Lesson Plan
What's Your Digital Superpower?
Students will be able to identify key aspects of digital citizenship, recognize their own digital strengths and areas for growth, and commit to responsible online behavior.
In today's interconnected world, understanding how to navigate the digital landscape responsibly is essential. This lesson empowers students to become thoughtful, ethical, and safe online citizens.
Audience
6th Grade Class
Time
60 minutes
Approach
Interactive discussion, self-reflection, and creative activity.
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Unleash Your Digital Superpower Slide Deck and associated Script.
- Print copies of the Digital Hero Identity Builder Activity (one per student).
- Print copies of the My Digital Strengths & Weaknesses Worksheet (one per student).
- Ensure projector/smartboard is set up for the slide deck.
Step 1
Introduction: What's a Digital Superpower?
10 minutes
- Begin with the Unleash Your Digital Superpower Slide Deck (Slides 1-3) and follow the Script for an engaging hook.
- Facilitate a brief class discussion on what 'digital citizenship' means to them and what kind of 'digital superpowers' they might already have or want to develop.
Step 2
Exploring Digital Citizenship Concepts
15 minutes
- Continue through the Unleash Your Digital Superpower Slide Deck (Slides 4-7) using the Script.
- Discuss the core principles of digital citizenship: respect, educate, protect.
- Encourage students to share real-world examples of good and bad digital citizenship.
Step 3
Digital Hero Identity Builder
20 minutes
- Distribute the Digital Hero Identity Builder Activity.
- Explain the activity: students will design a digital hero avatar and describe their digital superpower and how they use it for good online.
- Circulate and provide support and encouragement as students work.
Step 4
Reflecting on Strengths and Weaknesses
10 minutes
- Hand out the My Digital Strengths & Weaknesses Worksheet.
- Instruct students to complete the worksheet, reflecting on their current digital habits and identifying areas where they can improve.
- This can be a private reflection or shared with a partner if comfortable.
Step 5
Wrap-up and Commitment
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
- Ask a few students to share one insight they gained or one commitment they will make to be a better digital citizen (voluntary sharing).
- Conclude with the final slide on the Unleash Your Digital Superpower Slide Deck (Slide 8) and reinforce the importance of being a responsible digital citizen.
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Slide Deck
What's Your Digital Superpower?
Let's explore how to be awesome online!
Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic. Ask them to think about what 'digital' means and what 'superpower' means.
What is Digital Citizenship?
It's about being a responsible and safe person when you're online.
Ask students: 'What comes to mind when you hear 'digital citizenship'?' Allow a few responses.
Being a Digital Hero
Using technology in a smart, safe, and respectful way.
Explain that just like real-life citizenship, digital citizenship has rules and responsibilities. Our digital actions have an impact!
The 'Respect' Superpower
- Be kind and polite in your online interactions.
- Think before you post or comment.
- Treat others how you want to be treated.
Introduce the 'Respect' aspect. Discuss what it means to be respectful online (e.g., polite language, not cyberbullying).
The 'Educate' Superpower
- Share accurate and helpful information.
- Understand what's true and what's not online.
- Give credit to others' ideas and work.
Introduce the 'Educate' aspect. Discuss sharing knowledge responsibly, checking facts, and giving credit.
The 'Protect' Superpower
- Keep your personal information private.
- Create strong passwords and don't share them.
- Be aware of who you're talking to online.
Introduce the 'Protect' aspect. Discuss keeping personal information safe, creating strong passwords, and recognizing scams.
Respect, Educate, Protect!
These are your guiding principles for becoming an amazing digital citizen.
Summarize the three core ideas and reinforce their importance.
Unleash YOUR Digital Superpower!
You have the power to make the internet a better place. What will your digital superpower be?
Encourage students to think about how they will use their digital superpower and conclude the lesson.
Script
What's Your Digital Superpower? - Script
Slide 1: What's Your Digital Superpower?
"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Look at our exciting title today: 'What's Your Digital Superpower?' Isn't that intriguing? We're going to dive into how we can all be incredible online citizens."
Slide 2: What is Digital Citizenship?
