Digital Detectives: Navigating Online Safety

Tracy Rauch

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Digital Detectives: Navigating Online Safety

Identify phishing scams

In this lesson, students will become digital detectives, learning to identify phishing scams and protect their personal information online. Through interactive activities and discussions, students will enhance their cyber safety skills, which are crucial in today's digital world. This lesson will empower students to navigate the internet safely and responsibly, fostering a secure online environment.

Audience

8th Grade Students

Time

45 mins

Approach

Identify phishing scams

Materials

Discussion Questions, Worksheet: Phishing Scenarios, Quiz: Online Safety Check, and Answer Key: Online Safety Check

Step 1

Introduction

5 mins

Begin with a brief discussion on the importance of online safety.
Ask students if they have ever encountered suspicious emails or messages.
Introduce the concept of phishing scams and why they are dangerous.

Step 2

Interactive Activity: Phishing Scenarios

15 mins

Distribute the 'Phishing Scenarios' worksheet.
In pairs, students analyze different scenarios to identify phishing attempts.
Encourage students to discuss their reasoning and share findings with the class.

Step 3

Discussion: Protecting Personal Information

10 mins

Use the discussion questions to guide a conversation about protecting personal information online.
Discuss strategies to recognize and avoid phishing scams.
Highlight the importance of strong passwords and privacy settings.

Step 4

Quiz: Online Safety Check

10 mins

Administer the 'Online Safety Check' quiz to assess students' understanding.
Review the answers as a class, using the answer key to explain any misconceptions.

Step 5

Closure

5 mins

Recap the key points of the lesson.
Encourage students to share one new thing they learned about online safety.
Remind students to apply these skills in their daily online interactions.

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Discussion

Discussion Questions

A set of questions to facilitate a discussion on online safety and phishing scams.

What are some signs of a phishing scam?

Look for suspicious email addresses, urgent language, and requests for personal information.

Why is it important to protect your personal information online?

Discuss the risks of identity theft and privacy invasion.

How can you create a strong password?

Include tips on using a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.

Worksheet

Worksheet: Phishing Scenarios

A worksheet with scenarios for students to identify phishing attempts.

Scenario 1: You receive an email from 'YourBank' asking for your account details. What do you do?

Check the sender's email address and look for spelling errors.

Scenario 2: A message claims you've won a prize and asks for your personal information. How do you respond?

Consider the legitimacy of the source and the request.

Quiz

Quiz: Online Safety Check

Answer Key

Answer Key: Online Safety Check

The answer key for the Online Safety Check quiz, providing explanations for each answer.

Which of the following is a sign of a phishing email?

All of the above
Phishing emails often contain spelling errors, request personal information, and may use generic greetings.

What should you do if you receive a suspicious email?

Report it to the IT department
It's important to report suspicious emails to prevent potential security breaches.