Digital Safety Awareness

Overview

This lesson is designed for Year 4 students in Australia and focuses on integrating Digital Technologies and Health and Physical Education. By using the Australian Curriculum standards, the lesson introduces students to the safe use of digital technologies and social media, identifying potential risks, and implementing strategies to avoid or address them.

Curriculum Links:

• Learning Area: Health and Physical Education
• Year Level: Year 4
• Curriculum Content: Enhancing personal, social and community health

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Understand the risks associated with online platforms and social media.
• Recognise appropriate and inappropriate content and online behaviours.
• Develop strategies to maintain personal safety online.
• Learn how to seek help if they encounter online safety issues.

Resources

• Interactive whiteboard
• Printed scenario cards
• Large sheets of paper and markers
• Access to a digital device (optional)
• Safe and appropriate online educational video clips about internet safety

Lesson Structure

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Welcoming Exercise: Begin with a brief warm-up stretch involving simple movements representing digital interactions (e.g., "swiping" arms as if on a screen).
2. Discussion: Ask students what they know about social media and digital technologies. Use guiding questions like:
   • What is social media?
   • What kind of devices do you use to access social media?
   • Has anyone ever talked to you about staying safe online?

Activity 1: Understanding Digital Technologies (15 minutes)

• Interactive Presentation: Use the interactive whiteboard to show images of various digital devices and social media platforms.
  • Discuss the purpose and benefits of these technologies.
  • Introduce basic concepts of digital footprints and online privacy.
• Think-Pair-Share: In pairs, students discuss what apps or games they use and any safety measures they already know.

Activity 2: Scenario Exploration (20 minutes)

1. Group Split: Divide the class into small groups of 4-5 students.
2. Scenario Cards: Hand out printed scenario cards, each depicting a common online situation (e.g., receiving a friend request from a stranger, seeing mean comments, being asked for personal information).
3. Group Work:
   • Each group discusses their scenario and considers appropriate ways to respond.
   • Encourage creative problem-solving and empathy by thinking about how they might feel in these situations.
4. Share Back: Groups share their scenarios and solutions with the class, fostering a collaborative learning environment.

Activity 3: Strategy Development (10 minutes)

• Mind Mapping: On large sheets of paper, each group creates a mind map of strategies to stay safe online and whom to approach if they feel unsafe.
• Discussion: As a class, discuss these strategies and compile a "Top Tips for Online Safety" poster to display in the classroom.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

• Reflection: Conduct a quick, light-hearted reflection exercise where students share one new thing they learned from the lesson.
• Closing Circle: Form a circle and have each student mention one physical activity that is their favourite way to have fun offline, emphasising balance between digital time and physical activities.

Assessment

• Formative Assessment: Observe student participation during discussions and group activities.
• Feedback: Provide immediate feedback on the thoughtfulness and creativity of strategies developed during group work.

Extension Ideas:

• Students could create a short digital presentation or poster for homework on one aspect of digital safety.
• Invite a guest speaker, such as a police officer or digital safety expert, to further educate students in a future lesson.

This lesson not only enlightens students on digital safety but also actively engages them through interactive, age-appropriate activities, fostering a rich learning experience. By anchoring on the Australian Curriculum standards, this plan interweaves critical knowledge and practical skills that students need in today's digital age.