Digital Citizenship is a critical skill that needs to be taught in schools. As students become more and more engrossed with devices, both in school and outside of school, digital citizenship is a life skill that we must ensure students are mastering both to protect themselves and to protect others.

Teaching young learners about online etiquette, privacy, and the importance of respectful and safe behavior online lays the foundation for a positive and secure digital presence. By fostering a sense of responsibility and awareness early on, elementary students can develop the necessary skills to engage in the digital world critically and ethically, ensuring a positive and constructive online experience as they grow and navigate an increasingly digital society.

To kickoff a quick digital citizenship activity for young learners, watch this 5 minute BrainPop, then:

Distribute the above half sheet to class.
Using the word bank, talk about definitions of digital etiquette vocabulary.
Give students 5-7 minutes to write a response to the two questions on their worksheet, also listed below. Then, using a glue stick, students will paste the worksheet in their emotional/social learning journal and discuss with table mates::

Should you reread an email or text before sending it?
What should you do before posting a picture of a friend online?

After 5-7 minutes, share findings as a class. Then, talk as a larger group about the following scenarios:

What should you do if you have a disagreement with someone online?
How does your messaging differ when communicating with a friend versus a teacher? (i.e. Should you use emojis or abbreviations with a teacher? Why or why not?)
Should you write in all capital letters? Why or why not?
Is it easy to recognize when someone is trying to be funny online? Why or why not?