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Navigating Social Media: Digital Citizenship & Empathy

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Lesson Plan

Navigating Social Media: Digital Citizenship & Empathy Lesson Plan

Students will analyze scenarios related to digital citizenship, cyberbullying, and responsible online behavior, developing empathy and practical strategies for positive online engagement. The objective is to equip students with tools to navigate digital spaces safely and kindly.

In today's interconnected world, understanding digital citizenship is crucial for students' well-being and success. This lesson helps students develop empathy and practical skills to navigate online spaces safely, respectfully, and responsibly, preparing them for positive digital interactions and mitigating the risks of cyberbullying and misinformation.

Audience

6th-8th Grade Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Through discussion, scenario analysis, and group activities.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Copies of Digital Dilemmas Worksheet, and Access to Navigating Social Media Slide Deck

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Online World Brainstorm

5 minutes

  • Display Slide 1: Welcome!
    * Begin by asking students: "What are some things you love about being online? What are some challenges?"
    * Encourage a quick brainstorm, writing student responses on the board or in a shared digital document.
    * Transition: "Today, we're going to talk about how we can make our online experiences positive and safe for everyone."

Step 2

Introduction to Digital Citizenship

10 minutes

  • Display Slide 2: Digital Citizenship Defined
    * Use the Navigating Social Media Slide Deck to introduce key concepts of digital citizenship: respect, responsibility, and safety.
    * Display Slide 3: Empathy Online
    * Facilitate a brief discussion using the Teacher Discussion Guide about why empathy is so important when interacting with others online. Ask: "Why might it be harder to show empathy online than in person?"

Step 3

Digital Dilemmas Scenario Analysis

15 minutes

  • Display Slide 4: Digital Dilemmas
    * Distribute the Digital Dilemmas Worksheet to each student or in pairs.
    * Instruct students to read through the scenarios and answer the questions individually or with their partner.
    * Circulate the room to provide support and answer questions.
    * Transition: "Now that you've thought about these situations, let's discuss them as a class."

Step 4

Class Discussion & Strategy Sharing

10 minutes

  • Display Slide 5: Let's Discuss!
    * Lead a class discussion using the Teacher Discussion Guide to review the scenarios from the Digital Dilemmas Worksheet.
    * Encourage students to share their answers and the strategies they developed.
    * Emphasize the importance of reporting cyberbullying and seeking help when needed.
    * Display Slide 6: Key Takeaways
    * Summarize the key strategies for positive online engagement: Think before you post, be kind, protect your privacy, and report concerns.

Step 5

Cool-Down: One Word Reflection

5 minutes

  • Display Slide 7: Reflect & Share
    * Ask students to think of one word that describes what they learned or how they feel about digital citizenship after this lesson.
    * Have students share their word with a partner or with the whole class.
    * Collect Digital Dilemmas Worksheet if desired for assessment or further discussion.
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Slide Deck

Welcome! Let's Talk Social Media

What do you love about being online?
What challenges do you face online?

Welcome students and introduce the topic. Ask them to think about their online experiences.

What is Digital Citizenship?

It's about being a good citizen in the online world!

It means:
* Being Respectful: Treating others kindly online.
* Being Responsible: Making smart choices about what you share and do online.
* Being Safe: Protecting yourself and your information online.

Define digital citizenship simply: being a responsible, respectful, and safe member of the online community. Emphasize that it's about making good choices.

Empathy Online: Why It Matters

Empathy is understanding and sharing the feelings of others.

Why is it especially important when you can't see someone face-to-face?
How can we show empathy through our words and actions online?

Lead a brief discussion. Ask students why empathy is important, and why it might be harder to show online (e.g., no body language, quick reactions).

Digital Dilemmas: What Would YOU Do?

You're about to face some common online situations.

Work through the scenarios on your worksheet and decide:
* What's happening?
* How would you feel?
* What's the best way to respond?
* What are the consequences of different actions?

Introduce the activity. Explain that they will be working through some scenarios to practice their digital citizenship skills. Distribute the worksheet.

Let's Discuss! Sharing Our Strategies

Time to share your insights!

* What were some of the toughest dilemmas?
* What solutions did you come up with?
* How can we use digital citizenship and empathy to guide our choices?
* When should you ask an adult for help?

Facilitate a class discussion, reviewing each scenario from the worksheet. Encourage students to share their reasoning and the strategies they developed. Guide them towards positive and safe solutions, reinforcing the concepts of digital citizenship and empathy.

Key Takeaways: Be a Super Digital Citizen!

Remember these tips for positive online engagement:

1. Think Before You Post: Once it's out there, it's hard to take back!
2. Be Kind & Respectful: Your words have power.
3. Protect Your Privacy: Don't share too much personal info.
4. Report Concerns: If you see something wrong, tell a trusted adult.
5. Balance Screen Time: Enjoy the offline world too!

