Keeping Personal Information Private

Young children learn best through movement, play, and concrete examples. When they physically act out keeping information private, they move from abstract ideas to lived experience. Active tasks turn 'don’t share that' into 'I protect this because I can see why it matters'.

• Year 1
• Computing
• 3 activities
• 15 min–20 min

Learning Objectives

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

Simulation Game

⏱ 20 min·Whole Class

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'.

Prepare & details

What is a password and why is it important to keep it secret?

Facilitation Tip: For the Password Padlock, use real padlocks so children feel the physical weight of keeping something locked away.

Setup: Flexible space for group stations

Materials: Role cards with goals/resources, Game currency or tokens, Round tracker

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Inquiry Circle

⏱ 20 min·Small Groups

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.

Prepare & details

What kinds of information are safe to share with others, and what should you keep private?

Facilitation Tip: During Safe to Share?, provide picture cards of everyday objects; ask pairs to sort them into ‘safe to share with everyone’ and ‘only for trusted adults’.

Setup: Groups at tables with access to source materials

Materials: Source material collection, Inquiry cycle worksheet, Question generation protocol, Findings presentation template

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 15 min·Pairs

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.

Prepare & details

How would you explain to a younger child why we keep some things private online?

Facilitation Tip: In the Secret Key activity, give each child a paper key cut-out so they can literally hold and hide their own ‘secret’.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Teaching This Topic

Start with objects children can see and touch—keys, name tags, toy houses—so the idea of private information becomes tangible. Use the phrase 'digital keys' to connect a familiar concrete object to an abstract concept. Avoid abstract rules like 'never share'; instead, ask children to weigh reasons why sharing a password might cause trouble, using their own examples.

What to Expect

By the end of the activities, students can name three types of private information and explain one reason passwords must stay secret. They use the language of safety—lock, key, secret, share—to describe their choices with confidence.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During The Secret Key activity, watch for children who hand their paper key to a partner.

What to Teach Instead

Pause the sharing and ask the class: 'If you give your key to a friend, who else might use it tomorrow?' Direct them to lock their key in their desk instead, modeling how passwords stay with one owner.

Common Misconception

During Safe to Share?, listen for children who say their house picture is safe to share because it’s outside.

What to Teach Instead

Hold up the house card and ask: 'If we put this picture on the internet, who could see it?' Use a world map to show how far a single post travels, then have them re-sort the card into the 'private' pile.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

After The Password Padlock activity, show picture cards of items including a house, a toy, a key, a book, and a name tag. Ask students to point to the items that represent private information, then explain in one sentence why each chosen item is private.

Discussion Prompt

During The Secret Key activity, 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

After Safe to Share?, give each student a slip of paper to draw a picture of something that is safe to share online and write one word about why it is safe. On the back, they write one word about something that is NOT safe to share online.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Ask early finishers to invent a new 'private information' card and explain its danger to a partner.
• Scaffolding: Provide sentence stems on cards: 'I would not share my ______ because…'.
• Deeper exploration: Invite a local police community officer to discuss online strangers using a story about lost keys.

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.