Warm Up (15 min)

Vocabulary

This lesson has one new and important phrase:

Digital Citizen - Say it with me: Dih-jih-tal Sit-i-zen

Someone who acts safely, responsibly, and respectfully online

Personal vs. Private Online

• Ask "What types of information do you think are okay to share publicly online or on a profile that others will see?"
• What are some examples of websites where you must register in order to participate?
  • Write the names of the websites on the board.
• What information is required and why do you think it is required?
  • Information may be required to help distinguish one person from another.
  • The website may keep a record of who uses it.
• Explain that it’s important to know that sharing some kinds of user information can put you and your family’s privacy at risk.
• Point out that you do not have to fill out fields on websites if they are not required.
  • Required fields are usually marked by an asterisk (*) or are highlighted in red.
• Elementary school students should never register for sites that require private information without the approval and guidance of a parent or guardian.
• Here is an example of public versus private information:

• Explain that some people will actively try to get you to share this kind of information so that they can use it to take over your identity. Once a thief has taken someone’s identity, he or she can use that person’s name to get a driver’s license or buy things, even if the person whose identity they stole isn’t old enough to do these things!
  • It’s often not until much later that people realize that their identity has been stolen. Identity thieves may also apply for credit cards in other people’s names and run up big bills that they don’t pay off. Let students know that identity thieves often target children and teens because they have a clean credit history and their parents are unlikely to be aware that someone is taking on their child’s identity.

Now, let's see what we can do to keep ourselves safe.

Main Activity (35 - 40 min)

Cubeecraft Superhero Templates - Manipulatives

• Spiderman says "With great power comes great responsibility." This is also true when working or playing on the Internet.
• The things we read, see, and hear online can lead people to have all sorts of feelings (e.g., happy, hurt, excited, angry, curious).
  • What we do and say online can be powerful.
• The Internet allows us to learn about anything, talk to people at any time (no matter where they are in the world), and share our knowledge and creative projects with other people.
  • This also means that negative comments can spread very quickly to friends of all ages.
• CREATE a three-column chart with the terms “Safe,” “Responsible,” and “Respectful” written at the top of each column. Invite students to shout out words or phrases that describe how people can act safely, responsibly, and respectfully online, and then write them in the appropriate column.

Now, let's really make sure we understand how to be a Super Digital Citizen!

Directions:

• Have each student grab a small selection of papercraft sheets and encourage them to blend the pieces to make their very own superhero.
• Allow plenty of time for students to cut, glue, and color.
• Give students a 5 minute warning to wrap up.
• Separate students into groups of 2-4 and tell them to use their superheroes and leftover supplies to stage a scene in which one superhero sees an act of poor digital citizenship. Then have the superhero fix the problem … and save the day!
• Go around the room, having each student explain their scene to the class.

Wrap Up (15 min)

Flash Chat: What did we learn?

• What is a good way to act responsibly online?
• What kinds of personal information could you share about yourself without showing your identity?
• What kinds of superpowers or qualities did your digital superheroes have in common?
• What does Spider-Man’s motto “With great power comes great responsibility” mean to you, as someone who uses the internet?

Journaling

Having students write about what they learned, why it’s useful, and how they feel about it can help solidify any knowledge they obtained today and build a review sheet for them to look to in the future.

Journal Prompts:

• What was today's lesson about?
• How do you feel about today's lesson?
• What is a Digital Citizen?
• What do you need to do to be a Digital Citizen?

Assessment (5 min)

Digital Citizenship - Assessment

• Hand out the assessment worksheet and allow students to complete the activity independently after the instructions have been well explained.
• This should feel familiar, thanks to the previous activities.

Extended Learning

Use these activities to enhance student learning. They can be used as outside of class activities or other enrichment.

Common Sense Education

• Visit Common Sense Education - Website to learn more about how you can keep your students safe in this digital age.