Summarize the key takeaways. Reiterate the importance of thinking before posting, kindness, privacy, and reporting issues.

One Word to Describe What You Learned?

Think about our lesson today.

What is one word that describes:
* Something new you learned?
* How you feel about digital citizenship now?
* A goal you have for your online interactions?

End with a reflective question. Ask students to share one word with a partner or the class to describe what they learned or how they feel.

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Discussion

Teacher Discussion Guide: Navigating Social Media

This guide provides prompts and potential follow-up questions to facilitate a rich classroom discussion around digital citizenship and empathy.

## Warm-Up: Online World Brainstorm (5 minutes)
Prompt: "What are some things you love about being online? What are some challenges?"
* Purpose: To activate prior knowledge and get students thinking about their own experiences.
* Follow-up Questions:
* "What makes being online so appealing?"
* "What are some of the tricky parts of communicating online?"
* "Have you ever experienced something online that made you feel uncomfortable? (Students are not required to share personal stories, but acknowledge the possibility.)"

## Empathy Online: Why It Matters (Slide 3 - 5 minutes)
Prompt: "Why might it be harder to show empathy online than in person?"
* Purpose: To connect the abstract concept of empathy to concrete online interactions.
* Follow-up Questions:
* "What are some clues we get in person (like facial expressions or tone of voice) that we don't get online?"
* "How can we make sure our messages and comments online convey kindness, even without those clues?"
* "Can you think of a time when someone showed you empathy online? What did that feel like?"

## Class Discussion: Sharing Our Strategies (Slide 5 - 10 minutes)
Prompt: "Let's discuss the Digital Dilemmas. What were some of the toughest scenarios for you to solve? What solutions did you come up with?"
* Purpose: To collectively process the Digital Dilemmas Worksheet and reinforce positive strategies.
* General Follow-up Questions for each scenario:
* "What was the main problem in this scenario?"
* "What were the different ways someone could react? What are the pros and cons of each?"
* "What would be the most empathetic response here?"
* "When would it be important to tell a trusted adult about a situation like this?"
* Specific Discussion Points (referencing common themes from scenarios):
* Cyberbullying: "What should you do if you or someone you know is being cyberbullied? Why is it important not to respond to bullies directly?"
* Sharing Personal Information: "What kind of information should you never share online? Why is privacy so important?"
* Misinformation/Rumors: "How can you tell if something you see online is true? Why is it harmful to spread rumors?"
* Online Reputation: "How do your online actions affect your reputation, both now and in the future?"

## Cool-Down: One Word Reflection (Slide 7 - 5 minutes)
Prompt: "What is one word that describes what you learned or how you feel about digital citizenship after this lesson?"
* Purpose: To allow students to synthesize their learning and provide a quick check for understanding.
* Encourage Sharing: Have students share their word with a partner or the class. Ask a few to elaborate if time permits. This provides valuable insight into their comprehension and emotional connection to the topic.

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Worksheet

Digital Dilemmas: What Would You Do?

Read each scenario carefully and answer the questions. Think about what a good digital citizen would do, and how you can show empathy online.

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## Scenario 1: The Mean Comment

You see a friend post a picture online, and another student leaves a mean comment calling your friend's outfit "ugly." Your friend hasn't seen it yet, but other comments are starting to pile on, agreeing with the mean one.

1. How do you think your friend might feel when they see the comment?




2. What are three different ways you could respond to this situation (or not respond)?




3. Which response would be the most empathetic and helpful? Why?





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## Scenario 2: The Online Game Argument

You're playing an online game with a group, and two players start yelling at each other in the chat. One player starts using really negative and offensive language. Everyone else in the game chat seems uncomfortable.

1. How might the other players feel?




2. What actions could you take?




3. What are the potential consequences of ignoring the situation versus taking action?





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## Scenario 3: The Private Photo

Your friend sends you a funny picture of another classmate making a silly face, and says, "Don't show anyone!" Later, you see a group of students laughing and looking at the picture on someone else's phone. You realize your friend must have shared it with someone else, who then shared it further.

1. Why was it a problem for your friend to share the picture, even if they thought it was just with one person?




2. What could you do if someone sends you a private picture of another person?




3. Why is it important to ask for permission before sharing photos or information about others?





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## Scenario 4: The Rumor Mill

You see a post on social media from an unknown account spreading a rumor about two students in your class. The rumor sounds unbelievable, but you see other people commenting and believing it.

1. What impact could this rumor have on the students it's about?




2. What is your responsibility when you see unverified information or rumors online?




3. What steps can you take to stop the spread of misinformation or rumors?





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