Teaching Digital Citizenship: Fostering Positive Online Behaviour

In today’s ever-evolving digital world, something really important has come into focus – teaching our Grade 1 students about responsible online behavior and good digital citizenship. As educators, we’re in a unique spot to help these little ones understand their digital rights, responsibilities, and how to navigate the online world they’re growing up in.

So, get ready for this blog post where we’re going to explore some really cool and practical ways to teach digital citizenship to Grade 1 students. And guess what? These ideas totally align with Ontario’s new 2023 Language curriculum. We’re talking about everything from fun children’s books that explain these concepts in a way that’ll keep them hooked, to interactive lessons and activities that give these young minds the confidence they need to make smart online choices.

Our goal? To give these kiddos the tools and knowledge they need to rock the digital world while being awesome members of their online communities. So, let’s dive in and discover how we can make the digital landscape a safer and more exciting place!

Let’s start with the topic of “Digital Citizenship” for Grade 1, focusing on the curriculum expectation:

Here are ideas for children’s books, lessons, and activities related to demonstrating an understanding of digital rights and responsibilities, making positive decisions online, and developing a healthy digital identity.

Children’s Books about Digital Citizenship:

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1. “The Technology Tail: A Digital Footprint Story” by Julia Cook – This book explains the concept of a digital footprint in a child-friendly manner.

2. “Chicken Clicking” by Jeanne Willis – This humorous story teaches kids about the importance of being cautious online.

Lessons in Digital Citizenship:

1. Introduction to Digital Citizenship:
– Discuss the meaning of “digital citizenship” and why it’s important.
– Brainstorm and list examples of digital devices and activities.

2. Rights and Responsibilities:
– Explore the rights (e.g., using devices for learning and fun) and responsibilities (e.g., treating others kindly) of using technology.
– Role-play scenarios where students demonstrate responsible digital behavior.

3. Digital Identity and Community:
– Define “digital identity” as the way we present ourselves online.
– Discuss how digital identities affect our real-life relationships.
– Have students create a simple digital profile (with guidance) that reflects their interests.

 

Ideas for Activities:

1. Digital Dilemma Cards:
– Create cards with different online scenarios (e.g., sharing personal information, being respectful online).
– Have students work in pairs to discuss and decide whether each scenario shows responsible digital behavior.

2. Online Etiquette Poster:
– Divide the class into small groups.
– Assign each group an online etiquette rule (e.g., “Be kind online,” “Ask before sharing photos”).
– Have each group create a poster illustrating their rule and present it to the class.

3. Digital Identity Collage:
– Provide magazines, printed images, and art supplies.
– Have students create a collage that represents their interests and hobbies, both offline and online.

4. Digital Storytelling:
– Guide students in creating a simple digital story using pictures and text to share a positive online experience or lesson they’ve learned about digital citizenship.

Examples of Digital Dilemmas:

Here is a list of scenarios that might happen when a child plays an online game.

1. Sharing Personal Information: A character in the game wants to know the player’s full name and where they live. The player must decide whether or not to share this information.

2. Accepting Friend Requests: The player receives a friend request from someone they don’t know in real life. They need to decide whether to accept the request or not.

3. Online Kindness: The player witnesses someone being mean to another player in the game’s chat. They must choose whether to stand up for the person being bullied or ignore it.

4. Choosing a Strong Password: The player needs to create a password to protect their game account. They must decide whether to use a strong and unique password or a simple one that might be easy to guess.

5. Privacy Settings: The player needs to set their privacy settings in the game. They have to choose whether to share their gameplay and progress with others or keep it private.

6. Clicking on Links: The player receives a message with a link to a funny video. They need to decide whether to click on the link or not, considering the possibility of viruses or scams.

7. In-Game Purchases: The player sees an option to buy special items in the game using real money. They must choose whether to ask a parent before making a purchase or not.

8. Balancing Screen Time: The player’s friend wants to play the game with them all day, but the player’s parents have set limits on screen time. The player needs to decide whether to follow their parents’ rules or play longer with their friend.

9. Online Stranger Danger: The player encounters someone in the game who wants to meet them in real life. The player must decide not to share personal information and tell a trusted adult about it.

10. Respecting Others: The player accidentally deletes a friend’s in-game creation. They must decide whether to apologize and make things right or ignore it.

11. Recognizing Fake Information: The player sees a post that claims a famous character is giving away free items. They need to decide whether the information seems true or fake.

12. Cyberbullying: The player’s character is being teased and laughed at by others in the game. The player must decide whether to report the behavior to game moderators or not.

13. Understanding Online Ads: The player comes across ads in the game for toys and games. They need to decide whether to ask a parent before clicking on them.

14. Being Patient: The player is waiting for their turn to play in a multiplayer game. They must decide whether to wait patiently or try to push others to let them play sooner.

15. Multitasking Safely: The player is playing the game while eating a snack. They must decide whether to be careful not to spill food on their device or continue eating without caution.