Warm Up: Digital Quick Check

Instructions: Answer the following questions honestly. There are no right or wrong answers, just your thoughts!

1. What is one of your favorite things to do online?
   
   
   
2. What is one thing you have posted or shared online that you are proud of?
   
   
   
3. Have you ever seen someone say or do something online that made you feel uncomfortable or worried? What happened? (You don't need to name names.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. What does it mean to be a

Script: Your Digital Superpower

Introduction & Warm-Up: Your Digital Life

Teacher: Good morning, 6th graders! We're diving into a super important topic today: your digital lives. To kick us off, I want you to think about this: What does 'digital superpower' mean to you? How can technology make you feel powerful? Turn and share with a partner for 30 seconds.

(Allow a few students to share their thoughts with the class.)

Teacher: Awesome ideas! Technology is powerful, and with great power comes great responsibility. Today, we're going to talk about how to use that power wisely. We'll cover three big things: your digital footprint, how to deal with cyberbullying, and how to use technology in a healthy way every day.

(Distribute Warm Up: Digital Quick Check.)

Teacher: Alright, everyone, you have a quick warm-up in front of you called 'Digital Quick Check.' Take about two minutes to answer the questions honestly. This isn't a test; it's just to get us thinking.

(After two minutes.)

Teacher: Let's hear a few responses. What's one thing you do online that you think is mostly positive? And what's one thing you wonder about when you's online?

(Facilitate a brief discussion, connecting to the idea of digital responsibility. Use Slide 1 and Slide 2 of the Slide Deck: Your Digital Superpower.)

Understanding Your Digital Footprint

Teacher: Our first topic is something called a 'digital footprint.' Has anyone heard of this before? What do you think it means?

(Listen to student responses. Use Slide 3 of the Slide Deck: Your Digital Superpower.)

Teacher: Think of your digital footprint like the traces you leave behind when you walk on sand. Every time you post a picture, comment on a video, search for something, or even just visit a website, you're leaving a little 'trace' online. It's all the information about you that exists on the internet, created by your online activities.

(Use Slide 4 of the Slide Deck: Your Digital Superpower.)

Teacher: What kind of things do you think contribute to your digital footprint? Think about what you do online.

(Guide students to mention social media posts, gaming profiles, school assignments shared online, photos, emails, etc.)

Teacher: Now, here's a crucial point: much of what goes online stays online. It can be permanent. Even if you delete something, it might still exist somewhere on a server or someone else might have a copy. Why do you think it's important to remember this? How might your digital footprint affect you in the future, maybe when you're applying for high school, college, or even a job?

(Use Slide 5 of the Slide Deck: Your Digital Superpower. Emphasize thinking before posting and the concept of a positive digital footprint.)

Navigating Cyberbullying

Teacher: Moving on to another really important part of being online: cyberbullying. We've all heard of bullying, but what makes cyberbullying different?

(Use Slide 6 of the Slide Deck: Your Digital Superpower.)

Teacher: Cyberbullying is bullying that happens using electronic technology. It can be mean messages, embarrassing photos, spreading rumors online, or excluding someone from a group chat. What makes it especially tough is that it can happen 24/7, reach a wide audience quickly, and sometimes the bully can hide behind a screen.

Teacher: What should you do if you or someone you know is being cyberbullied? What are some safe ways to respond?

(Use Slide 7 of the Slide Deck: Your Digital Superpower. Introduce the 'Stop, Block, Tell' strategy.)

Teacher: We have a simple but powerful strategy: Stop, Block, Tell.

• Stop: Don't respond or retaliate. It can make the situation worse.
• Block: Block the person who is cyberbullying you. This prevents them from contacting you.
• Tell: This is the most important step. Tell a trusted adult – a parent, guardian, teacher, school counselor, or another trusted adult. You don't have to deal with this alone. Remember, it is NEVER your fault if you are cyberbullied.

*(Use Slide 8 of the Slide Deck: Your Digital Superpower.)

Teacher: To practice this, I'm going to hand out some Activity: Digital Citizenship Scenario Cards. In your small groups, pick a few cards, read the scenario, and discuss what you would do using the 'Stop, Block, Tell' strategy and who you would tell. You have about five minutes for this discussion. Ready, set, go!

(Monitor groups and facilitate discussion. After five minutes, bring the class back together and quickly debrief a few scenarios.)

Responsible Technology Use & Screen Time

Teacher: Our last topic is about using technology responsibly in our daily lives, especially when it comes to how much time we spend on it. Technology is amazing, but it's important to use it mindfully.

(Use Slide 9 of the Slide Deck: Your Digital Superpower.)

Teacher: What are some benefits of technology? What are some things you enjoy doing online?

Teacher: Now, what are some other activities you enjoy that don't involve screens? Like sports, reading, playing outside, spending time with family or friends in person?

Teacher: It's really important to have a balance. Too much screen time can sometimes affect our sleep, our eyes, and even our mood. So, how can we make sure we're using technology in a healthy way?

(Use Slide 10 of the Slide Deck: Your Digital Superpower.)

Teacher: One way is to set some personal boundaries or limits. Maybe you decide no screens during dinner, or you stop using devices an hour before bed. It's about finding what works for you to keep a healthy balance. It's your choice to be in control of your screen time.

Conclusion & Cool Down: My Digital Promise (4 minutes)

Teacher: We've covered a lot today about being digital superheroes! We talked about your digital footprint, how to handle cyberbullying, and how to use technology in a balanced way. What's one big takeaway or something new you learned today?

(Allow a few students to share.)

Teacher: To wrap things up, I want you to make a personal promise to yourself about how you'll use your digital superpower responsibly. Please complete the Cool Down: My Digital Promise worksheet. Write down one thing you promise to do to be a better digital citizen, whether it's managing your digital footprint, standing up to cyberbullying, or balancing your screen time.

(Distribute Cool Down: My Digital Promise and allow students to complete it. Collect them as an exit ticket.)

Teacher: Great work today, everyone! Keep thinking about your digital superpower and how you can use it for good.

Activity: Digital Citizenship Scenario Cards

Instructions: Work in small groups. Read each scenario card and discuss the best course of action using the Stop, Block, Tell strategy where appropriate. Be prepared to share your group's thoughts with the class.

Scenario Card 1: The Embarrassing Photo

Your friend, Alex, posts a really embarrassing photo of you online as a

Cool Down: My Digital Promise

Instructions: Think about what we discussed today regarding your digital footprint, cyberbullying, and responsible technology use. Complete the following prompts to make a personal promise to yourself about your digital life.

My Digital Promise

1. One thing I learned today about my digital footprint is:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. If I or someone I know experiences cyberbullying, I promise to:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. To use technology responsibly and find a healthy balance, I promise to:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. My digital superpower will be used for (e.g., kindness, learning, creativity):