"So, what exactly is digital citizenship? When you hear that phrase, what comes to mind? Shout out some ideas! Yes, it's about being responsible. Yes, it's about being safe. It's really about being a good person and a good community member in the digital world, just like you are in our classroom or in our school building."
Slide 3: Being a Digital Hero
"Think of it this way: a digital hero uses technology in a smart, safe, and respectful way. Every time you go online, you have the chance to be a hero, to make the internet a better place for yourself and for others. Your actions have an impact, big or small!"
Slide 4: The 'Respect' Superpower
"One of the most important superpowers a digital citizen can have is 'Respect.' What does it mean to be respectful in real life?
That's right, using kind words, listening, not interrupting. The same goes for online! Being kind and polite in your online interactions, thinking before you post or comment, and always treating others how you want to be treated are key parts of this superpower. No cyberbullying, no mean comments – that's not what a digital hero does."
Slide 5: The 'Educate' Superpower
"Next up, we have the 'Educate' Superpower. This is all about sharing information responsibly. In a world full of information, it's super important to share what's accurate and helpful. It also means you check your facts. If you see something online, do you automatically believe it, or do you try to find out if it's true?
And, if you're using someone else's idea or picture, it's respectful to give them credit, just like we do with sources in a research project."
Slide 6: The 'Protect' Superpower
"Our third core superpower is 'Protect.' This is about keeping yourself and your information safe online. What kinds of personal information do you think we should keep private?
Exactly! Your full name, address, phone number, school. Don't share those with strangers online. Also, think about your passwords. Are they strong? Do you share them? A digital hero creates strong passwords and never shares them, even with friends. And always be aware of who you're talking to online. If something feels off, it probably is. Always tell a trusted adult."
Slide 7: Respect, Educate, Protect!
"So, remember these three words: Respect, Educate, Protect! These are your core principles for becoming an amazing digital citizen. If you keep these in mind every time you go online, you'll be well on your way to unleashing your full digital superpower."
Slide 8: Unleash YOUR Digital Superpower!
"Now, it's your turn to think. You have the power to make the internet a better place. What will your digital superpower be? How will you use it for good? Keep these ideas in mind as we move into our activity!"
Activity
Digital Hero Identity Builder
Your Mission:
Design your very own Digital Hero! This hero will represent you and your commitment to being an awesome digital citizen. Think about what makes a hero, and how those qualities apply to being online.
Step 1: Create Your Digital Hero Avatar
In the space below, draw or describe your Digital Hero. What do they look like? Do they have a special symbol or costume? Give them a cool name!
Step 2: Identify Your Digital Superpower
Think about one aspect of digital citizenship that you are really good at, or that you want to be known for. This is your Digital Superpower! It could be 'The Protector of Privacy,' 'The Spreader of Positivity,' 'The Fact-Checker,' or something else entirely. Describe your superpower below.
My Digital Superpower is:
Step 3: How Your Hero Uses Their Superpower for Good
Explain how your Digital Hero uses their superpower to make the online world a better, safer, or more respectful place. Give at least two specific examples.
Step 4: Your Digital Hero Pledge
Write a short pledge (a promise) about how you will use your digital superpower every time you go online.
I, [Your Digital Hero Name], pledge to...
Worksheet
My Digital Strengths & Weaknesses
Being a great digital citizen means knowing what you do well and what you can improve. Take some time to honestly reflect on your own digital habits.
Part 1: My Digital Strengths
Think about how you use technology. What are some things you do really well when you're online? These are your digital strengths! (For example: 'I always ask an adult before downloading new apps,' or 'I'm careful about what personal information I share.')
Part 2: Areas for Digital Growth
Now, think about areas where you could improve your online habits. What's one thing you want to work on to become an even better digital citizen? (For example: 'I need to remember to check if information is true before sharing it,' or 'I could be kinder in online games.')
Part 3: My Digital Goal
Choose ONE area for digital growth from Part 2 and turn it into a goal. How will you work on this? What steps can you take?
My Digital Goal:
Steps I will take to achieve this goal: