CyberSmart! : Lesson Plans : Privacy Rules!

Privacy Rules!

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

Overview
Students learn that children's Web sites must protect their private information and look for privacy policies and privacy seals of approval.

Objectives

		Explain that children's sites must, by law, protect the private information of children 13 and younger.
		Determine whether a site has a privacy policy and privacy seals of approval

ISTE^® National Technology Standards

Performance Indicator # 2

Site Preview

		The use of these sites is for educational illustration purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation or commercial endorsement. Before using these sites, please evaluate them in light of your school's guidelines about limiting students' exposure to consumer products and advertising. You may want to choose alternate sites to illustrate this lesson.
		Nickelodeon Online
		Yahoo! Kids
		Kids Running
		Nintendo

Online Resources

Visit sites providing background information on Privacy.

Materials

		Activity sheets (1, two copies per student)
		Online computer access

Introduce (offline)

Have students imagine walking around a big city wearing a tag that has their full name, address, and phone number printed for all to see. Ask: Why is this idea unsafe? Guide students to recognize that such information should be kept private so that strangers cannot use it to find them or bother them.

Teach 1 (online)

		Distribute one copy of the activity sheet.
		Take students to www.becybersmart.org and click on the triangle. Find the title of this lesson, and open its links. Choose a site to explore with the class.
		Tell students the United States has a law requiring Web site owners to help protect the private information of kids 13 and younger and to explain how they do so in a privacy notice. In addition, two organizations - Better Business Bureau and TRUSTe - periodically review children's sites to make sure they are protecting children's privacy.
		With students, complete the checklist. NOTE: What CyberSmart! calls "private identity information," or more simply "private information," others may call "personal information." CyberSmart! considers private information to be any information that can be used to discover one's identity.

Teach 2 (offline)

		Have students review their completed checklists. Explain that if Questions 1-7 and either Question 8 or 9 are answered, "Yes," then the site helps protect their privacy.
		Point out that they should make a habit of checking for a privacy policy and privacy seals.

Teach 3 (online)

		Distribute a second copy of the activity sheet.
		Assign individuals or groups to the remaining sites, have them complete the checklist, and share their results with the class.

Close (offline)

		Ask: Why must kids' sites protect children's private information? (There is a U.S. law that requires them to do so.)
		Ask: How do you use the CyberSmart! checklist to decide whether a site protects kids' privacy? (If Questions 1-7 and either Question 8 or 9 are answered, "Yes," then the site helps protect kids' privacy.)

Extend (online)
The following activity can be added for students who completed this lesson in a previous grade.

Have students brainstorm a list of sites they use for homework or fun. Then have them use a copy of the checklist to evaluate each site and summarize the results.