Safety & Prevention: Navigating Digital Spaces

emma esterhuizen

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Safety & Prevention: Navigating Digital Spaces

Students will learn to navigate digital spaces safely by understanding internet safety, digital citizenship, and practical online behavior strategies.

Understanding online risks and practicing good digital citizenship will empower students to safeguard personal information and interact responsibly in online environments.

Audience

Middle School Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, group activities, and hands-on practice.

Materials

Slide Deck: Internet Safety Overview, Worksheet: Digital Citizenship Scenarios, and Quiz: Online Safety Knowledge Check

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

Review the Slide Deck: Internet Safety Overview to ensure content accuracy.
Familiarize yourself with the Worksheet: Digital Citizenship Scenarios and Quiz: Online Safety Knowledge Check for smooth classroom management.
Prepare any necessary technology for displaying digital materials.

Step 1

Introduction & Discussion

10 minutes

Introduce the topic of digital safety and citizenship.
Engage students with questions about their online experiences.
Emphasize the importance of protecting personal information and behaving respectfully online.

Step 2

Slide Deck Presentation

15 minutes

Present the Slide Deck: Internet Safety Overview covering key topics such as privacy, cyberbullying, and ethical digital behavior.
Pause periodically for student questions and clarifications.

Step 3

Interactive Worksheet Activity

10 minutes

Distribute the Worksheet: Digital Citizenship Scenarios to students.
Have students work in small groups to analyze scenarios and discuss safe online responses.
Invite a few groups to share their strategies with the class.

Step 4

Closure & Quiz

10 minutes

Summarize the lesson's key takeaways about digital safety.
Administer the Quiz: Online Safety Knowledge Check to assess understanding.
Provide immediate feedback and address any lingering questions.

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Slide Deck

Internet Safety Overview

Welcome to our session on Internet Safety! Today we'll learn how to protect personal information, recognize risks, and behave responsibly online.

Introduce the topic of Internet Safety. Emphasize that this slide deck will help students understand the basics of staying safe online, including privacy, cyberbullying, and digital citizenship.

What is Internet Safety?

Internet safety means using the internet in a way that protects your personal information and well-being. It includes understanding online risks and knowing how to avoid them.

Explain the concept of internet safety in simple terms. Ask students what safety means to them and incorporate their ideas into the discussion.

Protecting Personal Information

Key points:
• Personal details (name, address, phone number, etc.)
• Passwords and login details
• Privacy settings on social media

Discuss personal information and why it's important to protect it. Invite students to share what they think counts as personal information.

Understanding Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying involves using electronic means to intimidate or harm others. It's important to report such behavior and support peers who may be affected.

Highlight the issue of cyberbullying. Use examples and ask students how they might respond to bullying online.

Digital Citizenship

Being a good digital citizen means:
• Respecting others online
• Following community guidelines
• Thinking before posting or sharing

Introduce the principles of digital citizenship. Explain how ethical responsibilities online mirror those in the real world.

Tips for Safe Online Behavior

Remember these tips:
• Keep your passwords secure
• Think before you share
• Verify information before believing or sharing it
• Use privacy settings wisely

List practical tips for safe online behavior in an engaging manner. Encourage discussion about which tips they already practice.

Review & Questions

Let's review what we've learned:
• What is Internet Safety?
• How can we protect our personal information?
• How to identify and respond to cyberbullying
• What does it mean to be a good digital citizen?

Any questions?

Summarize the key points of the lesson. Use this slide as an opportunity for student questions and a quick recap.

Worksheet

Digital Citizenship Scenarios

This worksheet presents you with different scenarios related to digital citizenship and online safety. Work in small groups to discuss each scenario and write down your thoughts on the best course of action. Be sure to consider the tips and information from our lesson!

Scenario 1: Friend Request or Stranger?

You receive a friend request from someone you don’t recognize on a social media platform. What steps should you take before accepting (or rejecting) the request?

Your Discussion Points:

How can you assess if the account is safe?
What might be the risks of accepting a friend request from a stranger?

Scenario 2: Sharing Personal Information

Imagine you are asked by a classmate to share your phone number and home address for a school project posted online. What would be your response, and why?

Your Discussion Points:

What are the potential risks of sharing personal information?
How can you handle the situation while still cooperating with your classmate?

Scenario 3: Cyberbullying Encounter

You notice that a peer is being harassed in an online group chat. Describe the steps you would take to help the situation and support your peer.

Your Discussion Points:

What actions can you take to support your peer?
Who else could you reach out to for help?

Scenario 4: Suspicious Links and Emails

You come across an email with an attachment and a link that looks unusual. Outline how you would determine if it is safe to open and what precautions you should take.

Your Discussion Points:

What are the signs of a suspicious email?
How do you verify the authenticity of the link or attachment?

Scenario 5: Responsible Posting

You see a funny meme online and think it should be shared with everyone. However, you are not sure if the content might offend some people. How would you decide whether to post it or not, and what guidelines would you consider?

Your Discussion Points:

What does it mean to be a responsible digital citizen in this context?
Which guidelines from our lesson can help you decide?

Remember: There are no right or wrong answers. The goal of this worksheet is to discuss and apply what we've learned about digital citizenship and online safety. Share your ideas and listen to your group members!

Quiz

Online Safety Knowledge Check