Digital Friendships & Kindness Online Script

1. Warm-Up: What's a Digital Friend? (5 minutes)

(Teacher says): "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important in our lives: friendships, especially when we use technology. Think about it for a moment: What does it mean to be a friend online? Is it the same as being a friend in person, or are there some differences? Turn and talk to a partner for about a minute, then we'll share."

(Teacher facilitates brief class discussion): "Who would like to share what you and your partner discussed? What are some of your initial thoughts on being a friend online?"

2. Video & Discussion: Friend or Fake? (10 minutes)

(Teacher says): "Great ideas! Now, let's watch a short video from NetSmartzKids called 'Friend or Fake?'. This video will help us think about how to identify safe and unsafe interactions online. Pay close attention to the characters and their choices."

Show video: NetSmartzKids: Friend or Fake? (4 min)

(Teacher says): "Alright, what did you think of that video? What were some of the key things you learned about identifying a 'friend' online? How can you tell if someone might not be who they say they are, or if an interaction is making you uncomfortable?"

3. Reading & Discussion: The Technology Tail (10 minutes)

(Teacher says): "That video gave us some important clues for staying safe. Now, we're going to think about something called a 'digital footprint.' Has anyone heard that term before?"

(Teacher says): "We're going to read 'The Technology Tail: A Digital Footprint Story' by Julia Cook. This book helps us understand that everything we do online—every post, every comment, every picture—leaves a kind of trail, just like footprints in the sand. And just like real footprints, our digital footprints can last a very long time."

Read aloud the book.

(Teacher says): "So, after reading, what do you think? How does our online behavior create a digital footprint? Why is it important to have a positive digital footprint? And most importantly for our topic today, how does being kind online reflect on our friendships and ourselves?"

4. Digital Friendship Rules Activity (10 minutes)

(Teacher says): "You've all shared some really insightful thoughts! Now, let's take all of our great ideas and create our very own 'Digital Friendship Rules' for our class. What are some specific rules we should all try to follow to make sure we are kind, respectful, and responsible digital friends? Think about things like group chats, online games, or sharing information."

Facilitate brainstorming, writing rules on a poster or whiteboard.

(Teacher says): "These are fantastic rules! We'll keep this poster up to remind us. Now, I have a worksheet for each of you called the Digital Citizenship & Friendship Worksheet. This worksheet will give you a chance to think about these rules and other digital kindness ideas on your own."

5. Online Safety Game (5 minutes)

(Teacher says): "Before we wrap up, let's have some fun and review what we've learned with a quick game! We'll play the Online Safety Game. This game will test your knowledge about being safe and kind online."

Play a round or two of the game as time permits.

6. Cool-Down & Project Introduction (5 minutes)

(Teacher says): "You've all done a wonderful job exploring digital friendships and kindness online today. To finish up, I want you to think about this question: What is one thing you will remember about being a good digital friend? You can share with a partner or just think about it quietly."

(Teacher says): "As an optional extension or for homework, I want to introduce the Digital Citizenship Project. In this project, you'll have the chance to create a short presentation or a poster about a chosen aspect of digital kindness or online safety that is important to you. More details are in the project guide."

Digital Citizenship & Friendship Worksheet

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Part 1: Reflecting on Digital Footprints

1. In your own words, what is a "digital footprint"?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Give two examples of things that can become part of your digital footprint.
   a.
   
   
   
   b.
   
   
   

3. Why is it important to have a positive digital footprint?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Being a Kind Digital Friend

1. Think about our class discussion and the "Digital Friendship Rules" we created. List three rules you think are most important for being a kind friend online.
   a.
   
   
   
   b.
   
   
   
   c.
   
   
   

2. Imagine your friend sends you a message in a group chat that makes another friend feel left out. What is one kind and responsible thing you could do?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Someone you don't know tries to become your friend in an online game and asks for your personal information (like your address or phone number). What should you do?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 3: True or False?

Read each statement and write "True" or "False" in the space provided.

1. Everything you post online disappears after 24 hours. __________

2. It's okay to share your online passwords with your best friend. __________

3. Being kind online means using respectful language and not bullying others. __________

4. If you see something online that makes you feel uncomfortable, you should tell a trusted adult. __________

5. It's okay to pretend to be someone else online for fun. __________

Digital Kindness: Making the Internet a Better Place

What is Digital Kindness?

Just like in real life, being a good friend and a kind person online is really important. Digital kindness means choosing to be positive, respectful, and helpful when you're using technology – whether you're playing games, chatting with friends, or looking up information.

Think about it: When you talk to a friend face-to-face, you use nice words, listen to what they say, and try not to hurt their feelings. Digital kindness is doing all those same things, even when you can't see the other person.

Why Does Digital Kindness Matter?

Every time you post a comment, send a message, or share a picture online, you're interacting with other people. Your words and actions can make someone feel happy, sad, or even angry. When you choose kindness, you help create a positive and safe space for everyone.

• It builds stronger friendships: Friends who are kind to each other online feel more connected and trusting.
• It makes you feel good: Being kind often makes us feel good about ourselves.
• It sets a good example: When you're kind, others might be inspired to be kind too.
• It keeps you safe: Being respectful and thinking before you post can help you avoid problems online.

Tips for Being a Kind Digital Friend

Here are some simple ways to practice digital kindness:

1. Think Before You Type/Post: Ask yourself: Is this true? Is it helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it kind? If the answer isn't yes to most of those, it's probably best not to post it.

2. Use Positive Language: Avoid using mean words, teasing, or bullying. If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't type it online.

3. Include Everyone: If you're in a group chat, try not to leave anyone out or talk about things that only a few people understand. Make sure everyone feels welcome.

4. Protect Your Friends: If you see someone being unkind online, don't join in. Instead, you can report it, block the person, or tell a trusted adult. You can also send a private, kind message to the person who is being targeted.

