Gossip spreads quickly on social media, texting and group chats. Likewise, bullying has been a part of school communities for a long time, but social media, texting and screen devices give people more access to one another. This makes it easier for the drama to unfold.

Some things can sound nice or rude depending on how you say them, but in a text message, you can’t show that you’re smiling. This activity is a fun way to practice saying and hearing the emotional meaning behind someone’s words. Notice how different we sound when we say something with kindness or cruelty, then think about what happens when the same thing is just a text message.

This is a chance to get creative, keep an open mind, and connect through shared imagination. In this activity, drawing is about the journey, not the destination.