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Kindergarten - Media Balance is Important
Students consider the feelings of themselves and others when making decisions about when, where, and how much to use technology.

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How do we find a happy balance between our online and offline activities?

Vocabulary Show definitions

balance - having equal weight or importance of something

device - an electronic piece of equipment like a phone, tablet, or laptop

This lesson meets standards for Common Core ELA , ISTE , CASEL , and AASL . See standards

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Media Balance Is Important | Common Sense Education

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How do we find a happy balance between our online and offline activities? Check out Media Balance Is Important, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your kindergarten students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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Kindergarten-Safety in my Online Neighborhood
The power of the internet allows students to experience and visit places they might not be able to see in person. But, just like traveling in the real world, it's important to be safe when traveling online. On this virtual field trip, kids can practice staying safe on online adventures.

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Common Sense Education has partnered with CYBER.ORG to support cybersecurity education. If you want to build on the themes from this lesson, we recommend the following resources from CYBER.ORG's content library:

Layered Security (Grades K-2): Students learn about the physical security around their school and how to verify someone's identity.

Stronger Together (Grades K-2): Students learn to use more than one security tool to keep people, places, and devices safe.

Our collaboration with CYBER.ORG was made possible with the generous support of Craig Newmark Philanthropies.

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Safety in My Online Neighborhood | Common Sense Education

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How do you go places safely online? Check out Safety in My Online Neighborhood, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your kindergarten students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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K-2 iPads Rules - Presentation (16:9) by Darla Moyers

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Grade 1-Pause and Think Online
From our head down to our toes, and our feet up to our nose, the Digital Citizens teach students how to be safe, responsible, and respectful online.

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From our head down to our toes, and our feet up to our nose, the Digital Citizens teach students how to be safe, responsible, and respectful online.

Understand the importance of being safe, responsible, and respectful online.

Learn the "Pause & Think Online" song to remember basic digital citizenship concepts.

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Pause & Think Online | Common Sense Education

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How can we be safe, responsible, and respectful online? Check out Pause & Think Online, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 1 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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Grade 1-Internet Traffic Light
Staying safe online is a lot like staying safe in the real world. Using a fun traffic light activity, students learn how to identify "just right" content, giving them the green light to learn, play, and explore the internet safely.

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Common Sense Education has partnered with CYBER.ORG to support cybersecurity education. If you want to build on the themes from this lesson, we recommend the following lesson from the CYBER.ORG content library:

Agreeing to the Rules (Grades K-2): Students learn about user agreements and how these relate to appropriate behavior in class and when using devices at school.
Our collaboration with CYBER.ORG was made possible with the generous support of Craig Newmark Philanthropies.

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Internet Traffic Light | Common Sense Education

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How do you stay safe when visiting a website or app? Check out Internet Traffic Light, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 1 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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K-2 iPads Rules - Presentation (16:9) by Darla Moyers

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Name of student(s) in First Grade that did not get ALL the lessons.  Keep what they missed on a piece of paper and when I come in your room you can hand that too me and I will pull the student(s) and do that lesson with them.

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Grade 2-We The Digital Citizens
Students explore the amazing possibilities that come with using technology. They'll also learn from the Digital Citizens, who take a pledge to be safe, responsible, and respectful when traveling through the online world.

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How can we be good digital citizens? Check out We, the Digital Citizens, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 2 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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Grade 2-Digital Trails
Does what you do online always stay online? Students learn that the information they share online leaves a digital footprint or "trail." Depending on how they manage it, this trail can be big or small, and harmful or helpful. Students compare different trails and think critically about what kinds of information they want to leave behind.

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Does what you do online always stay online? Students learn that the information they share online leaves a digital footprint or "trail." Depending on how they manage it, this trail can be big or small, and harmful or helpful. Students compare different trails and think critically about what kinds of information they want to leave behind.

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What information is OK to have in your digital footprint? Check out Digital Trails, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 2 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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K-2 iPads Rules - Presentation (16:9) by Darla Moyers

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Name of student(s) in 2nd Grade that did not get ALL the lessons.  Keep what they missed on a piece of paper and when I come in your room you can hand that too me and I will pull the student(s) and do that lesson with them.

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Grade 3-The Power of Words
As kids grow, they'll naturally start to communicate more online. But some of what they see could make them feel hurt, sad, angry, or even fearful. Help your students build empathy for others and learn strategies to use when confronted with cyberbullying.

