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Kindness Goes Viral: Digital Do-Gooders

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Jessica Leone

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Kindness Goes Viral: Digital Do-Gooders

Students will define digital citizenship and identify respectful online behaviors, applying kindness principles to various online scenarios to foster a positive digital community.

In today's connected world, understanding how to be a responsible and kind digital citizen is crucial. This lesson will help students navigate online interactions safely and positively, preventing misunderstandings and promoting a supportive digital community.

Audience

6th Grade

Time

40-45 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, group activities, and a fun game.

Materials

Smartboard or projector, Markers or pens, Whiteboard or chart paper, Warm-Up: Digital Dilemmas, Slide Deck: Kindness Goes Viral, Script: Kindness Goes Viral, Discussion Prompts: Online Empathy, Activity: Digital Kindness Scenarios, Game: The Kindness Filter Challenge, and Cool Down: One Kind Click

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review all generated materials: Kindness Goes Viral: Digital Do-Gooders Lesson Plan, Slide Deck: Kindness Goes Viral, Warm-Up: Digital Dilemmas, Cool Down: One Kind Click, Script: Kindness Goes Viral, Discussion Prompts: Online Empathy, Activity: Digital Kindness Scenarios, Game: The Kindness Filter Challenge.
    - Ensure projector/smartboard is set up.
    - Print copies of the Warm-Up: Digital Dilemmas (one per student or small group).
    - Prepare chart paper or whiteboard space for discussion notes.
    - Gather markers/pens.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Digital Dilemmas (7 minutes)

7 minutes

  1. Distribute the Warm-Up: Digital Dilemmas worksheet to each student or small group.
    2. Instruct students to quietly read the scenarios and jot down their initial thoughts on how they would respond.
    3. After 3-4 minutes, ask students to share one or two responses with a partner.
    4. Briefly bring the class together and ask for a few volunteers to share their initial thoughts on what makes an online interaction positive or negative.

Step 2

Introduction to Digital Citizenship & Kindness (8 minutes)

8 minutes

  1. Display Slide 1 of the Slide Deck: Kindness Goes Viral.
    2. Using the Script: Kindness Goes Viral, introduce the concept of digital citizenship and its connection to kindness.
    3. Engage students with questions from the script and Slide 2 and Slide 3 to define digital kindness collaboratively.

Step 3

Discussion: Online Empathy (8 minutes)

8 minutes

  1. Transition to Slide 4 and introduce the idea of online empathy using the Script: Kindness Goes Viral.
    2. Facilitate a class discussion using the Discussion Prompts: Online Empathy. Encourage students to share their perspectives and listen respectfully to others.
    3. Guide students to understand the impact of their words and actions in digital spaces.

Step 4

Activity: Digital Kindness Scenarios (10 minutes)

10 minutes

  1. Divide students into small groups (3-4 students per group).
    2. Distribute the Activity: Digital Kindness Scenarios to each group.
    3. Instruct groups to read through their assigned scenario(s) and brainstorm kind and responsible digital responses.
    4. Have each group share one scenario and their proposed solution with the class. Discuss different approaches as a whole group.

Step 5

Game: The Kindness Filter Challenge (7 minutes)

7 minutes

  1. Explain the rules of Game: The Kindness Filter Challenge to the class.
    2. Use Slide 5 to present scenarios or statements.
    3. Have students vote or show thumbs up/down if the action passes the 'Kindness Filter'.
    4. Briefly discuss why certain actions pass or fail the filter, reinforcing key concepts from the lesson.

Step 6

Cool Down: One Kind Click (5 minutes)

5 minutes

  1. Distribute the Cool Down: One Kind Click to each student.
    2. Instruct students to reflect on the lesson and write down one specific way they can practice digital kindness.
    3. Collect the cool-downs as an exit ticket.
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Slide Deck

Kindness Goes Viral: Digital Do-Gooders

What does it mean to be a good citizen in the digital world?

Welcome students and introduce the topic. Explain that today's lesson is about how to be kind online. Ask students to think about what 'digital citizenship' might mean.

What is Digital Kindness?

Think about a time you saw something kind (or unkind) online. How did it make you feel?

Digital Kindness is about:

  • Being respectful
  • Being empathetic
  • Being responsible
  • Making the internet a positive place for everyone

Engage students with a question about their online experiences. Encourage them to share brief examples of positive or negative interactions without naming anyone. Use this to lead into defining digital kindness.

Your Actions Have Ripple Effects

Just like a ripple in water, your actions online can spread far and wide.

  • A kind comment can brighten someone's day.
  • An unkind comment can hurt many people.

How can we make sure our ripples are always positive?

Reinforce the importance of considering feelings online. Ask students to brainstorm how online actions might affect others differently than in-person actions due to lack of non-verbal cues.

Empathy: Stepping into Digital Shoes

Empathy means understanding and sharing the feelings of others.

How can you show empathy when you:

  • Post a comment?
  • Share a picture?
  • Send a message?

Think before you click!

