CyberSmart! : Lesson Plans : What's Private?

What's Private?

Download Student Activity Sheet(s) for printout in PDF Format

Overview
Children learn about the power of the Internet to facilitate collaboration among students worldwide. While co-writing a story online, students learn an important safety rule: Before sharing private information in cyberspace, they must get permission from a parent or teacher.

Objectives

		Identify information that is private
		Recall that private information should not be given out in cyberspace without permission of a parent or teacher
		Describe how students can collaborate on a project in cyberspace

ISTE^® National Technology Standards

		Grade 2, Performance Indicator # 6
		Grade 3, Performance Indicators # 3 and 7

Site Preview

		Story Book
		Kidworld
		Stories from the Web

Online Resources

Visit sites providing background information on Private Identity Information.

Materials

		Activity sheets (2)
		Online computer access

Introduce (offline)

		Have students collaborate to tell a story. Provide a story starter: A brother and sister are with their family at the beach. As they are running, the girl sees something moving across the sand. . . .
		Allow volunteers, one at a time, to add sentences, building on the narrative.
		Explain that they can also tell a story with students who live far away by using the Internet.

Teach 1 (online)

		Take students to www.becybersmart.org and click on the square. Find the title of this lesson, and open its link(s).
		Show students how the Web site(s) allows them to send a message to a friend or to collaborate with others. Ask: What private information does the site ask you to type? (Many Web sites ask for the student's name, school, and E-mail address.)
		Tell students that they must ask permission of their teacher or parent before typing such information at a Web site.

Teach 2 (offline)

		Distribute the activity sheets.
		Read and discuss Activity Sheet 1. Make sure students understand the various types of private information under "What's Private?"
		Explain that going into cyberspace is like traveling in the face-to-face world. Just as they would not give their private information to a stranger on the street, they should not give it to Web sites or other strangers in cyberspace.
		When students read "Use the Rule," explain that rules help keep students safe. Ask: What other rules do we have in school to keep you safe? (rules about running in the halls, fighting, pushing in lines, or taking turns)

Teach 3 (online)

Have students recall the Web site you explored for this lesson and then answer the questions under "Tell How You Did."

Close (offline)

		Ask: What things about you are private when you go into cyberspace? (name, address, school name, school address, E-mail address, phone number, passwords, parent's place of work, photos of oneself)
		Ask: What is our rule about giving out private information in cyberspace? (Always ask your teacher or parent before giving private information in cyberspace.)
		Ask: How can you share writing a story in cyberspace? (You can visit a Web site in which a story is started and send in the next part of the story for others to read.)

Extend (offline)
Students will benefit by revisiting this lesson each year. The following activity can be added for students who completed this lesson in a previous grade.

Have students play a variation of Simon Says in which they must not do what Simon Says if Simon asks them to tell any private information.