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The Power of Words | Common Sense Education

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What should you do when someone uses mean or hurtful language on the internet? Check out The Power of Words, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 3 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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5 Questions

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Grade 3-Your Rings of Responsibility
Teaching digital citizenship is all about helping kids think beyond themselves and recognize the ripple effects of their actions. Personal responsibility is important, but understanding their responsibilities to others can help kids unlock new ways to learn and connect with their communities -- and even change those communities for the better.

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Teaching digital citizenship is all about helping kids think beyond themselves and recognize the ripple effects of their actions. Personal responsibility is important, but understanding their responsibilities to others can help kids unlock new ways to learn and connect with their communities -- and even change those communities for the better.

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Your Rings of Responsibility | Common Sense Education

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How do digital citizens take responsibility for themselves, their communities, and their world? Check out Your Rings of Responsibility, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 3 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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5 Questions

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3rd Grade: Your Rings of Responsibility Lesson Quiz

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Name of student(s) in 3rd Grade that did not get ALL the lessons.  Keep what they missed on a piece of paper and when I come in your room you can hand that too me and I will pull the student(s) and do that lesson with them.

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Grade 4-Keeping Games Fun and Friendly
Social interaction is part of what makes online gaming so popular and engaging for kids. Of course, online communication can come with some risks. Show your students how to keep their gaming experiences fun, healthy, and positive.

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Social interaction is part of what makes online gaming so popular and engaging for kids. Of course, online communication can come with some risks. Show your students how to keep their gaming experiences fun, healthy, and positive.

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Keeping Games Fun and Friendly | Common Sense Education

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How can I be positive and have fun while playing online games, and help others do the same? Check out Keeping Games Fun and Friendly, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 4 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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7 Questions

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Grade 4-Our Online Tracks
Your digital footprint can affect your online reputation for a long time. But kids don't always realize that digital footprints aren't just a personal matter. Show your students how they can contribute to a positive digital reputation, both for themselves and for others.

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Grade 4 - Our Online Tracks - Lesson Slides

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Just display ws on your smartboard and discuss with students

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Grade 4 - Our Online Tracks - Feet's Footprint Student Handout

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Name of student(s) in 4th Grade that did not get ALL the lessons.  Keep what they missed on a piece of paper and when I come in your room you can hand that too me and I will pull the student(s) and do that lesson with them.

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Grade 5-Is it Cyberbullying?
Let's face it: Some online spaces can be full of negative, rude, or downright mean behavior. But what counts as cyberbullying? Help your students learn what is -- and what isn't -- cyberbullying, and give them the tools they'll need to combat the problem.

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Let's face it: Some online spaces can be full of negative, rude, or downright mean behavior. But what counts as cyberbullying? Help your students learn what is -- and what isn't -- cyberbullying, and give them the tools they'll need to combat the problem.

Recognize similarities and differences between in-person bullying, cyberbullying, and being mean.

Empathize with the targets of cyberbullying.

Identify strategies for dealing with cyberbullying and ways they can be an upstander for those being bullied.

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Is It Cyberbullying? | Common Sense Education

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What is cyberbullying and what can you do to stop it? Check out Is It Cyberbullying?, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 5 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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5 Questions

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Grade 5-You Won't Believe This!
The internet is full of catchy headlines and outrageous images, all to make us curious and get our attention. But kids don't usually realize: What you click on isn't always what you get. Show your students the best ways to avoid clickbait online.

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Grade 5 - You Won't Believe This! - Lesson Slides

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Bring up on smartboard and discuss

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Grade 5 - You Won't Believe This! - What's _The Curiosity Gap__ Student Handout

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Bring up worksheet on smartboard and discuss

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Grade 5 - You Won't Believe This! - Avoiding Clickbait Student Handout

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Name of student(s) in 5th Grade that did not get ALL the lessons.  Keep what they missed on a piece of paper and when I come in your room you can hand that too me and I will pull the student(s) and do that lesson with them.

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Sixth Grade Chatting Safely Online
How do you chat safely with people you meet online?
Games, social media, and other online spaces give kids opportunities to meet and chat with others outside the confines of their real-life communities. But how well do kids actually know the people they're meeting and interacting with? Help students consider whom they're talking to and the types of information they're sharing online.

