Online Safety Risks

Curriculum Information

Curriculum Area: Computing
Level: Key Stage 2 (Year 4)
UK Curriculum Link: "Use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly; recognise acceptable/unacceptable behaviour; identify a range of ways to report concerns about content and contact."

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Lesson Overview

Duration: 2 minutes
Class Size: 9 students
Aim: By the end of this lesson, pupils will be able to state at least three risks when using the internet.

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Learning Objective

• Know three key risks that exist when using the internet.

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Materials Needed

• Pictures of online scenarios (e.g., a fake profile, a suspicious message, and a pop-up ad).
• A stopwatch.
• A printed list of three online risks with emojis for visual cues.

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter (10 seconds) - Quickfire Thinking

• Ask: "Put your hand up if you've ever been online!"
• Briefly say: "The internet is amazing, but there are some risks we need to watch out for!"

2. Main Activity (1 minute 30 seconds) - Internet Risks Discovery

1. Show three images one by one, describing them quickly.
   • Fake Profile 👤 – "Sometimes, people pretend to be someone they’re not!"
   • Suspicious Messages 💬 – "Don't click on links from strangers – they might be dangerous!"
   • Pop-Up Ads 🚨 – "Some pop-ups trick you into clicking – be careful!"
2. Call and Response:
   • "What’s the danger with a fake profile?" (Students call out: "It could be a stranger!")
   • "Why should we avoid mystery links?" ("They could be scams!")
   • "What do we do if a weird pop-up appears?" ("Close it and tell an adult!")

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3. Plenary (20 seconds) - Mini Challenge

• Quick quiz: "Hands up if you remember one risk!" (Take three quick responses.)
• Final message: "The internet is great, but stay smart and stay safe!"

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observe responses during the call-and-response activity.
• Listen to answers in the plenary challenge.

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Differentiation

• For higher-ability students: Ask them to explain how to stay safe in each scenario.
• For students needing support: Use emoji cue cards as prompts.

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Teacher Reflection

• Were students engaged in the call-and-response?
• Did at least three pupils recall a risk by the end of the lesson?

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Teaching Tip: Keep energy high with dramatic reactions (e.g., "Oh no! A suspicious message! What do we do?!").

This micro-lesson packs an impact while keeping students engaged and responsive! 🚀