Introduce the concept of empathy in an online context. Emphasize thinking before posting and putting themselves in others' shoes. This sets up the discussion activity.

The Kindness Filter Challenge!

Does this action pass the Kindness Filter?

  • Thumbs Up: It passes! It's kind and respectful.
  • Thumbs Down: It fails! It's not kind or respectful.

Let's play!

Explain the game 'The Kindness Filter Challenge'. Present scenarios and have students vote on whether the action passes the kindness filter. Provide brief explanations for each.

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Warm Up

Warm-Up: Digital Dilemmas

Instructions: Read each scenario below and think about how you would respond. Jot down your thoughts or feelings about what you would do or say.

Scenario 1: The Group Chat Gossip

Your friend starts a group chat with a few classmates, and they begin making fun of another student who isn't in the chat. They're posting mean comments and laughing emojis. You feel uncomfortable.

What do you do or say?













Scenario 2: The Awesome Photo Fail

You take a really cool picture with your friend, but they accidentally blinked in it, making them look a little silly. You want to post it on social media because you look great, but you're not sure how your friend would feel about their blinking face being online.

What do you do?













Scenario 3: The Confusing Comment

You post a picture of your new pet, and someone you don't know comments,

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Script

Script: Kindness Goes Viral

Introduction (Warm-Up Debrief - 7 minutes)

Teacher: "Welcome, everyone! I hope you had a chance to think about the 'Digital Dilemmas' scenarios. Before we dive deeper, I'd love to hear some of your initial thoughts. Can anyone share one observation or a way they thought about responding to one of the scenarios? What makes an online interaction feel positive or negative?"

(Listen to a few student responses. Validate their feelings and initial ideas. Transition smoothly.)

Teacher: "Excellent points! Today, we're going to explore what it truly means to be a good citizen in the digital world, with a special focus on kindness. Our lesson is called Kindness Goes Viral: Digital Do-Gooders!"

Defining Digital Citizenship & Kindness (8 minutes)

(Display Slide 1: Kindness Goes Viral: Digital Do-Gooders)

Teacher: "Take a look at our first slide. The title of our lesson is 'Kindness Goes Viral: Digital Do-Gooders'. What do you think 'digital citizenship' means? What does it mean to be a good citizen in our school, our neighborhood, or our country? How might that apply to the internet?"

(Allow a few students to share their thoughts. Guide them toward the idea of responsible and ethical behavior online.)

(Display Slide 2: What is Digital Kindness?)

Teacher: "Great ideas! Now, let's talk about 'digital kindness.' When you think about being kind in your everyday life, what does that look like? How might that translate to how we act when we're online – whether it's on a game, a social media platform, or even just texting?"

(Prompt students to think about examples of kindness and unkindness they might have seen online.)

Teacher: "As you can see on the slide, digital kindness is about being respectful, empathetic, responsible, and making the internet a positive place for everyone. It's about thinking about others even when you can't see them face-to-face."

(Display Slide 3: Your Actions Have Ripple Effects)

Teacher: "This slide talks about 'ripple effects.' Imagine dropping a pebble into a pond – the ripples spread out far and wide. How is that like what happens when you post a comment or share something online?"

(Encourage students to discuss how a single post or comment can be seen and reacted to by many people, both positively and negatively.)

Teacher: "Exactly! A kind comment can truly brighten someone's day, but an unkind comment can spread hurt to many people. Our goal is to make sure our digital ripples are always positive."

Discussion: Online Empathy (8 minutes)

(Display Slide 4: Empathy: Stepping into Digital Shoes)

Teacher: "Our next important concept is empathy. Can anyone remind us what empathy means?"

(Wait for a response, guide if necessary: understanding and sharing the feelings of others.)

Teacher: "That's right! It's about putting yourself in someone else's shoes. This is super important online because we can't always see someone's reaction. I have some Discussion Prompts: Online Empathy that we'll use now. Let's think about how we can show empathy when we post, share, or message online."

(Refer to the Discussion Prompts: Online Empathy and facilitate the conversation. Encourage students to listen to each other and share examples.)

Teacher: "Remember that phrase: Think before you click! It's a great reminder to consider the impact of your words and actions before you send them out into the digital world."

Activity: Digital Kindness Scenarios (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Now that we've talked about what digital kindness and empathy look like, let's put it into practice. I'm going to divide you into small groups. Each group will receive an Activity: Digital Kindness Scenarios worksheet."

"Your task is to read through the scenario(s) and brainstorm kind and responsible digital responses. Think about what we've discussed. How can you apply the 'ripple effect' idea and empathy?"

(Divide students into groups, distribute the activity, and circulate to provide support. After about 7 minutes, bring the class back together.)

Teacher: "Alright, groups! Let's hear from you. Can one person from each group share one scenario and the kind, responsible solution you came up with?"

(Facilitate a brief sharing session, encouraging discussion of different approaches.)