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Chatting Safely Online | Common Sense Education

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How do you chat safely with people you meet online? Check out Chatting Safely Online, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 6 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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5 Questions

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6th Grade: Chatting Safely Online Lesson Quiz

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Sixth Grade Digital Drama Unplugged
Miscommunication is a common occurrence online and on social media. Plus, being behind a screen makes it easier to say things they wouldn't say in person. So how do we help students avoid the pitfalls of digital drama? Help them learn tips on avoiding online drama in the first place and de-escalating drama when it happens

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Digital Drama Unplugged | Common Sense Education

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How can you de-escalate digital drama so it doesn’t go too far? Check out Digital Drama Unplugged, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 6 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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5 Questions

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Name of student(s) in 6th Grade that did not get ALL the lessons.  Keep what they missed on a piece of paper and when I come in your room you can hand that too me and I will pull the student(s) and do that lesson with them.

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Seventh Grade The Power of Digital Footprints
Our digital footprints can impact our future. What others find about us online shapes how they see us or feel about us.  Help your students learn about their digital footprint and the steps they can take to shape what others find and see about them online.

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Our digital footprints can impact our future. What others find about us online shapes how they see us or feel about us. Help your students learn about their digital footprint and the steps they can take to shape what others find and see about them online.

Define the term "digital footprint" and explain how it can affect their online privacy.

Analyze how different parts of their digital footprint can lead others to draw conclusions -- both positive and negative -- about who they are.

Use the Take a Stand thinking routine to examine a dilemma about digital footprints.

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The Power of Digital Footprints | Common Sense Education

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How might our digital footprints shape our future? Check out The Power of Digital Footprints, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 7 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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5 Questions

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Seventh Grade: Upstanders and Allies: Taking Action Against Cyberbullying
When cyberbullying happens, everyone involved brings their own perspective to the situation. Help students learn about the importance of empathy, how to consider others' feelings, and how to be an upstander when cyberbullying occurs.

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Upstanders and Allies_ Taking Action Against Cyberbullying _ Common Sense Education

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Grade 7 - Upstanders and Allies_ Taking Action Against Cyberbullying - Lesson Slides

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Bring up worksheet on smartboard and discuss as a class

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Grade 7 - Upstanders and Allies_ Taking Action Against Cyberbullying - Kevin and José Student Handout

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Bring up ws on smartboard and discuss as a class

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Grade 7 - Upstanders and Allies_ Taking Action Against Cyberbullying - Mia Student Handout

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Name of student(s) in 7th Grade that did not get ALL the lessons.  Keep what they missed on a piece of paper and when I come in your room you can hand that too me and I will pull the student(s) and do that lesson with them.

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Eighth Grade Social Media and Digital Footprints: Our Responsibilities
Social media can be a place to connect, learn, and, most of all, share. But how much do kids know about what they're sharing -- and not just about themselves but each other? Help students think critically about their digital footprints on social media.

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Social media can be a place to connect, learn, and, most of all, share. But how much do kids know about what they're sharing -- and not just about themselves but each other? Help students think critically about their digital footprints on social media.

Identify reasons for using social media and the challenges that often come along with it.

Reflect on the responsibilities they have that are related to digital footprints -- both their own and others' -- when they're using social media.

Identify ways to make the most of social media while still caring for the digital footprints of themselves and others.

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Social Media and Digital Footprints: Our Responsibilities | Common Sense Education

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How does using social media affect our digital footprints? Check out Social Media and Digital Footprints: Our Responsibilities, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 8 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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5 Questions

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Eighth Grade: Responding to Online Hate Speech
Students can come across all kinds of negative content online and on social media, whether it's rude, mean, or even hateful. But what should students do when they encounter hate speech online? Have  students think through digital dilemmas and identify the best ways to respond.

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Grade 8 Responding to Online Hate Speech

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Grade 8 - Responding to Hate Speech - Lesson Slides

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Bring up WS on smartboard and discuss with class

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Grade 8 - Hurtful Meme Dilemma Student Handout

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Bring up WS on smartboard and discuss with students

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Grade 8 - Fake Account Dilemma Student Handout

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Name of student(s) in 8th Grade that did not get ALL the lessons.  Keep what they missed on a piece of paper and when I come in your room you can hand that too me and I will pull the student(s) and do that lesson with them.

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Tenth Grade Rewarding Relationships
"It's complicated" can describe many of our relationships with others, both romantic and otherwise. Add digital devices and social media to the mix, and things get complicated even further. Help students take the first step toward building healthy and rewarding friendships and romantic relationships, both online and off.

