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iPad Savvy: Digital Citizenship

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Lesson Plan

iPad Savvy Lesson Plan

Students will understand and practice safe, respectful, and responsible use of iPads and online tools by analyzing scenarios, participating in group discussions, and reflecting individually to build healthy digital habits.

With increasing iPad use, 4th graders need clear guidance on digital citizenship. This lesson builds foundational habits for safety, respect, and responsibility online to foster positive tech use and protect themselves and others.

Audience

4th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Scenario-driven discussion and reflective activities.

Materials

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review Digital Citizenship Scenarios Worksheet and iPad Savvy Reflection Sheet
  • Familiarize yourself with ISTE Standards for Students (Digital Citizen)
  • Ensure all iPads are charged and have necessary apps ready
  • Arrange seating for group discussions and whole-class work
  • Post an anchor chart labeled Safe, Respectful, Responsible on the board or chart paper

Step 1

Introduction

5 minutes

  • Gather students without iPads and ask: “What does it mean to be a good digital citizen?” Record responses under three headings on the anchor chart
  • Introduce the three pillars: Safe, Respectful, Responsible technology use
  • Explain today’s goal: explore real-life scenarios to practice digital citizenship

Step 2

Scenario Discussion

10 minutes

  • Divide students into small groups and distribute 1–2 scenarios from the Digital Citizenship Scenarios Worksheet
  • In groups, identify which pillar each scenario addresses and discuss appropriate responses
  • Select one group member to share the scenario and proposed solution with the class
  • As each group presents, add key ideas to the anchor chart under the correct pillar

Step 3

Individual Reflection

10 minutes

  • Hand out the iPad Savvy Reflection Sheet
  • Students choose a new scenario (or recall one) and write how they would act safely, respectfully, and responsibly
  • Encourage full sentences and examples from the discussion
  • Circulate to support students’ thinking and writing

Step 4

Closure & Assessment

5 minutes

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Slide Deck

iPad Savvy: Digital Citizenship

A 30-minute lesson for 4th graders

• Learn to use iPads safely
• Practice respect online
• Build responsible technology habits

Welcome students and introduce the lesson. Explain that today we’ll explore how to be safe, respectful, and responsible when using our iPads and the internet.

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  1. Identify what it means to be a safe, respectful, and responsible digital citizen.
  2. Analyze real-life scenarios using the three digital citizenship pillars.
  3. Reflect individually on how you’ll act in your own online choices.

Read through the objectives aloud and check for understanding. You can point to each objective as you discuss.

Why Digital Citizenship?

• Our iPads connect us to endless information and friends.
• Good habits keep us safe and kind online.
• Learning these skills now will help us for life.

Provide context: more students are using iPads for learning and play. Emphasize why guidelines matter.

ISTE Standard: Digital Citizen

Students recognize the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living, learning, and working in an interconnected digital world, and they act and model in ways that are safe, legal, and ethical.

Introduce the ISTE standard. Display the official wording of the Digital Citizen standard.

The Three Pillars

Safe – Protecting personal information and well-being.
Respectful – Treating others kindly online.
Responsible – Following rules and owning your actions.

Explain each pillar one by one. Consider drawing a T-chart or anchor chart to capture student responses.

Scenario Prompt

  1. Divide into small groups.
  2. Each group picks 1–2 scenarios from the worksheet.
  3. Identify which pillar each scenario illustrates.
  4. Discuss what you would do.

Distribute the Digital Citizenship Scenarios Worksheet. Explain that each group will get one or two scenarios to discuss.

Scenario Example

“You get a message from a stranger asking for your home address.”
• Which pillar? (Safe)
• What’s the best response? (Tell a trusted adult, don’t reply)

Use this example to model how to analyze a scenario. Point out how to align with Safe, Respectful, Responsible.

Group Discussion Instructions

• Read your scenario aloud.
• Identify the pillar: Safe, Respectful, or Responsible.
• Brainstorm 2–3 actions you would take.
• Decide who will share with the class.

Circulate as groups work. Encourage students to write notes or draw quick sketches to remember their ideas.

Individual Reflection

  1. Choose a new scenario or recall one from your group.
  2. Write how you will act:
    – Safely
    – Respectfully
    – Responsibly
  3. Use complete sentences and examples.

Hand out the iPad Savvy Reflection Sheet. Give students time to write full sentences and use examples.

Closure & Assessment

• Invite volunteers to share one insight.
• Review the anchor chart’s Safe, Respectful, Responsible points.
• Collect worksheets and reflection sheets.
• Use reflections to check understanding.

Guide the share-out. Capture key student ideas on the anchor chart under each pillar. Then collect materials.

Thank You & Next Steps

• Keep our three pillars in mind:
Safe • Respectful • Responsible
• Remember: you are a digital citizen every time you go online!

Thank students for their participation. Remind them to practice these habits every time they use their iPads.

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Worksheet

Digital Citizenship Scenarios Worksheet

Use this sheet to practice identifying which digital citizenship pillar each scenario highlights and to plan how you would respond. For each scenario:

  1. Write the pillar (Safe, Respectful, or Responsible) in the first column.
  2. Describe what you would do in the second column.

Scenario 1:
You get a message from someone you don’t know asking for your home address.

Pillar (Safe, Respectful, Responsible)What would you do?
____________






Scenario 2:
A classmate shares a password for a game they found online. They ask you not to tell the teacher.

Pillar (Safe, Respectful, Responsible)What would you do?
____________






Scenario 3:
You see a funny meme about another student that might hurt their feelings if they saw it.

Pillar (Safe, Respectful, Responsible)What would you do?
____________






Scenario 4:
You want a new app and download it onto your iPad without asking a parent or teacher first.

Pillar (Safe, Respectful, Responsible)What would you do?
____________






Scenario 5:
You notice someone posting mean comments about your friend on a class group chat.

Pillar (Safe, Respectful, Responsible)What would you do?
____________






Scenario 6:
At the end of the day, you forget to plug the iPad back in to charge for tomorrow’s use.

Pillar (Safe, Respectful, Responsible)What would you do?
____________





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Worksheet

iPad Savvy Reflection Sheet

Use this sheet to reflect on digital citizenship. Choose one scenario from the Digital Citizenship Scenarios Worksheet or one you remember from today’s discussion. For each prompt, write your answers in complete sentences.

Scenario Description:
(Write a brief description of the scenario you chose.)







1. Safe:
How would you act safely in this scenario?







2. Respectful:
How would you act respectfully in this scenario?







3. Responsible:
How would you act responsibly in this scenario?







4. New Insight:
What is one new thing you learned about being a good digital citizen today?







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