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Are You a Digital Detective?

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Lesson Plan

Digital Detective Blueprint

Students will play detective to identify safe and unsafe online clues, practice spotting digital safety tips, and reflect on healthy digital habits to build lifelong digital wellness skills.

Introducing digital wellness early empowers students to recognize online risks, develop strong safety instincts, and establish healthy technology habits that protect them now and in the future.

Audience

2nd Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive game with slides, worksheets, and reflective journaling

Materials

Clue Hunt Slides, - Mystery Emoji Match, - Safety Clue Scavenger Hunt, and - Detective Reflection Journal

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Mystery Emoji Match

5 minutes

  • Display Mystery Emoji Match on the board
  • Read each emoji scenario aloud
  • Students guess the digital safety emotion and explain their reasoning
  • Encourage volunteers to share one clue that helped them decide

Step 2

Main Activity: Safety Clue Scavenger Hunt

15 minutes

  • Introduce the concept of digital clues using Clue Hunt Slides
  • Show each slide scenario and discuss clues indicating safe vs. unsafe situations
  • Distribute Safety Clue Scavenger Hunt worksheets
  • Students work in pairs to find and circle clues in each scenario
  • Circulate to support and prompt deeper thinking

Step 3

Cool-Down: Detective Reflection Journal

5 minutes

  • Hand out Detective Reflection Journal
  • Students reflect on one new safety tip they discovered
  • Write or draw a digital safety clue they will remember
  • Invite a few students to share reflections aloud

Step 4

Assessment & Differentiation

5 minutes

  • Assessment: Observe group discussions and review journal entries to gauge understanding
  • Differentiation:
    • Provide sentence starters or visual supports for learners needing extra help
    • Challenge advanced students to create their own digital safety clue and scenario
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Slide Deck

Clue Hunt: Be a Digital Detective!

Put on your detective hats and help us spot clues that keep us safe online.

Welcome students! Introduce today’s theme: digital detectives. Explain that detectives look for clues—today we’ll look for digital safety clues. Use a playful, enthusiastic tone.

What Is a Digital Detective?

A digital detective watches for clues on screens.
They check if messages, websites, or games are safe before they click or share.

Ask: “What does a detective do?” Guide students to “look closely,” “ask questions,” and “find clues.” Connect to online safety.

Scenario 1: Mysterious Message

You get a message from someone you don’t know asking for your name and age.
Is this safe?
• What clues tell you “Yes” or “No”?

Show a cartoon phone graphic with a speech bubble: “Hi, friend! What’s your name and age?” Ask students to point out anything that seems odd.

Scenario 2: Password Request

A website you’ve never seen asks for your password to play a fun game.
Is it safe to share?
• What clues help you decide?

Display an image of a colorful website asking “Enter password to play!” Ask students: “Would you share your password? Why or why not?”

Scenario 3: Game Link Surprise

An ad pops up claiming “Click here to get FREE game coins!”
Is that safe?
• What makes you curious or concerned?

Illustrate a pop-up ad offering free game coins if you click a link. Ask: “How can we check if this is trustworthy?”

Scenario 4: Teacher’s Email

You get an email from your teacher about a homework assignment.
Is this safe?
• What clues tell you it’s okay?

Show an email from “Ms. Lee” (a known teacher) about tomorrow’s reading assignment. Ask: “Does this look safe? Why?” Reinforce trusting known adults.

Spot the Clue!

Grab your Safety Clue Scavenger Hunt worksheet.
• In pairs, find clues in each scenario.
• Circle safe clues in green, unsafe in red.

Explain the next step: students work in pairs with the Safety Clue Scavenger Hunt. Remind them to use green for safe and red for unsafe.

Ready, Detectives?

Time to start the Safety Clue Scavenger Hunt!
Get your worksheet and detective pens ready.

Wrap up slide before handing out materials. Encourage excitement and teamwork: “Your detective skills are on!”

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Warm Up

Mystery Emoji Match

Instructions:
I’ll read each scenario aloud. Look at the emoji and decide how the person might feel about being safe online. Write or draw why you chose that emoji.

EmojiScenarioYour Safety Feeling
😃Chatting with your best friend about a game you both like.


😕Getting a message from someone you don’t know asking for your age.


😲A pop-up says “Click here to win free coins!”


😰A website you don’t recognize asks for your password.


😎Your teacher sends a message about tomorrow’s reading assignment.


Discussion:
• Volunteers share which emoji they picked for each scenario.
• Explain one clue that helped you decide if it felt safe or unsafe online.

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Activity

Safety Clue Scavenger Hunt

Instructions: In pairs, read each scenario below.
• Circle safe clues in green.
• Circle unsafe clues in red.

After circling, write one clue you found and explain why you think it is safe or unsafe.

Scenario 1: The Stranger’s Question

You receive a message from someone you don’t know asking for your name and age.

Clue you found and why it is safe or unsafe:





Scenario 2: Password Request

A website you’ve never seen asks for your password to play a fun game.

Clue you found and why it is safe or unsafe:





Scenario 3: Game Link Surprise

A pop-up ad appears saying: “Click here to get FREE game coins!”

Clue you found and why it is safe or unsafe:





Scenario 4: Teacher’s Email

You get an email from your teacher about tomorrow’s reading assignment.

Clue you found and why it is safe or unsafe:





Tip: Look for words or pictures that seem strange, too good to be true, or that ask for private information. Circle those clues first!

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Cool Down

Detective Reflection Journal

Congratulations, Digital Detectives! You did a fantastic job spotting clues and learning how to stay safe online. Now, let’s reflect on what you’ve discovered today.

  1. What is one digital safety clue you learned? Write or draw it below:





  2. Why is this clue important for staying safe online? Explain in a sentence:





  3. How will you use this clue the next time you go online? Write or draw your plan:





  4. Draw a detective symbol (like a magnifying glass or hat) to remind yourself to always look for clues:





Keep your detective eyes open and your digital world safe!

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