Suggested Grade/Age Range: Grades 4-6 (ages 9-11)

Activity Objective: The goal of this activity is to help children practice healthy and safe responses to uncomfortable or potentially dangerous situations online. This is especially important as an increasing number of children are accessing the Internet and various social media platforms.

Learning Goals
Big Messages to Kids

Link to Ontario Curriculum

Materials Required:

•  Scenario cards
• Chart paper and Markers
• Screen to show Internet safety resources

Prep Time: 15 minutes

• Make copies of scenario cards
• Have chart paper and markers ready
• Look over Internet safety resources 

Task Time: 45 minutes

• Introduce activity
• Small group discussion
• Whole class discussion

Activity Description:

Opening Discussion:

1.       Ask the class for a show of hands of how many people use various social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, etc.). Allow some individuals to share what they use. Tell them that it’s important that we know how to respond to uncomfortable or potentially dangerous situations that can happen online

Activity:

2.       Tell the class that in small groups of 3-4, they will be given a scenario card to discuss and they will need to come up with a solution/response for it. The groups will then present their scenario and solution to the class

3.       Divide the class into small groups, have each small group choose a scenario card, and then find a space in the classroom to work on the solution/response to their card. Give them about 15-20 minutes to do this

4.       Circulate from small group to small group to monitor progress and give feedback

Wrap-up Discussion/Presentations:

5.       Have each small group present their scenario card and their solution. Allow some time for the class to offer some more ideas for each scenario presented. Write down all the different solutions on chart paper

6.       Have a whole class discussion. Use the following questions as guidelines:

• What is the difference between an acquaintance and a friend?
• What makes an online friendship different from a real friendship?
• Why is it easier to do something on the Internet that you normally wouldn’t do?
• If you come across worrying information about yourself on the Internet, what can you do?
• If you come across worrying information about a friend on the Internet, what can you do?
• If you come across worrying information about someone who you know but is not a friend (e.g., a peer at school), what would you do?
• How can you prevent cyberbullying or deal with it once it is happening?

7.       Take the class through a few of the Internet safety resources that you have chosen. Project the websites onto a larger screen and navigate through them to show children what to do in situations where they need help about an online situation that makes them uncomfortable and/or is potentially dangerous. Let the children know that these resources can help themselves, their friends, and others that they know

8.       Emphasize to the children that once information and/or pictures are sent online, they lose control over what happens to it, who it is forwarded to, and where it is posted. Also, remaining anonymous is an easy thing to do online so you never really know who you are talking to, even when you think you are talking with your friends.

9.       Reinforce that it is never safe to post any personal information online and to get help from a trusted adult if they feel unsafe about something happening online

Activity Extensions:

Have children create Internet safety messages and/or posters that can go in the classroom and/or around the school. Have children incorporate one of the Internet safety resources (e.g., Kids Help Phone) as part of their poster and/or message

Additional Resources:

You may choose to review over the Making Choices Literature Review before implementing this activity. It can be found here.