Game: The Kindness Filter Challenge (7 minutes)

Teacher: "Excellent work, everyone! Now for a quick game to see if we can apply our 'Kindness Filter.'"

(Display Slide 5: The Kindness Filter Challenge!)

Teacher: "Here's how we play: I'm going to present different online actions or statements. Your job is to decide if the action passes the 'Kindness Filter.' If it passes, give a thumbs up. If it fails, give a thumbs down. Be ready to explain why!"

(Proceed with the game scenarios from the Game: The Kindness Filter Challenge. After each scenario, briefly discuss the reasoning.)

Cool Down: One Kind Click (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Fantastic job playing The Kindness Filter Challenge! To wrap up our lesson today, I want us to take a moment to reflect. I'm handing out a Cool Down: One Kind Click sheet."

"On this sheet, I'd like you to write down one specific way you can practice digital kindness or make a positive impact online this week. It could be something you do, something you don't do, or something you say."

(Collect the cool-downs as students finish.)

Teacher: "Thank you all for an insightful discussion today. Remember, your kindness online truly makes a difference. Let's all be digital do-gooders!"

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Cool Down

Cool Down: One Kind Click

Instructions: Reflect on what we discussed today about digital citizenship and kindness. In the space below, write down one specific way you can practice digital kindness or make a positive impact online this week.

Think about:

  • What you post or share.
  • How you comment on others' posts.
  • How you react to unkindness.
  • How you can support your friends online.

My one kind click/action this week will be...















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Discussion

Discussion Prompts: Online Empathy

Instructions: Discuss these questions as a class. Remember to listen respectfully to each other's ideas and experiences.

  1. Imagine before you type: When you're about to send a message or post a comment, how can you pause and think about how the person on the other end might feel when they read it? What questions can you ask yourself?






  2. Reading between the lines: Online, it can be hard to tell someone's tone of voice or facial expressions. How can this lead to misunderstandings? What strategies can we use to make sure our messages are clear and kind, and to interpret others' messages positively?






  3. The audience effect: When you post something online, who is your audience? How might thinking about who will see your post (friends, family, future teachers, strangers) change what you decide to share or how you phrase it?






  4. Standing up for others: If you see someone being unkind online, what are some safe and empathetic ways you can respond? What does it mean to be an 'upstander' rather than a 'bystander' in the digital world?






  5. Digital body language: Even without seeing someone, what are some ways you can show you are listening, understanding, and caring through your words online? (Think about emojis, punctuation, specific phrases.)






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Activity

Activity: Digital Kindness Scenarios

Instructions: Work with your group to read the scenarios below. Discuss how you would respond kindly and responsibly in each situation. Write down your group's best solution and be ready to share with the class.

Scenario 1: The Misunderstood Meme

Your friend posts a meme in a group chat that seems funny to them, but you know another friend in the chat might find it offensive or hurtful because of something they've experienced. You don't want to make a big deal, but you also don't want your friend to be hurt.

How would your group handle this situation kindly and responsibly?











Scenario 2: The Lonely Gamer

You're playing an online game with a group of friends, and you notice a new player trying to join in. Your friends are ignoring the new player and not inviting them to play along. You remember how it feels to be left out.

What could your group do or say to show digital kindness and include the new player?











Scenario 3: The Over-Sharer

Someone in your class constantly posts every detail of their day online, sometimes sharing things that might be too personal or even risky. You're worried about their safety and privacy, but you don't want to embarrass them.

How would your group approach this situation to help your classmate responsibly and kindly?











Scenario 4: The Anonymous Negative Comment

You post a picture of your art project, which you worked really hard on. Someone you don't know leaves an anonymous comment saying, "That's ugly, you're terrible at art." You feel hurt and discouraged.

If this happened to you, what would be a kind and responsible way to react? How could you respond to yourself to stay positive?











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Game

Game: The Kindness Filter Challenge

Instructions: For each scenario or statement, decide if the action passes the "Kindness Filter." Give a thumbs up if it passes (it's kind and respectful) and a thumbs down if it fails (it's not kind or respectful).

Be ready to explain your choice!


Scenario 1:

Your friend posts a picture of a new haircut. You don't really like it, but you comment, "Looks great!"





Scenario 2:

You see a post from someone you don't know sharing exciting news. You leave a congratulatory comment, "That's awesome! Good for you!"





Scenario 3:

Someone in your class makes a mistake in an online group project document. You privately message them, "Hey, I noticed a small error on page 3. Want me to help you fix it?"





Scenario 4:

Your classmate posts a question asking for help with homework in a class chat. You respond, "Just Google it, it's not that hard."





Scenario 5:

You accidentally send a private message meant for one friend to a group chat. You immediately send another message apologizing and clarifying the mistake.





Scenario 6:

A friend tags you in a photo where you look a little awkward. You ask them privately if they would mind taking the tag down.





Scenario 7:

You see a comment online criticizing a game you love. You respond by calling the commenter names and telling them they have bad taste.





Scenario 8:

You create a new group chat for a school project and make sure to invite every member of your team.





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