Computing · Year 1 · Safety and Digital Citizenship · Summer Term

Keeping Personal Information Private

Students learn about passwords and why certain information, like their home address or full name, should remain private online.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS1: Computing - Online Safety
• KS1: Computing - Personal Information

About This Topic

Keeping Secrets Safe introduces the concepts of personal information and data security. In Year 1, students learn that some information, like their home address, full name, and passwords, should be kept private. In the UK National Curriculum, this is part of 'keeping personal information private'. They learn that passwords are like 'digital keys' that protect our work and our identity from people who shouldn't see them.

This topic also covers the difference between 'good' secrets (like a surprise birthday present) and 'bad' secrets (information that could make us unsafe). This topic comes alive when students can use physical props like locks and keys to model how passwords work and participate in collaborative sorting tasks to identify what is safe to share.

Key Questions

1. What is a password and why is it important to keep it secret?
2. What kinds of information are safe to share with others, and what should you keep private?
3. How would you explain to a younger child why we keep some things private online?

Learning Objectives

• Identify personal information that should be kept private online.
• Explain the function of a password as a security measure.
• Compare scenarios to determine if sharing information is safe or private.
• Demonstrate how to create a simple, secret password.
• Classify different types of information as either public or private.

Before You Start

Recognizing Personal Items

Why: Students need to be able to identify their own belongings to understand the concept of personal information.

Understanding 'Mine' and 'Yours'

Why: This foundational concept helps students grasp ownership and the idea that some things belong to them specifically, which extends to personal information.

Key Vocabulary

Password	A secret word or phrase that you use to get access to something, like a computer or an online account. It helps keep your information safe.
Private Information	Details about you that should only be known by you or people you trust, like your full name, address, or phone number. Sharing this online can be risky.
Public Information	Details about you that are okay to share with others, like your favorite color or your favorite game. This kind of information is generally safe to share.
Online Safety	Ways to protect yourself and your information when you are using the internet or digital devices. This includes keeping passwords secret and knowing what information not to share.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

It's okay to share my password with my best friend.

What to Teach Instead

Explain that even friends can accidentally use your account in ways you don't like. A password is only for you and your 'Trusted Adults'. Use the 'Secret Key' activity to show how quickly a secret spreads.

Common Misconception

My address isn't a secret because it's on my house.

What to Teach Instead

Explain that while people walking past can see it, the internet is like a giant window that the whole world can look through. We only want people we know to have our address.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Password Padlock

The teacher puts a 'prize' in a box with a 3-digit code. Students must 'guess' the code to see how hard it is. They then discuss why a 'strong' password (like a secret word) is better than a simple one like '123'.

20 min·Whole Class

Inquiry Circle: Safe to Share?

Groups are given cards with info like 'My favorite color', 'My house number', 'My cat's name', and 'My password'. They sort them into 'Safe to tell a stranger' and 'Keep it secret' hoops.

20 min·Small Groups

Think-Pair-Share: The Secret Key

Students think of a 'secret word' that only they and their partner know. They discuss why they shouldn't tell anyone else that word if it was the 'key' to their tablet.

15 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Librarians use library card numbers and passwords to help patrons borrow books, ensuring only the cardholder can access their account and borrowing history.
• Children's game developers create secure login systems with usernames and passwords so that players' progress and personal settings are saved and protected from others.
• Parents use passwords on family computers to set up different user accounts, keeping each person's files and settings separate and private.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Show students picture cards of different items (e.g., a house, a toy, a key, a book, a name tag). Ask them to point to the items that represent private information. Then, ask them to explain why they chose those items.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Imagine your friend wants to share their password with you. What would you say to them and why?' Listen for students to explain that passwords are secret and should not be shared to keep accounts safe.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a slip of paper. Ask them to draw a picture of something that is safe to share online and write one word about why it is safe. Then, ask them to write one word about something that is NOT safe to share online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is 'Personal Information' for a Year 1 student?

Anything that can identify exactly who they are or where they live: full name, home address, school name, phone numbers, and passwords.

How can active learning help students understand privacy?

Physical sorting activities (Safe vs. Secret) allow students to debate and justify their choices. When they have to argue why a 'favorite color' is safe but a 'home address' isn't, they are processing the logic of privacy rather than just memorizing a list. This critical thinking is the heart of digital citizenship.

Should Year 1 students have their own passwords?

Many school systems (like Purple Mash) give them simple picture passwords. This is a great way to practice the habit of logging in and keeping that 'key' private from their peers.

How do I explain 'privacy' to a 5-year-old?

Compare it to a bathroom door or a diary. Some things are just for us and our family, and that's okay! It's about being in charge of our own 'stuff'.