Teachers introduce the idea of urban heat maps, where:

• 🔴 Red areas represent hot spots (risk, heat, discomfort)

• 🟢 Green areas represent cool zones (parks, trees, protection)

Pupils are then guided to make a comparison:

Just like cities, the internet has hot and cool areas.

A short discussion follows:

• What makes an area unsafe in a city?

• What makes an online space unsafe?

Pupils work in their classroom groups.

Each group creates an Internet Heat Map using:

• Paper templates or digital tools (Canva, Miro)

• Red and green colours

Pupils identify risky online behaviours such as:

• Sharing personal information

• Cyberbullying and hate speech

• Fake news and misinformation

• Talking to strangers online

• Pressure to share images

• Excessive screen time

• 
  

  For each red area, pupils explain:

  • Why it is dangerous

  • How it can negatively affect individuals or communities

• Using strong passwords and privacy settings

• Being respectful and kind online

• Fact-checking information

• Asking adults for help

• Supporting others online

• Taking regular screen breaks

For each green area, pupils explain:

• Why it is safe

• How it helps create a positive online environment

Pupils create green corridors (just like green spaces in cities) that connect safe behaviours and reduce online risks.

• Their Internet Heat Map

• A short explanation of:

  • One red hot spot

  • One green solution

• A photo, poster, or digital artefact

Pupils are encouraged to:

• Comment on partners’ work

• Identify similarities and differences between countries

• Share additional ideas for staying safe online

Which green actions are easiest to apply in daily life?

How can young people help keep the internet safe for everyone?

Phishing scams use deceptive emails, texts, or calls appearing legitimate to steal personal data, login credentials, or money. Common red flags include urgent, threatening language, unexpected attachments, and slight variations in official URLs or email addresses. Protect yourself by never clicking suspicious links, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), and verifying requests directly with the company. 

Warning signs include newly created accounts, stolen profile photos, inconsistent language, and unsolicited private messages.

Protect yourself by verifying accounts through official channels, limiting direct messages, and reporting suspicious profiles immediately.

2. Do not click unknown links or messages.

3. Use only official and verified accounts.

4. Respect others and avoid offensive language.

5. Do not share screenshots or private messages without permission.

6. Report cyberbullying or suspicious behavior immediately.

7. Think before you post or comment.

https://view.genially.com/698d8c0252f833fcae24921a/interactive-content-safer-internet-day-2026

https://view.genially.com/698d9096385adfcaa531211f/interactive-content-safer-internet-day-2026-hot-spot

During our ICT lessons, we dedicated the entire month of February to online safety activities in celebration of Safer Internet Day.

Our first-grade students became digital superheroes through the “Click Patrol” activity and a workshop organized by the Safer Internet Centre. They learned to recognize safe and unsafe online situations and explored how digital content affects their emotions.

Third-grade students participated in a quiz about protecting personal data. They discussed GDPR, sensitive data, secure websites (https), and responsible photo sharing. For homework, they created short plays or videos presenting online risks and possible solutions.

With our seventh-grade students, we organized workshops on responsible online behavior and digital self-defense. They learned about grooming, sexting, and sextortion, created posters, and recorded short videos about online safety. At the end, they signed a symbolic Smart Internet User Agreement.

Through engaging and age-appropriate activities, we reinforced that digital safety is a shared responsibility.