5. Respect Privacy: Don't share private information about yourself or your friends (like addresses, phone numbers, or passwords) with anyone online. Always ask permission before posting a picture or story about a friend.

6. Be a Good Sport in Games: Even if a game is competitive, remember there's a real person on the other side. Be fair, be polite, and don't use bad language if you win or lose.

Your Role in Making the Internet Better

The internet is a powerful tool for learning and connecting, but it's up to all of us to make it a positive place. By choosing digital kindness, you are helping to create a safer, more friendly, and more respectful online community for yourself and for others.

Digital Friendship Rules Activity

Goal: To create a set of class rules for being kind and responsible digital friends.

Instructions:

1. Reflect and Brainstorm (5 minutes)

   • Think about the video "Friend or Fake?" and the book "The Technology Tail." What did they teach us about online interactions?
   • Consider different online spaces: group chats, online games, social media (if applicable to age group), or even just sending emails.
   • What makes someone a good digital friend? What kind of actions are not kind or responsible online?
   • Jot down at least two ideas for a digital friendship rule on a scratch piece of paper.

2. Share Your Ideas (5-7 minutes)

   • The teacher will ask for volunteers to share their rule ideas with the class.
   • As ideas are shared, the teacher will write them on a large piece of chart paper or a whiteboard.
   • Listen respectfully to your classmates' ideas. You might even hear a rule that you hadn't thought of!

3. Refine and Group (5-7 minutes)

   • As a class, we will look at all the suggested rules. Are there any similar rules we can combine?
   • Let's try to make our rules clear and easy to understand.
   • The teacher will help us refine the wording of our rules.

4. Create Our Class Poster (Ongoing)

   • Once we have our final list of 5-7

Online Safety Game: Digital Dilemmas!

Goal: To quickly review key concepts of digital kindness and safety in a fun, interactive way.

How to Play:

1. The teacher will read a scenario or a statement about online behavior.
2. Students will decide if the action described is a "Safe/Kind Choice" (thumbs up) or a "Risky/Unkind Choice" (thumbs down).
3. Be prepared to explain why you made your choice!

Game Scenarios/Statements:

Scenario 1:

Your friend posts a picture of you online that you think is silly and a little embarrassing. You didn't give them permission to post it.

Is it a Safe/Kind Choice or a Risky/Unkind Choice for your friend to post it?

Scenario 2:

Someone you don't know from school sends you a friend request on a gaming platform and asks for your full name and the name of your school.

Is it a Safe/Kind Choice or a Risky/Unkind Choice to give them this information?

Scenario 3:

You're in a group chat with friends, and one person starts making fun of another classmate who isn't in the chat.

Is it a Safe/Kind Choice or a Risky/Unkind Choice to join in the teasing?

Scenario 4:

Before you post a comment on a video, you stop and think: "Is this comment true? Is it helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it kind?" (The "THINK" acronym).

Is this a Safe/Kind Choice or a Risky/Unkind Choice?

Scenario 5:

You see a friend being bullied in the comments section of an online post. You decide to tell a trusted adult (like a parent or teacher) about what you saw.

Is this a Safe/Kind Choice or a Risky/Unkind Choice?

Scenario 6:

You are playing an online game and someone on the other team is losing badly and starts using mean words in the chat. You decide to respond with even meaner words to make them stop.

Is this a Safe/Kind Choice or a Risky/Unkind Choice?

Digital Citizenship Project: Be a Digital Kindness Champion!

Goal: To create a project that teaches others about digital kindness, online safety, or being a good digital friend.

Project Options:

Choose ONE of the following project options to demonstrate your understanding of digital citizenship and kindness online.

Option 1: Digital Kindness Poster

Create a colorful and informative poster that encourages digital kindness. Your poster should include:

• A catchy title.
• At least three clear rules or tips for being a kind digital friend (you can use some from our class rules or create new ones!).
• Illustrations or drawings to help explain your points.
• A short sentence explaining why digital kindness is important.

Option 2: Online Safety Skit

Work with a small group (2-3 students) to write and perform a short skit (3-5 minutes) that shows:

• A scenario where someone faces an online safety or digital kindness challenge.
• How the characters make a safe and kind choice to resolve the situation.
• Your skit should have a clear message about good digital citizenship.

Option 3: Digital Citizenship Storyboard/Comic Strip

Create a storyboard or a multi-panel comic strip (at least 6 panels) that tells a story about:

• A character learning an important lesson about their digital footprint.
• A character demonstrating digital kindness or dealing with an online problem responsibly.
• Include speech bubbles and thought bubbles to show what characters are saying and thinking.

Option 4: "How-To" Guide for Digital Friends

Design a simple "How-To" guide (like a small booklet or a folded brochure) that teaches other students how to be a good digital friend. Your guide should include:

• A title and an introduction.
• Step-by-step instructions or tips on topics like:
  • Using kind words online.
  • Thinking before you post.
  • What to do if you see something unkind.
  • Protecting your personal information.
• Small illustrations or icons.

Project Requirements (for all options):

• Clear Message: Your project must clearly communicate one or more important ideas about digital kindness or online safety.
• Creativity: Use your imagination! Make your project engaging and interesting for others.
• Accuracy: Ensure the information you present is correct and aligns with what we learned in class.
• Effort: Put in your best work! Your project should show that you understand the topic well.

Presentation:

• Be prepared to share your project with the class (or your group, if applicable) on [Date TBD by Teacher].
• If you choose Option 2, be ready to perform your skit.

Success Criteria:

Your project will be successful if it:

• Clearly explains an aspect of digital citizenship or kindness.
• Is creative and well-organized.
• Shows thoughtful effort and understanding.
• Could genuinely teach another student about being a good digital citizen.