Slide Deck
Social Smarts: Stay Safe Online!
Let's learn how to use social media safely and smartly!
Welcome students and introduce the topic of social media safety. Ask engaging questions to gauge their current understanding and interest.
What is 'Personal Information'?
Things about YOU that you should keep private online:
- Your full name
- Your address or where you live
- Your phone number
- Pictures that show where you are right now
- Your school name
Explain what personal information is using simple, clear language. Provide examples relevant to their lives.
Keep Your Info Private!
- Strong Passwords: Use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Example: Sm@rtPh0ne!
- Privacy Settings: Check who can see your posts and profile.
- Only share with people you know and trust in real life.
- Think Before You Post: Once it's online, it's hard to take back.
Discuss how to protect personal information. Emphasize the importance of strong passwords and checking privacy settings.
Who Are Your Online Friends?
Connect with people you know and trust in real life.
- Friends: People you know from school, family, or activities.
- Strangers: People you don't know.
Be careful about accepting friend requests from people you don't recognize.
Facilitate a discussion about online friends and who is safe to connect with. Reinforce the idea of knowing people in real life.
Real or Fake? (Trustworthy Content)
Not everything you see online is true!
- Look for trusted sources: News websites, official organizations.
- Ask an adult: If you're not sure, ask a parent or teacher.
- If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!
Explain the concept of trustworthy vs. untrustworthy content. Use relatable examples like news stories, advertisements, or online challenges.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is when someone uses technology to hurt or scare another person.
It can be:
- Mean messages or comments
- Spreading rumors online
- Sharing embarrassing pictures or videos
- Leaving someone out of online groups
Define cyberbullying in a way students can understand. Discuss how it feels and different forms it can take.
What to Do About Cyberbullying
If someone is mean to you online:
- STOP: Don't respond or fight back.
- BLOCK: Block the person who is bothering you.
- TELL: Tell a trusted adult (parent, teacher, counselor).
Introduce the "Stop, Block, Tell" strategy. Explain each step clearly and provide scenarios for practice.
Be a Social Smarts Star!
Remember to:
- Keep personal information private.
- Think before you post.
- Connect with people you know.
- Check if information is real or fake.
- STOP, BLOCK, TELL if you are cyberbullied.
Summarize the main points and encourage students to use their new skills. Transition to the cool-down activity.
Script
Teacher Script: Social Smarts: Stay Safe Online!
Warm-Up & Introduction (5 minutes)
(Display Social Smarts Slide Deck - Slide 1: "Social Smarts: Stay Safe Online!")
Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something really important that many of you use: social media. Can anyone tell me what social media is, or name some apps they know?"
(Pause for student responses, affirm and guide. Examples: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat.)
Teacher: "That's right! Social media is a way we connect, share, and learn online. It can be a lot of fun, but it's also important to be smart and safe when we use it. Today, we're going to learn how to be 'Social Smarts Stars' and stay safe online!"
Understanding Online Privacy (10 minutes)
(Display Social Smarts Slide Deck - Slide 2: "What is 'Personal Information'?")
Teacher: "First, let's talk about 'personal information.' This is information that tells people who you are and where you are. Why do you think it's important to keep some information private online?"
(Pause for responses. Guide towards safety and not everyone needing to know everything.)
Teacher: "Exactly! We want to keep ourselves safe. Take a look at this list on the screen. These are examples of personal information you should always keep private online. Can someone read one example for us?"
(Call on students to read examples: full name, address, phone number, current location, school name.)
Teacher: "If someone online asks you for any of this information, what should you do?"
(Wait for responses. Guide towards saying no and telling an adult.)
(Display Social Smarts Slide Deck - Slide 3: "Keep Your Info Private!")
Teacher: "Another way to keep your information safe is by using strong passwords. A strong password is like a super-secret code that only you know. It uses different kinds of letters, numbers, and even symbols. Look at the example on the slide. Can you see how it uses big letters, small letters, numbers, and a symbol?"
(Point out the example on the slide.)
Teacher: "Also, we need to check our privacy settings. This is like deciding who gets to see your house. You wouldn't let just anyone walk into your house, right? Online, privacy settings let you choose who sees your pictures and posts. It's usually best to only share with people you know and trust in real life."
Teacher: "And here's a big one: Think Before You Post! Once you put something online, like a picture or a comment, it can be very hard to take back. So, always ask yourself: Is this something I want everyone to see? Is this kind? Is this safe?"
(Display Social Smarts Slide Deck - Slide 4: "Who Are Your Online Friends?")
Teacher: "Who are your online friends? It's safest to only connect with people you know and trust in real life. These are people from your school, your family, or your sports team. If someone you don't know sends you a friend request or a message, it's best to ignore it or tell an adult. Why do you think this is important?"
(Pause for responses, guiding students to understand the dangers of talking to strangers online.)
Identifying Trustworthy Content & Cyberbullying (10 minutes)
(Display Social Smarts Slide Deck - Slide 5: "Real or Fake? (Trustworthy Content)")
Teacher: "Now, let's talk about things we see online. Is everything we see on the internet true?"
