Imagine a world where teddy bears are no longer symbols of childhood innocence, but memorials to young lives lost. This is the stark reality “A Teddy Bear’s Dream” confronts us with, and the powerful lesson it offers educators.
In classrooms across America, this thought-provoking public service announcement has the potential to unlock doors in young hearts and minds, creating vital opportunities for life-saving conversations.
Since 2012, Sandy Hook Promise has been at the forefront of gun violence prevention, producing impactful PSAs that open people’s eyes to a crucial truth: school shootings are not inevitable—they’re preventable.
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Our “Know the Signs” program, bolstered by these videos, has already averted at least 18 credible planned school shootings including two in the past month. This success underscores the power of education and awareness in creating cultures of belonging that, in turn, create safer schools and communities.
Catalyst for change
“A Teddy Bear’s Dream,” our latest PSA, takes viewers on an emotional journey that spotlights how gun violence is robbing our nation’s youth of their childhood. Designed for students in grades 9 through 12, this video serves as a compelling hook for parents and educators to engage young people in critical discussions about violence prevention, empathy, and the creation of welcoming school cultures.
Supported by a comprehensive educator’s guide, this PSA is more than just a video—it’s a catalyst for change in our classrooms and beyond.
The video tells a story from the teddy bear’s perspective as it sits upon a store shelf as a young child approaches. Instead of being chosen as a beloved companion for this child—destined for happy memories, playtime and joy—this bear is selected for placement at a memorial following a mass shooting.
Inspired by the fact that more than 60,000 teddy bears were sent to the Newtown, Connecticut community following the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting, this video concludes with the clear message that this is not what childhood should look like. We have the power to prevent these devastating tragedies and create a future where children are safe from gun violence and can learn without fear.
Empowering upstanders
“A Teddy Bear’s Dream” comes with a comprehensive educator’s guide, designed to complement Sandy Hook Promise’s “Know the Signs” program, which teaches the warning signs of violence and self-harm, as well as ways to improve relationships and foster belonging.
This resource empowers students in grades 9-12 to become “upstanders”— individuals who actively work to improve their school’s culture by promoting empathy.
The guide offers a structured approach to engaging with the PSA’s challenging content:
- Immediate reflection: A circle-up discussion immediately follows the viewing, allowing students to process their emotions and initial reactions.
- Guided analysis: Students delve deeper into the PSA’s symbolism and core messages, strengthening their emotional connection to the material.
- Action-oriented learning: The guide provides practical activities that encourage students to:
- Recognize warning signs of violence and self-harm
- Improve youth-adult relationships
- Address social isolation
- Take concrete steps to raise awareness and prevent violence
By fostering authentic conversations, this guide helps educators to further develop trust and transform a powerful PSA into a catalyst for lasting change. It empowers students to become active participants in creating the safe, empathetic school environments they deserve.
Holding on to hope
“A Teddy Bear’s Dream” and its accompanying lessons ultimately serve as a testament to the importance of hope—the very foundation of the gun violence prevention movement throughout the nation. Although the subject matter of the PSA is challenging, it also reminds viewers that a future free from the threat of gun violence is possible when we hold onto hope and continue advocating for a better tomorrow.
Together, through collective action and greater emphasis on proactive prevention, we can end school shootings and violence. Learn the warning signs of violence, self-harm and social isolation. Recognize when someone may be in crisis. Take it seriously and act immediately to get help.