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Ninth Grade Protecting Online Reputations
Tagging friends on social media is a great way to connect with others and capture memorable experiences. But what if they don't want to be tagged? Encourage your students to take responsibility for how they may affect the digital footprints of others.

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Rewarding Relationships | Common Sense Education

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How can I make sure my relationships are healthy and positive? Check out Rewarding Relationships, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 10 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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8 Questions

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10th Grade: Rewarding Relationships Lesson Quiz

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Tenth Grade: Countering Hate Speech Online
As humans, we thrive on social connections and group associations. But this tendency can also lead us to be suspicious of people outside our group. This fear -- xenophobia -- can be overcome by more exposure to people who are different from us. However, the internet can often make this more difficult. Help students recognize this challenge and find strategies for navigating content online.

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As humans, we thrive on social connections and group associations. But this tendency can also lead us to be suspicious of people outside our group. This fear -- xenophobia -- can be overcome by more exposure to people who are different from us. However, the internet can often make this more difficult. Help students recognize this challenge and find strategies for navigating content online.

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Countering Hate Speech Online | Common Sense Education

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How can we counter online hate speech and xenophobia? Check out Countering Hate Speech Online, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 10 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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5 Questions

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Eleventh Grade Who's Looking at Your Digital Footprint?
Our digital footprints can have a powerful impact on our future. This can be a scary thought, given that what's in our digital footprint isn't always in our control. Teach students that digital footprints are an opportunity to showcase their best selves and craft a footprint that leads to future success.

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Grade 11 Who's Looking at Your Digital Footprint

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Grade 11 - Who's Looking At Your Digital Footprint_ - Lesson Slides

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When you open this worksheet on the smartboard. The resources you see in "green" are the hyperlinks and you will need to choose them to open the audio or articles

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Grade 11 - Who's Looking At Your Digital Footprint_ - Future Tracks Student Handout

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Eleventh Grade: Online Disinhibition and Cyberbullying
Texting and chatting online can sometimes feel just like talking to someone in person, but it's actually pretty different. It's all because of something called the "online disinhibition effect," which makes us more likely to share or communicate differently from how we would in person. Help your students learn to consider this concept before they post, and stop digital drama and cyberbullying before they start.

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Texting and chatting online can sometimes feel just like talking to someone in person, but it's actually pretty different. It's all because of something called the "online disinhibition effect," which makes us more likely to share or communicate differently from how we would in person. Help your students learn to consider this concept before they post, and stop digital drama and cyberbullying before they start.

Define "online disinhibition" and describe how it can be both positive and negative.

Explain how anonymity, lag time, and lack of nonverbal cues all contribute to online disinhibition.

Analyze how online disinhibition can cause cyberbullying and brainstorm ways to counter it.

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Online Disinhibition and Cyberbullying | Common Sense Education

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How does online disinhibition sometimes lead to cyberbullying? Check out Online Disinhibition and Cyberbullying, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 11 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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5 Questions

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Twelfth Grade The Change You Want to See
Research shows that happiness in life is less about what you do and more about why you do it. When your actions have purpose, they lead to positive results -- both for you and the world. Help students use the power of the internet to turn their personal passions into positive impact.

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Grade 12 - The Change You Want To See - Lesson Slides

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When you open this worksheet on the smartboard.  The resources you see in "green" are the hyperlinks and you will need to choose them to open the audio or articles

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Grade 12 - The Change You Want To See - Turning Purpose Into Impact Student Handout

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Twelfth Grade We Are Civil Communicators
When we talk about our personal beliefs and politics, passions can run high -- especially when we're online. These intense moments can often lead to tit-for-tat insults, or worse. But, if addressed calmly and coolly, they can be an opportunity to find common ground and deeper understanding. Teach students to keep disagreements civil so their ideas will be heard and so they can advocate for positive change.

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How can we communicate with civility online? Check out We Are Civil Communicators, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 12 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

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5 Questions

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12th Grade: We Are Civil Communicators Lesson Quiz

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Grade 9 Lesson 1 Protecting Online Reputations

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Show PPT on smartboard

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Grade 9 - Protecting Online Reputations - Lesson Slides

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Put students in groups and discuss as a class

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Grade 9 - Protecting Online Reputations - Perspectives On Posting Student Handout

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Bring up on smartboard and answer questions as a class