Lesson Plan
Exploring Online Safety
Students will understand online threats and learn safe practices to protect personal information while navigating the internet.
This lesson equips 5th graders with essential skills to identify cyber risks, fostering responsible digital habits that safeguard their digital lives.
Audience
5th Grade Class (Elementary School Students)
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Engaging discussions, slide-deck exploration, interactive activities, and group sharing.
Prep
Preparation
5 minutes
- Review the Exploring Online Safety lesson plan.
- Ensure all digital materials (slide-deck, activity guides) are accessible and working.
- Familiarize yourself with key internet safety guidelines to support the discussion.
Step 1
Introduction to Internet Safety
5 minutes
- Welcome students and introduce the concept of internet safety.
- Ask open-ended questions to gauge their current understanding.
- Briefly outline today’s activities.
Step 2
Explore Internet Safety Basics
15 minutes
- Present the Internet Safety Basics (slide-deck).
- Explain key points such as protecting passwords and recognizing online threats.
- Encourage students to ask questions during the presentation.
Step 3
Activity: Identifying Safe Online Practices
15 minutes
- Engage students with the Identifying Safe Online Practices (activity).
- Have students work in small groups to discuss scenarios involving online safety.
- Circulate around the room to facilitate discussion and provide guidance.
Step 4
Discussion and Sharing Online Experiences
10 minutes
- Organize a guided discussion using the Sharing Online Experiences (discussion).
- Invite students to share experiences or ideas about staying safe online.
- Summarize key lessons and answer any remaining questions.
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Slide Deck
Internet Safety Basics
Welcome to Internet Safety 101!
Let's explore how we can stay safe online together.
Introduce the topic and engage students with a friendly welcome. Explain that today's slide deck will cover the basics of internet safety to help them stay safe online.
What is Internet Safety?
• Keeping your personal information private
• Recognizing online threats
• Understanding safe internet habits
Explain the concept of internet safety. Ask students if they have heard the term before and what they think it means.
Key Tips for Staying Safe Online
• Use strong and unique passwords.
• Think before you click a link.
• Ask a trusted adult if something seems strange.
Discuss some of the key tips on how to stay safe online. Encourage students to share any tips they've heard about.
Protecting Your Personal Information
• Do not share personal details online.
• Be cautious with photos and videos.
• Keep your location private.
Highlight the significance of protecting personal information by discussing examples such as full name, address, and phone number.
What Should You Do If...?
• If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable online:
- Tell a trusted adult.
- Report suspicious behavior.
- Stop interacting immediately.
Present scenarios on what to do if they feel unsafe, feel pressured, or encounter something untrustworthy online. Summarize discussion points.
Activity
Activity: Identifying Safe Online Practices
In this activity, students will work together in small groups to identify safe online practices based on given scenarios. This interactive session will allow them to apply what they've learned about internet safety and think critically about how to protect themselves when using the internet.
Instructions
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Form Small Groups: Divide the class into groups of 3-4 students.
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Scenario Exploration: Each group will receive a scenario card that presents a situation involving online safety. Examples of scenarios:
- Receiving a friend request from someone unknown online.
- Being asked to share personal information on a new website.
- Seeing an advertisement that promotes an unbelievable deal.
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Discussion: Within each group, discuss the following questions for your assigned scenario:
- What is the potential risk in this scenario?
- What safe practices can be applied in this situation?
- Who can be approached for help if a situation feels unsafe?
- What would you do differently if you encountered this scenario?
Write down your ideas on chart paper or in your notebook.
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Group Sharing: After about 10 minutes of discussion, each group will share their scenario and the safe practices they identified with the whole class. The teacher will facilitate a brief discussion after each presentation, summarizing key points and clarifying doubts.
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Conclusion: Wrap-up by highlighting the most important online safety practices and answer any remaining questions. Encourage students to think about how they can apply these tips when they are online.
Follow-Up Points
- Reflect: Ask students to think about one safe online practice they learned today and how they can use it in real life.
- Question: What would you do if you noticed a friend was not following safe online practices?
- Extend: Consider discussing additional scenarios at home with a guardian or in a later class for further practice.
This activity promotes critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving while reinforcing the importance of maintaining online safety. Enjoy your discussion and learning experience!
Discussion
Discussion: Sharing Online Experiences
In this discussion, students are encouraged to reflect on their online experiences and learn from one another. The goal is to create a supportive environment where everyone can share insights and ask questions about internet safety.
Guidelines for the Discussion
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Open Sharing: Encourage students to share any experiences they felt were positive or challenging when using the internet. Explain that every experience is valuable and can help the group understand internet safety better.
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Respectful Listening: Teach students the importance of listening to others and respecting their stories. Remind them that each person's experience might be different.
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Guided Questions: Use these prompt questions to facilitate the conversation:
- Can you share an experience where you or someone you know encountered a risky situation online?
- What did you or your friend do in that situation?
- Was there a moment when someone helped you understand how to be safe online?
- What is one new thing you learned about staying safe online from today’s lesson?
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Teacher's Role: The teacher should guide the discussion, ensure that all voices are heard, and reiterate important internet safety tips when applicable.
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Reflection: At the end of the discussion, ask students to think quietly and jot down one key takeaway that they will remember about internet safety.
Follow-Up Discussion Points
- Discussion on Best Practices: What practices have you started using after today's lesson?
- Peer Support: How can you help a friend who might be struggling with online safety?
- Continued Learning: What additional topics on online safety would you like to explore in the future?
This discussion will help solidify the concepts learned in the lesson and build a community of responsible digital citizens.