Throughout this unit, we will be discussing the following:

1. How posting something inappropriate online can have consequences now and in the future.
2. How to protect your privacy while online
3. What to do if you receive unwanted requests from an older teen or adult
4. Cyberbullying

Watch the following video:

Comment:  What is a ‘digital life’?  What technology (devices, programs, websites, etc.) do you use regularly?

Activity:  

1. Go to www.voki.com.
2. Log in using UN:  compapps@perued.net  PW:  Parkside1
3. You have been learning about digital citizenship since you were in Kindergarten.  Create a voki that tells at least three reasons why this is an important topic that needs to be re-discussed each year.  Make sure give your reasons in less than 60 seconds.
4. Design your voice, avatar, and background as you wish.
5. Publish --  Name the voki with your username.
6. On the share screen, click on the Copy URL button.

Update:  Paste your voki URL in this update.  Explain why you chose these three reasons.  Comment on two of your classmates’ posts telling whether you agree or disagree with their options. Explain why you agree or disagree.  Is there another reason they didn’t think of?

No matter what you like to do online, you must avoid risky behavior.  Risky behavior could get you into trouble or put yourself in danger.  Making responsible choices will help you avoid the risks.

Take the following internet safety quiz.  

Comment:  Did any questions confuse you?  What was the most important fact that you learned on this quiz?  What did you already know?  

One risk you take when you go online is seeing things you don’t want to see.  The internet has a ton of information, pictures, and videos, but some of these things you aren’t ready to see.  These things are considered inappropriate content.

Inappropriate content may include:

• Adult Activities.
• Violence
• Hate speech
• Risky or illegal things

This type of content could make you feel bad, confused, uncomfortable or even scared.  Watch the following video as Webster learns how to handle seeing inappropriate content on his laptop.

Activity:

1. Open your Google Drive.
2. Create a new Google Doc.  Title it Username - “It’s OK to Tell” (please use your own username, not the word username)
3. Share with me.
4. Answer the following questions about the video.  

• What did Look-At-Dis Louie do?
• Why doesn’t Webster want to tell Clicky and Tera about what he saw online?
• What happens when Webster tells his trusted adults about what he saw online?
• What should you do if you run into a Look-At-Dis Louie online?

Update:  Your friends were upset by something they saw online, but they don’t want to tell a trusted adult.  Choose one friend's reason from the list below and give them advice to help them learn that it’s okay to tell.  Write your update in the form of a note or an email.

1. “I don’t want to be a tattle-tale.”
2. “I don’t want anyone to know what I saw.”
3. “I’m afraid I’ll get in trouble.”
4. “I wasn’t that bothered by it.”
5. “My friend sent me this link.  I don’t want to get him in trouble.”
6. “I just won’t use the internet anymore.”
7. “I’m embarrassed.”
8. “What if someone thinks I looked at it on purpose?”

Comment on two of your classmates’ posts.  Did they give good advice?  Anything you would add to their advice?

Now that you are in middle school, you may be beginning to post on social media sites such as, Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook.  Although these sites are a fun way to stay connected with our family and friends, you must be sure you aren’t posting anything inappropriate.

Inappropriate information that you should not be sharing online includes:

1. Embarrassing things about you or other people
2. Revealing pictures
3. Pranks
4. Illegal behavior
5. Hate speech

In this next video, you will see how a football player worries that the information he’s posting online may hurt his chances for a football scholarship.  

Remember to think before you post.  Once you post, text, or email anything online, you can’t take it back.  The best thing to ask yourself is, “Do I want my parents, grandparents, or teachers seeing this?”  If the answer is no, do not post it.

Comment:  What type of career do you think you want in the future?  How could something that is posted while you are in 5th grade, effect that goal?

Update:  Search the internet for a story about a student that got in trouble for something they posted online.  Summarize the story and share the url of the article.  Do you feel the student should have been in trouble for their actions?  Why or why not?  Comment on two of your classmates’ posts.  Explain why you agree or disagree with them.  

Another risky behavior is posting too much personal information and pictures online.  Revealing too much about yourself is risky because:

1. Information spreads so quickly.
2. Your personal information or pictures can reach people you may not want it to.

Watch the following video to see how one text message spreads faster than anyone can keep up with it.

Did you see how quickly the rumor about Allie’s crush spread around the school?  There was nothing Allie could do to stop it.  Once it began being spread online, it was out of her control.  

Comment:  Rumors that spread through technology like the Internet and cell phones spread faster and farther than we can imagine.  What could have happened to Allie as a result of this rumor?  If her day dream had been reality, what could Allie have done about her feeling of embarrassment caused by this rumor being all over school?