(Wait for responses.)
Teacher: "No, not always! Sometimes people post things that aren't true, or try to trick you. How can we tell if something is real or fake? We look for trusted sources, like news websites or official groups. And if you're ever not sure, what should you do?"
(Guide students to say "ask an adult.")
Teacher: "Exactly! Always ask a parent or teacher if you're not sure about something you see online. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!"
(Display Social Smarts Slide Deck - Slide 6: "What is Cyberbullying?")
Teacher: "Sadly, sometimes people are not kind online. This is called cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is when someone uses their phone or computer to hurt or scare someone else. It can be mean messages, spreading rumors, or sharing embarrassing pictures. How do you think someone feels if they are cyberbullied?"
(Pause for empathy and discussion of feelings: sad, angry, scared.)
(Display Social Smarts Slide Deck - Slide 7: "What to Do About Cyberbullying")
Teacher: "If you ever experience cyberbullying, or see it happening, it's really important to know what to do. We have a special rule for this: STOP, BLOCK, TELL.
- STOP: This means don't respond to the mean message. Don't fight back or send a mean message in return. Just stop engaging.
- BLOCK: You can block the person who is bothering you. This means they can't send you messages or see your stuff anymore. It's like closing the door on them.
- TELL: This is the most important step! Always tell a trusted adult. That could be a parent, a teacher, a counselor, or another grown-up you trust. They can help you."
(Transition to Safe Social Media Scenarios Activity.)
Teacher: "Now, let's practice what we've learned with some scenarios. We'll go through some situations and talk about what the 'Social Smarts Star' would do!"
(Lead Safe Social Media Scenarios Activity as a whole class or in small groups.)
Wrap-Up & Cool Down (5 minutes)
(Display Social Smarts Slide Deck - Slide 8: "Be a Social Smarts Star!")
Teacher: "Wow, you all have been amazing Social Smarts Stars today! Let's quickly review our important safety rules. Can someone remind us of one way to stay safe online?"
(Call on a few students to share a key takeaway.)
Teacher: "Excellent! Remember these tips every time you go online. Now, I have a quick 'Cool Down' activity for you. Please take one of these Social Media Safety Check Cool Down sheets. I want you to answer the questions, telling me one thing you learned or one way you will be safe online. This helps me know what you learned today!"
(Distribute Social Media Safety Check Cool Down sheets. Collect them as students finish.)
Teacher: "Thank you, everyone! You've taken a big step towards being super safe and smart online!"
Activity
Safe Social Media Scenarios Activity
Instructions: Read each scenario. Discuss with your group or the class what you would do to be a "Social Smarts Star"! Remember our rules: Keep personal information private, Think Before You Post, Connect with trusted people, Check if information is real, and STOP, BLOCK, TELL for cyberbullying.
Scenario 1: New Friend Request
Situation: You get a friend request on social media from someone you don't know. Their profile picture looks cool, but you've never met them in real life.
What would a "Social Smarts Star" do?
Scenario 2: Sharing Your Location
Situation: You are at a fun event with your family. You want to post a picture online and tag your exact location so all your friends know where you are.
What would a "Social Smarts Star" do?
Scenario 3: A Mean Comment
Situation: You post a picture you really like, and someone leaves a mean comment saying your picture is
Lesson Plan
Social Smarts: Stay Safe Online! Lesson Plan
Students will be able to identify at least two ways to protect their personal information online, recognize one example of trustworthy vs. untrustworthy content, and describe one step to take if they encounter cyberbullying.
Learning to use social media safely is crucial for students' well-being and helps them navigate the online world with confidence, avoiding potential risks like privacy breaches or cyberbullying. This lesson empowers them to make smart choices online.
Audience
9th Grade Students with Cognitive Disabilities
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion and scenario-based learning.
Materials
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Prepare to project the Social Smarts Slide Deck.
- Print and cut out the cards for the Safe Social Media Scenarios Activity.
Step 1
Warm-Up & Introduction (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Engage students with a simple question: "What is social media?" or "What are some social media apps you know?" (Refer to Teacher Script for prompts).
- Introduce the lesson's goal: learning to stay safe and smart online.
Step 2
Understanding Online Privacy (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Discuss what 'personal information' is and why it's important to keep it private.
- Provide clear examples of strong passwords and privacy settings.
- Facilitate a brief discussion on who students should or shouldn't share information with online.
Step 3
Identifying Trustworthy Content & Cyberbullying (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Present simple examples to help students differentiate between real and fake information online.
- Discuss what cyberbullying looks like and how it feels.
- Introduce strategies for responding to cyberbullying: 'Stop, Block, Tell an Adult.'
- Conduct the Safe Social Media Scenarios Activity in small groups or as a whole class, discussing each scenario.
Step 4
Wrap-Up & Cool Down (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Distribute the Social Media Safety Check Cool Down for students to complete individually.
- Collect cool-down tickets to assess understanding and inform future instruction.