ICT Safety and Etiquette

Overview

Year Group: Year 3
Class Size: 6 students
Duration: 40 minutes
Unit: Tech Tools for Work (Lesson 6 of 8)
Lesson Title: Using ICT Tools Safely and Responsibly

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National Curriculum Links

This lesson supports the following National Curriculum objectives for Computing at Key Stage 2 (Year 3):

• Computing Programme of Study (Year 3):

  • Use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact.
  • Understand how to use ICT tools to create and organise digital content securely.

• Statutory Statements:

  • Pupils should be taught to:
    • Use technology safely and respectfully.
    • Recognise and report inappropriate content and behaviour.
    • Understand how to keep personal information private when using ICT.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, pupils will be able to:

1. Explain why it is important to use ICT tools safely and responsibly in a workplace setting.
2. Identify examples of good digital etiquette when using ICT tools.
3. Understand what personal information is and why it must be protected.
4. Demonstrate how to use ICT tools while following safety guidelines and digital etiquette.

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Success Criteria

• Can describe simple workplace rules for using ICT tools safely.
• Can give examples of respectful behaviour when using computers and digital devices.
• Can list personal information that should not be shared online or in digital workspaces.
• Participates in activities showing responsible ICT use.

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Resources

• Interactive whiteboard or projector
• Age-appropriate "ICT Safety and Etiquette" scenario cards (prepared in advance)
• Worksheets: "My Digital Safety Rules" (simple checklist for pupils)
• Sticky notes and pens
• A tablet or laptop with internet access (to demonstrate reporting/report concerns)
• Visual posters of ‘Safe ICT Use’ and ‘Digital Etiquette’

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Lesson Breakdown

1. Introduction (5 minutes)

• Greet students and recap previous learning about different ICT tools used in the workplace.
• Explain today’s focus: using these tools safely and responsibly.
• Use a short engaging story of “Sam’s first day at work” encountering challenges using ICT safely.

Teacher prompts:

• "What could happen if Sam is not careful with his login details?"
• "Why do you think workplace rules about technology are important?"

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2. Main Teaching Input (10 minutes)

• Present a visual slideshow/photo story illustrating:
  • Examples of digital etiquette (taking turns, polite messages, no shouting in emails).
  • Risks of sharing personal information (photos, passwords, full names).
  • Safe behaviour examples - e.g., logging off when finished, using strong passwords.
• Introduce key vocabulary: digital etiquette, personal information, safe use, privacy.

Interactive element:

• Ask students to identify good and bad behaviours from images/scenarios shown.
• Discuss what ‘personal information’ means and list examples together on the board.

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3. Guided Group Activity (12 minutes)

• Split students into pairs or groups of 3 (one group of 3).
• Give each group a set of simple scenario cards (e.g., “You get an email from a stranger asking for your password,” “You see a message telling you to be rude to a coworker,” “You finish work and forget to log out of a shared computer”).
• Groups discuss whether the behaviour is safe/responsible and come up with a correct response or rule.
• Groups present their ideas to the class with teacher facilitating and reinforcing correct understanding.

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4. Independent Work (8 minutes)

• Pupils complete the "My Digital Safety Rules" worksheet.
• They write or draw at least 3 rules they promise to follow when using ICT tools at school or work, focusing on safety and etiquette.
• Encourage simple sentences and illustrations.

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5. Plenary and Assessment (5 minutes)

• Quick-fire quiz using sticky notes: teacher reads statements (e.g., “It is okay to share your password with friends at work.”) and pupils hold up “True”/“False” notes.
• Reinforce key messages e.g., “Always keep your password secret,” “Be polite in emails,” “Report anything that feels wrong.”
• Collect worksheets to assess understanding of safe/responsible ICT use.

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Differentiation

• Support: Adult support during group discussions and worksheet with sentence starters.
• Challenge: Encourage advanced pupils to create an additional example of safe or unsafe behaviour to share with the class.

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Cross-Curricular Links

• PSHE: Respect, responsibility, and keeping safe.
• English: Speaking, listening and writing clearly about safety rules.

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Teacher Reflection Notes (Post-Lesson)

• Did pupils understand the concept of digital etiquette?
• Were pupils able to distinguish between safe and unsafe behaviours?
• How did pupils engage with scenario discussions?
• Any misconceptions to clarify in future lessons?

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This lesson plan innovatively combines storytelling, scenario-based learning, and interactive group work to bring ICT safety alive for young learners, ensuring deep alignment with the National Curriculum expectations for Year 3 Computing.