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FREE Resources for teaching Digital Citizenship for Grades 9-12

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CMLE encourages good digital citizenship and literacy! One of our fantastic school library members shared that the FREE digital citizenship curriculum provided by Common Sense Education has been very well-received at her school. So we wanted to make sure you know about this resource in case it may be useful to you!

Today we’re looking at the curriculum for grades 9-12. There are so many factors that go into information literacy and digital citizenship. It’s fantastic these skills are being taught with students, as more and more of life is spent online.
If you missed our previous posts for younger students, here are the links for grades 6-8, grades 3-5, or K-2.

Ninth graders learn about online tracking, how to protect not only their own but also the privacy of others online, red flags to watch for when forming online relationships, and more.

Tenth graders investigate active and passive social media use and the feelings produced with both, find strategies for combating hate speech, and more.

Eleventh graders learn about addictive technology design, how to consider their audience when communicating online, the ways clickbait benefits advertisers at the expense of misinformation, and more.

Twelve grade students explore the research on health effects of screen time, how filter bubbles feed us perspectives we already agree with, and more!

Resources

From Minitex: Indigenous Representations Newsletter 2021

This is a wonderful collaboration between many Minnesota organizations and universities, focused on sharing Indigenous books and resources for use in your classroom and library. Read the newsletter here!

In this issue, you can find out more about the Indigenous Representations project, celebrate the launch of the Native-focused Heartdrum publishing imprint, read an interview with Cynthia Leitich Smith and Dawn Quigley, and more!

From the newsletter, here is the summary of the Indigenous Representation project:

“Indigenous Representations is a statewide project that began in 2016 and aims to connect Minnesota’s youth with positive and appropriate books by and about Indigenous people with a focus on Dakota and Anishinaabe nations. Beyond the resources shared in this newsletter, educators and librarians are encouraged to think critically about Indigenous representation in other resources and continue to seek out materials that truthfully reflect Indigenous cultures.”

Read the newsletter here!

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Digital Citizenship Resources for grades 6-8!

CMLE understands the importance of learning good digital citizenship and literacy! One of our fantastic school library members shared that the FREE digital citizenship curriculum provided by Common Sense Education has been very well-received at her school. So we wanted to make sure you know about this resource in case it may be useful to you!

Today we’re looking at the curriculum for grades 6-8.
If you work with younger students, check out our previous posts about the available curriculum for grades 3-5 or K-2.

For grades 6-8, most lessons include slides or videos and tackle topics like online security, digital identity, relationships, and news literacy. Lessons also come with family activities and tips.

Sixth graders continue to learn about the importance of balancing online/offline time with a Digital Habits checkup and learning to recognize the “red flag feeling.” They also learn criteria to help them evaluate credible news information online, and learn some reasons why people want to spread false or misleading information online.

Seventh graders learn to be aware of all the information that companies collect from their online activities. They learn three strategies to limit this individual data collection. They also learn about the impact social media can have on real-life relationships and how to navigate these feelings, both positive and negative.

Eighth graders get to learn how online media is designed to be addictive and discover strategies for developing healthy habits. They also learn about the consequences of sexting and how to respond if someone is pressuring them. There’s also a lesson about reacting to breaking news and how to determine when information is incomplete or misleading.

Resources, School Media Specialist

FREE Digital Citizenship Lessons for Grades 3-5

CMLE understands the importance of learning good digital citizenship and literacy! One of our fantastic school library members shared that the FREE digital citizenship curriculum provided by Common Sense Education has been very well-received at her school. So we wanted to make sure you know about this resource in case it may be useful to you!

Today we’re looking at the curriculum for grades 3-5. In case you missed it, we covered the lessons for K-2 in last week’s post. For these older grade levels, more topics and lessons are available. Most lessons include slides or videos and tackle topics like privacy, cyberbulling, media literacy, and more. All lessons also come with family activities and tips.

Third graders get to practice their media balance and well-being through an interactive Rings of Responsibility activity. They learn about the meaning of the word “password” and practice creating a strong one. There’s also an important news literacy lesson about how fake photos and videos are created and contribute to the spread of untrue information.

Fourth graders learn about the definition of “digital footprint” and how their online activity contributes to the creation of their online identity. This information is delivered through a footprint game and quiz. There’s also a lesson about social interaction when playing video games, with a video and discussion time to analyze communication and behavior.

Fifth graders get acquainted with the concept of clickbait and learn strategies to avoid it. There are handouts and a quiz to go along with the lesson. There’s also a lesson that shows ways gender stereotypes can lead to unfair treatment online. A poem and avatar activity go along with the lesson. Cyberbullying is covered again, with a discussion about the similarities and differences between real-life bullying, being mean, and strategies to use if you encounter someone being bullied online.

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From Common Sense Education: FREE Digital Citizenship Curriculum for Grades K-2 (and up!)

CMLE and many of our member school libraries are big fans of the site Common Sense Education. And we also recognize the importance of learning good digital citizenship and literacy! One of our fantastic school library members shared that the FREE digital citizenship curriculum provided by Common Sense Education has been very well-received at her school. So we wanted to make sure you know about this resource in case it may be useful to you!

Today we’ll focus on the lessons available for grades K-2. Our world is increasingly online so it’s important for young kids to have digital citizenship skills, too! We love that each of these grade levels includes an introductory song, and also lets educators know up front the time length of each lesson.

Kindergarteners get to learn about balancing media activities with their real-life surroundings. Students learn about the importance of taking breaks when using devices. (This can be a challenge even for grown-ups!) There is also a lesson about transitions from an online activity to one that is offline, as students learn self-regulation and how to be respectful to those around them. And finally, through a virtual field trip, students learn about staying safe while traveling online, just like we stay safe while traveling in the real world.
All of these lessons include slides, a video, handout or coloring sheet, and a take-home family activity.

First-graders get a lesson in learning to pause and think before acting online, another essential skill! Just like in real life, students get to learn to be responsible and respectful when interacting online. There is also a lesson on learning to recognize the way technology makes you feel. Students get to play a game that develops strategies for managing feelings while online. Finally, through a traffic light activity, students get to learn about safety and privacy online, and when to ask for help when they are unsure about a website.

Second-graders start to get more in-depth with a variety of lesson topics. Students learn what information is ok to share online and what is not safe to share, and they also research and compare digital footprints while considering their own online identity. There are also lessons about the importance of enjoying time without devices, behavior when encountering cyberbullying, and learning to credit online sources.

We’ll look at more grades in the weeks ahead. Happy learning!