6-8 Internet Safety

Internet Safety Resources

For a quick, no-nonsense approach to teaching Internet Safety at your grade level, visit the Toolkit for Teachers, from Common Sense Media.

Grades 6-8 Internet Safety Resources

Many thanks to Collinsville Unit 10 Schools for publishing their Internet Safety Curriculum as a guide to help all schools get started on this project! Please note: Most of the links on this page will open in a new window. Please disable your pop-up blocker, or select "Always allow pop-ups from this site."

Watch the Illinois Attorney General's Internet Safety Webinar, or visit the Illinois Attorney General's Stop Cyberbullying Web site.
Illinois Attorney General's Internet Safety Resources, Grades 6-8
Illinois Attorney General's Internet Safety Quiz for Parents "How Aware RU?"
Illinois Attorney General's Online Safety Tips
Illinois Attorney General's Online Safety Tips for Kids

High Tech Crimes Bureau/Illinois Child Exploitation Task Force

Middle School/Junior High Activities

Safe and responsible use of social networking, websites, chat rooms, electronic mail, bulletin boards, instant messaging, etc.

Work through the interactive case study Social Networking: Don't Give Yourself Away, from Cablevision's Power To Learn. View the Teacher Guide here.
Duplicate, discuss with kids, and send home to parents the FBI's "Parents Guide to Internet Safety
Download and teach the "Safe Online Talk" lesson plan and activity worksheets.
Download and teach the Good Messaging Manners lesson plan and activity worksheet.
Download and teach the lesson plan for the NetSmartz video Attitude Overdrive. Read and discuss the list of "Stuff to Know" below the video window.
- Download and learn more from NetSmartz and Student Project Kit
Read and discuss the online comic How Much Is Too Much? Download and teach the lesson plan.
Access, read and discuss the "Tips for Dealing with Teen Sexting" page from ConnectSafely.org.
Access, read and discuss the "Social Web Tips for Teens" page from ConnectSafely.org.
Access, read and discuss the "Top 10 Tips for Video Sharing" page from ConnectSafely.org.

Recognizing, avoiding and reporting online solicitations by sexual predators.

Download the Savvy Online Talk and Messaging lesson plan and activity worksheets.
Watch the NetSmartz video: Julie’s Journey (Watch Julie's Journey video). Download and teach the short lesson plan or longer activity plan for this video.
Watch the NetSmartz video: Amy’s Choice (Watch Amy's Choice video). Download and teach the short lesson plan or longer activity plan for this video.
Show students how to navigate the Cyber Tip Line web site to report solicitation from a sexual predator (Do not actually submit! Explain to students that they take this information very, very seriously, like a 9-1-1 call.)
Download the "Gender Stereotypes Online" lesson plan and activity worksheets.

Risks of transmitting personal information on the Internet.

Download the "Playing and Staying Safe Online" Instructor Handbook. Teach Personal is Personal (lesson plan 1), about keeping personal information private. Download the presentation. Notice the script & discussion guide in the notes panel at the bottom of the editing screen. Watch the accopanying video: Playing and Staying Safe Online. Print, duplicate, and distribute appropriate student handouts. Complete Activity 1 - Creating Strong Passwords, and Activity 2 - Reputation Management.
Work through the interactive case study Digital Permanence: Forever is a Long Time, from CableVision's Power to Learn. View the Teacher Guide here.
Work through the interactive case study Keeping Personal Info Private from Cablevision's Power to Learn. Use the online Rule Maker for the Classroom to develop & record common classroom expectations. View the Teacher Guide here.
Download and teach the lesson plan that accompanies the NetSmartz video Profile Penalty. Read and discuss the list of "Stuff to Know About" below the video window.
Watch and discuss the NetSmartz video: Tracking Teresa. Download and teach the lesson plan for this video.
Copy, read and discuss the NetSmartz "Tips to Prevent Sexting" list.
Download and teach the Private and Personal Information lesson plan and activity worksheets.

Recognizing and avoiding unsolicited or deceptive online communication.

Work through the interactive case study Misinformation - Truth or Spoof? from Cablevision's Power to Learn. View the Teacher Guide here.
Have the class take the SonicWall Phishing IQ test online to see if they know how to tell real email messages from phishing messages.
Watch "Steering Clear of Cyber Tricks." Download the Instructor Booklet for more teaching ideas. Download theStudent Handouts for duplication. Download the Workshop presentation to lead discussion. (Note the discussion script in the "Notes" window at the bottom of the editing screen.)

Recognizing and reporting online harrassment and cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying: Crossing the Line, from Common Sense Media. Download and teach the lesson lesson plan, which includes watching a brief video entitled Stacey's Story. (Note: Downloading some Common Sense Media resources may require teachers to sign up for a free account.)
What's Cyberbullying? from Common Sense Media. Download and teach the lesson plan, which includes a worksheet, That's Cyberbullying Handout. (Note: Downloading some Common Sense Media resources may require teachers to sign up for a free account.)
After teaching Personal is Personal (above), teach Be Respecful to Yourself and Others (Lesson 2). Download the "Playing and Staying Safe Online" Instructor Handbook. After reviewing Lesson 1, use the Lesson 2 lesson plan. Complete Lesson 2: Actions to Take with Online Bullies from the student handouts.
Work through the interactive case study Cyberbullying: Not Just Name-Calling, from Cablevision's Power to Learn. View the Teacher Guide Here.
Download and teach the lesson plan that accompanies the NetSmartz video Terrible tEXt. Read and discuss the list of "Stuff to Know" in the sidebar.
Read and discuss the list of "What to Report."
Introduce the term "Cyberbullying" by watching and discussing the NetSmartz video: Cyberbullying
Watch and discuss the NetSmartz video: You Can't Take It Back. Download and teach the activity plan for this video.
Watch and discuss the NetSmarz Video: Broken Friendship. Download and teach the activity plan for this video.
Download and teach the "Cyberbullying: Be Upstanding" lesson plan and activity worksheets.
Copy and discuss the MySpace Cyberbullying: Tips for Taking Action page.
Copy, read and discuss the NetSmartz "Tips to Prevent Sexting" list.
After teaching lessons on cyberbullying, have kids demonstrate their knowledge of terms by completing theCyberbullying Word Find and/or the Cyberbullying Crossword Puzzle, both from the Cyberbullying Research Center.

Reporting illegal online activities and communications.

Read and discuss the list of What to Report
View and discuss the CyberTip Hotline site. Explain/demonstrate how to submit a report. HOWEVER: Do not submit the report. Emphasize that this is taken very seriously, like a call to 9-1-1.
Download and teach the Can You Hack It? lesson plan and activity worksheets.

Understanding copyright laws on written materials, photographs, music and video.

Work through the interactive case study Music Downloading - Paying the Piper from Cablevision's Power to Learn. Download, print, display & discuss the sign Support the Arts - Buy Music. View the Teacher Guide Here.
Work through the interactive case study Fair Use - Beg, Borrow, or Steal? from Cablevision's Power To Learn. Download a copy of Power to Learn's Quick Guide to Fair Use, duplicate and discuss with students. View the Teacher Guide here.
Download and teach the "Rework, Reuse, Remix" lesson plan and activity worksheets.
Download and teach the "How to Cite a Site" lesson plan and activity worksheets.

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