Lesson Plan
Stay Safe Online Lesson Plan
Students will learn to recognize social media risks, protect personal information, and practice making responsible online sharing decisions.
This lesson empowers students with essential digital citizenship skills to navigate social media safely, reducing exposure to risks and protecting their privacy.
Audience
5th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Interactive scenarios and sorting activities guide responsible online choices.
Materials
- Stay Safe Online Lesson Slides, - Social Media Scenarios Handout, - Risk or Safe? Sorting Cards, - Stoplight Poster, - Personal Information Protection Poster, - Index Cards, and - Whiteboard and Markers
Prep
Prepare Classroom Materials
10 minutes
- Print one copy of Social Media Scenarios Handout per student.
- Print and cut out Risk or Safe? Sorting Cards into individual cards.
- Display Stoplight Poster and Personal Information Protection Poster visibly in the classroom.
- Load Stay Safe Online Lesson Slides on the presentation device and review slides.
- Familiarize yourself with each scenario and sorting card content.
Step 1
Introduction
5 minutes
- Project the Stoplight Poster and explain the colors: green for safe, yellow for caution, red for stop.
- Ask: “What do you know about social media? Have you seen friends use it?”
- Define key terms: social media, personal information, privacy.
- Explain today’s goal: learn how to stay safe online.
Step 2
Scenario Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute the Social Media Scenarios Handout.
- In pairs, students read each scenario and circle whether it’s Safe, Risky, or Unclear.
- After 5 minutes, discuss as a class: solicit examples and highlight why each scenario is safe or risky.
- Use the Stoplight Poster to categorize one scenario together.
Step 3
Sorting Activity
8 minutes
- Divide students into small groups and give each group a set of Risk or Safe? Sorting Cards.
- Instruct groups to sort cards under the stoplight poster zones: green (safe), yellow (be careful), red (stop).
- Circulate to prompt discussion: “Why did you place this card in red?”
- Invite one group to share a notable card placement and reasoning.
Step 4
Wrap-Up and Reflection
7 minutes
- Project the Personal Information Protection Poster.
- Ask students to list three pieces of information safe to share and three that are risky.
- Record responses on the whiteboard under “Safe to Share” and “Keep Private.”
- Reinforce key takeaways: think before you post, protect personal info, and ask an adult if unsure.
- Remind students of digital citizenship and safe online habits.
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Slide Deck
Stay Safe Online
Digital Citizenship • 5th Grade • 30 minutes
Welcome students! Introduce yourself and the topic. Explain that today we’ll learn how to stay safe when using social media.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Recognize safe and risky social media scenarios
• Protect personal information online
• Make responsible sharing choices
Read objectives aloud. Emphasize the “why” behind each objective so students know what they’ll be able to do by the end.
Stoplight Safety System
Green: Safe to share or do online.
Yellow: Think twice—be careful.
Red: Stop—this is risky or not allowed.
Project the Stoplight Poster (#stoplight-poster). Explain that we’ll use green, yellow, and red to categorize online actions.
Key Terms
Social Media: Websites or apps where people share content and connect.
Personal Information: Details about you (name, address, birthday).
Privacy: Keeping certain information only for you and people you trust.
Define each term. Ask students to share their own words or examples.
Scenario Activity
- Work in pairs.
- Read each scenario on your handout (#social-media-scenarios-handout).
- Circle Safe, Risky, or Unclear.
- We’ll share answers and use the stoplight to decide together.
Explain the scenario activity structure: pairs, circle safe/risky/unclear, then discuss as a class.
Example Scenario
“Your friend tags you in a photo at your house, showing your street address in the background.”
Circle: Safe ❏ Risky ❏ Unclear ❏
Read the scenario aloud and prompt students: “What would you do?” After discussion, point out why it’s risky or safe.
Sorting Activity
- In small groups, sort your cards (#risk-or-safe-sorting-cards) under the Stoplight zones.
- Discuss: Why is each action green, yellow, or red?
- Be ready to share one of your placements.
Introduce the sorting cards and explain group roles. Encourage justification of choices.
Wrap-Up & Reflection
List three things SAFE to share online and three things that should be kept PRIVATE.
• Safe to share:
• Keep private:
Project the Personal Information Protection Poster and guide students as they share. Record answers on whiteboard.
Key Takeaways
• Think before you post.
• Protect your personal information.
• Ask an adult if you’re not sure it's safe.
Summarize the lesson. Reinforce digital citizenship and encourage asking an adult if ever unsure online.
Activity
Risk or Safe? Sorting Cards
Instructions:
Cut out each card below. In your group, sort the cards under the Stoplight Poster zones: Green (safe), Yellow (be careful), or Red (stop). Be ready to explain why you placed each card where you did.
Cards:
- Posting a photo of your pet without revealing your address.
- Liking a friend’s public post.
- Sharing a drawing you made.
- Commenting “Great photo!” on a friend’s post.
- Accepting a friend request from someone you don’t know but have mutual friends with.
- Posting that you’ll be at the park tomorrow afternoon.
- Sharing your birthday (month and day only).
- Posting a photo taken inside your school.
- Sharing your home address in a status update.
- Posting a photo showing your street name sign.
- Using geotagging to show your real-time location.
- Chatting privately with someone you don’t know online.
Shuffle these cards before distributing to each group.
Reading
Stoplight Safety System
🟢 Green: Safe to share or do online.
🟡 Yellow: Think twice—be careful.
🔴 Red: Stop—this is risky or not allowed.
Reading
Personal Information Protection Poster
Think before you share!
Safe to Share 🟢
- Your favorite color or hobby
- A photo of your pet (no address shown)
- A picture of your artwork
- General interests (sports, books, games)
- Month and day of your birthday (no year)
Keep Private 🔴
- Your full name (first and last together)
- Your home address or street name
- Your phone number or email address
- Your exact birthdate (month, day, and year)
- Your school name or location
- Your passwords or login details
- Photos that show your house, school, or neighborhood clearly
- Real-time location (geotagging)
Remember: If you’re ever unsure, ask a trusted adult before you post!
Worksheet
Social Media Scenarios Handout
Instructions:
Read each scenario below. Circle whether you think it is Safe, Risky, or Unclear, then explain your choice in the space provided.
1. Your friend tags you in a photo taken in front of your house, and your street address is visible in the background.
Circle: Safe ☐ Risky ☐ Unclear ☐
Why?
2. You post a status announcing your birthday and the fact that you’re turning 10 today.
Circle: Safe ☐ Risky ☐ Unclear ☐
Why?
3. You start chatting privately with someone you don’t know but who says they’re a classmate at your school.
Circle: Safe ☐ Risky ☐ Unclear ☐
Why?
4. You post a photo showing your real-time location on a map in your story.
Circle: Safe ☐ Risky ☐ Unclear ☐
Why?
5. You share a cute picture of your pet along with its name (Fluffy) on your profile.
Circle: Safe ☐ Risky ☐ Unclear ☐
Why?
6. You receive a friend request from someone you don’t recognize but they have no mutual friends.
Circle: Safe ☐ Risky ☐ Unclear ☐
Why?
After you finish, be ready to share one example with your partner and explain your thinking!