf

Kent said, "You know what this game reminds me of?"

Trent said, "What?"

Kent said, "I'll show you. Trent, bend over again like you're an Omega Wolf."

Trent did so. Once again, he looked like an upside down capital letter L.

Kent said, "Now, straighten up some like you're a Beta Wolf."

Trent now was bent over at an angle.

Kent said, "Now, straighten all the way up like you're an Alpha Wolf."

Trent stood straight and tall.

Kent said, "You remind me of a balloon."

Meredith clapped her hands and said, "Yeah. That's right. You went from looking all deflated to getting more and more inflated until you were all blown up to full size."

Omega Wolf Bert asked, "What's a balloon?"

Kent said, "I'll show you." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of balloons.

Omega Wolf Bert asked, "How do they work?"

Kent selected a round red balloon, placed it to his lips, and blew it up. Once it had reached full-size, he tied it off with a knot.

Omega Wolf Bert said, "That's like magic. What are they for?"

Kent batted the balloon to Meredith. She giggled and batted the balloon to Trent. He batted the balloon to Kent.

Omega Wolf Bert said, "That looks like fun. Can I try?"

Kent batted the balloon over the fence. It started floating toward the wolf. He quickly asked, "What do I do?"

Kent said, "Get your nose or head under it and try to make it float up over the fence to us."

His first attempt didn't work very well. The wolf missed and it floated down to the ground. He said, "How do I get it up into the air again?"

Kent said, "You have to use your paw or nose or head and try to bat it into the air."

Omega Wolf Bert went over and tried to grab it with his teeth. Unexpectedly, the balloon popped. The wolf was so startled by the loud noise that he ran howling into his sleep shelter.

Meredith said, "Oops! Bert? Bert! it's okay. We forgot to tell you that balloons can pop. You have to be really gentle with them."

Omega Wolf Bert peeked out of the shelter and said, "I'm sorry I killed your balloon."

Kent said, "No problem, Bert. I have plenty. Do you want to try again?"

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Uh, -- , okay. I won't get so scared next time. I've never seen one of those things before."

Kent blew up a round blue balloon this time and tied it with a knot. Then he batted it over the fence to the wolf. This time, the wolf managed to get his head under it. He batted it so that it flew a couple of feet into the air before it started coming down.

Kent said, "Bat it harder next time."

Omega Wolf Bert batted it even harder. This time, it got almost to the top of the fence before it floated back down.

Kent said, "Try it one more time."

This time, the wolf managed to bat it over the fence. Trent got under it and batted it over to Meredith. She got under it and batted it over to Kent. He got under it and batted it over to Omega Wolf Bert.

They all four had a good time playing balloons. Omega Wolf Bert's eyes sparkled. He said, "That was some of the best fun I've ever had. I like you three kids."

Meredith said, "We like you too, Bert."

Suddenly, Kent said, "Bert, I have a surprise for you."

Omega Wolf Bert asked, "What?"

Trent said, "My little brother, Kent, has a special talent. He can make really cool balloon animals."

In the meantime, Kent pulled a long narrow green balloon from his pocket. He made a balloon dog and held it up for the wolf to see.

Omega Wolf Bert said, "That's amazing. What is it?"

Meredith said, "It's a balloon dog. But since a dog is kind of like a wolf, we can say that it is a balloon wolf."

Kent carefully batted the balloon wolf over the fence and said, "Okay, Bert. Here is the first member of your wolf pack. You're the Alpha Wolf. That balloon wolf is either a Beta Wolf or an Omega Wolf. It's your choice."

Omega Wolf Bert laughed and said, "I think it will be my second-in-command Beta Wolf. Thanks! Uh, -- , how do I get it into my shelter so the zoo keepers don't find it and take it away?"

Kent said, "You could very gently nudge it with your nose. Just don't use your sharp teeth. Also, I'll bat the balloon ball over to you as well. Then you will have a toy to play with."

Trent said, "We have to go now, Bert, but we will be back to see you tomorrow."

Omega Wolf Bert said, "Okay, tomorrow, we'll start working on lesson number two. In the meantime, let's all keep practicing using the best posture possible without looking like somebody with a stick up their back."

The three kids waved as they walked quickly to the zoo exit. As for Omega Wolf Bert, he gently nudged the little balloon wolf into his shelter. He also did the same with the balloon ball. Then he lay down for a much-needed nap.


Teacher Says or Asks: What was Trent's special discovery about using good posture?

Students Respond: Trent realized he looked cooler and more confident.

Teacher Says or Asks: What was Kent's special discovery about using good posture?

Students Respond: Kent discovered he looked thinner.

Teacher Says or Asks: What was Meredith's special discovery about using good posture?

Students Respond: Meredith discovered she looked taller.

Teacher Says or Asks: What was Omega Wolf Bert's special discovery about using good posture?

Students Respond: Omega Wolf Bert discovered he looked more like an Alpha Wolf.

Teacher Says or Asks: Trent and Omega Wolf Bert have been slumping for so many years, they wonder if they will be able to break that bad habit. What are some easy ways to remind yourself to use good posture when sitting, standing, and walking?

Students Respond: (Accept Reasonable Answers.)

Teacher Says or Asks: Do any of you see a good reason to change what kind of posture you plan to use from now on? Please explain.

Students Respond: (Accept Reasonable Answers.)

A POSTURE GAME TO PLAY:

Teacher Says or Asks: In the time that remains, let's play a little game. One of you should come to the front of the room. You should either walk like an Omega Wolf or a Beta Wolf or an Alpha Wolf. Demonstrate this by using either bad posture or in-between posture or good posture. After you have done this for a few seconds, the class members will raise their hands to indicate which wolf posture they think you were using. If that class member guessed correctly, he or she gets to come up to take the next turn.

Students Respond: (Accept eager volunteers.)

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