Our Connected Community · Term 3

Staying Safe Online

Developing basic digital citizenship skills and understanding the importance of privacy.

About This Topic

Staying safe online is a critical life skill that begins in Year 1. This topic focuses on basic digital citizenship: asking for permission, keeping personal information private, and being kind to others. This aligns with ACARA's requirements for students to follow safe and ethical practices when using digital systems. It's about building a 'safety toolkit' for the digital world.

Students learn to identify 'safe' adults they can go to if they see something that makes them feel 'yucky' or confused. We also discuss the importance of 'digital footprints' in a very simple way, reminding students that what we say online should be as kind as what we say in person. This topic is best handled through role play and 'what if' scenarios that allow students to practice their responses in a safe environment.

Learning Objectives

• Identify personal information that should be kept private.
• Explain why asking a trusted adult for permission is important before using new digital tools.
• Demonstrate kind and respectful communication when interacting online.
• Classify online interactions as safe or unsafe based on given scenarios.

Before You Start

Identifying People and Roles

Why: Students need to be able to identify different people in their community, including 'trusted adults', to understand who to ask for help.

Basic Communication Skills

Why: Understanding how to speak and listen respectfully in person is foundational to learning about online kindness and communication.

Key Vocabulary

Personal Information	Details about you that should not be shared with strangers online, such as your full name, address, or phone number.
Trusted Adult	A grown-up, like a parent or teacher, who you can talk to if something online makes you feel worried or confused.
Digital Footprint	The traces you leave behind when you use the internet, like messages or pictures. It's important to leave a kind and positive footprint.
Online Kindness	Being polite, respectful, and considerate to others when communicating or playing games on a computer or tablet.

Active Learning Ideas

Role Play: The 'Ask First' Rule

Students act out scenarios where they want to use a tablet or download a new game. They practice the exact words they would use to ask a parent or teacher for permission.

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Think-Pair-Share: Secret or Share?

The teacher names an item (e.g., 'your name', 'your favourite colour', 'your home address'). Students think if it's a 'secret' or okay to 'share', then discuss why with a partner.

⏱ 15 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Gallery Walk: Kind Kids Online

Display pictures of kids using tech in different ways. Students walk around and put a 'thumbs up' sticker on pictures where the children are being kind, safe, or helpful.

⏱ 25 min·Whole Class

Generate mission

Real-World Connections

Children's librarians at local public libraries often guide young patrons on how to use computers safely and respectfully, teaching them about sharing information and being good digital citizens.

Game developers for popular children's apps, like ABCmouse or Prodigy, include features and guidelines to help young users interact positively and protect their personal data.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Everyone online is a friend.

What to Teach Instead

Young children are naturally trusting. Using the 'Stranger Danger' analogy (but for the digital world) helps them understand that we only 'talk' to people online that we know in real life.

Common Misconception

If I delete it, it's gone forever.

What to Teach Instead

Students may think mistakes can be easily erased. A simple 'glitter' analogy (once you spread it, it's hard to clean up) helps them understand that digital information can stay around for a long time.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Present students with scenarios on cards (e.g., 'A stranger asks for your name in a game,' 'You want to download a new game'). Ask students to hold up a green card if it's okay to proceed or a red card if they need to ask a trusted adult first. Discuss their choices.

Discussion Prompt

Ask students: 'Imagine you are playing an online game and see someone being unkind. What are two things you could do or say to be kind yourself, or to get help?' Record their ideas on a chart titled 'Being Kind Online'.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a small piece of paper. Ask them to draw one thing that is okay to share online (like their favorite color) and one thing that is private and should not be shared (like their home address). They can also write a simple sentence about why.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most important online safety rules for Year 1?

The three big ones are: 1. Always ask a grown-up before going online. 2. Never tell a stranger your name or where you live. 3. If you see something scary, tell a teacher or parent right away.

How do I talk about 'scary' things without frightening them?

Focus on the 'Helpers'. Tell them that just like there are lifeguards at the pool, there are adults to help them online. Frame it as 'staying safe' rather than 'avoiding danger'.

How can active learning help students understand online safety?

Active learning, like role playing the 'Ask First' rule, allows students to 'muscle memory' their safety responses. Instead of just hearing a rule, they practice the action of turning to an adult. This makes the behaviour much more likely to occur in a real-life situation when they are actually using a device.

How do I involve parents in this topic?

Send home a 'Family Tech Agreement' that students have helped create in class. This bridges the gap between school and home safety practices and starts a conversation for the whole family.