When you share personal information online, it becomes very easy to spread and share much like the rumor in the video.  Everything you post online can potentially be seen by a lot of people, so you have to be careful about what you tell and who you tell.  You may not mind sharing certain types of information, like your favorite song, but you do not want to share anything personal.

Personal information includes:

• Passwords
• Home address
• Location
• Home/cell phone number
• Email address

Activity:

1. Watch the following video:
   Media embedded July 23, 2016

    

2. Log in to Digital Passport using your school username and password.
3. Go through the Safe Password lesson.
4. Then, complete the Share Jumper activity.

Update:  

Write your own short story about the following:  Character 1 is having a birthday party.  He/She wants to post the invitation details on a social media site (e.g. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook).  Character 2 thinks this is a bad idea.  The two imagine what could happen if they have this type of personal information online.  Comment on at least 2 of your classmate’s posts.  Do you think their story could actually happen?  Why or why not?

Now that you are in 5th grade, some of you have cell phones and many of you will have one before the end of the school year.  Do you know how to use it respectfully, responsibly, and safely? 

Activity:

1. Log in to Digital Passport using your username and password. 
2. Complete the Twalkers activity.

The internet allows us to connect with family, friends, and even complete strangers all over the world at any time of the day.  However, it is important to understand that some people don’t have the best intentions and may ask you to do things you don’t want to do.  This is called an inappropriate response.

It does not matter if the person making the inappropriate response is an older teen, an adult, a stranger, or a friend.  If the request makes you feel uncomfortable, will harm you or others, or is just the wrong thing to do, you have the right to say, “no.”  Then, find an adult that you trust and tell them what happened.

Inappropriate requests can develop into dangerous situations.  Older teens and adults you don’t know online should never:

1. Talk about dating you.
2. Ask for revealing pictures of you.
3. Ask to meet you offline.

 Watch the following video about Keyan’s new online friend.

Comment: Why does Keyan trust Tracey? What information does Keyan share with Tracey that he should not have? Is it okay to talk to people you don't know online? Explain your reasoning.

In the video, Tracy’s actions made Keyan’s friends question her intentions.  Some people may try to meet you offline by flattering you and pretending they care.  This is called “grooming.”

Update:  

Take a look at the following journal entry from a teen writing about someone they met online.

What are three things you would say to a friend who was forming a relationship like this with someone online.  What would you say to convince their friend it wasn’t a good idea?  Comment on at least 2 classmates’ posts.  Do you agree with what they are saying?  Why or why not?

Cyberbullying is a combination of bullying and technology.  Some examples of cyberbullying are:

• Sending mean text messages
• Spreading rumors online
• Creating fake profiles to make fun of someone.
• Recording and posting fight videos
• Photoshopping pictures to make someone look bad.
• Trash talking someone in an online game.

Read this Interactive Comic.  

Comment:  Why do you think so many people joined in on the cyberbullying?  What could you have done to help Katie?  Why is it important for you to speak up when you know this type of behavior is occurring?

Watch the following videos to know what to do if you or someone you know is being cyberbullied.

Remember, if you see cyberbullying happening, you have the power to stop it!

Activity:

1. Log in to Digital Passport using your school username and password.
2. Complete the Evolve activity

Update:  Write a post that explains three ways in which you could offer help to a victim of cyberbullying, rather than being a bystander.  Comment of 2 other classmates’ posts.  Do you think their ideas will help?  Why or why not?

For this project:

1. You may work in groups of 2-4 students.

2. Choose one of the topics that we have discussed within this unit. Write a write a short story that has occured within this topic. Then, show how two different students handle the situation. The first student should handle the situation correctly. The second should handle it incorrectly. You may choose to show what happens to each student as a result of their actions, how a friend or adult steps in to help, or something else as long as the story unfolds from beginning to end.

3. Everyone must have a part in the presentation.

4. Your presentation should be between 8-10 minutes in length.

5. You may use any school-appropriate media or create your own.

6. You may use any form of digital delivery for your presentation (create a Google Presentation, create a movie, etc.). Be creative!

Activity: Brainstorm content and decide on how you will present with your group.

Comment (one comment per group): List the names of all group members. Tell what type of presentation you are planning on doing. (If this changes, it is okay. Just email me.) 

Today, is check-in day!

Comment (one per group): Any questions that you have about your presentation.

Update: Summarize what you have done thus far. Feel free to leave the link to your project if it is possible (even though it is not completed). Explain what work you still need to do. Comment on 2 other groups' posts. What do you think of their presentation so far? What should they add? What should they leave out?

Today, you will be sharing your project with me. You may choose:

1. Email me the link.

2. Share through Google Drive.

3. Save to the shared drive. Then, email me so I know that it is there.

One final video to end this unit. 

Comment: What have you learned over the course of this unit?