Podcast
Acting Out Stories of Digital Citizenship
Students engage in a class discussion about the importance of being respectful both in person and online. The teacher asks the class, "How do we talk to each other at school, and how should we talk to each other when we're online?" The students share their thoughts on how respectful communication helps everyone feel good and avoid conflicts. The teacher explains that they will be acting out different scenarios that involve communicating both in person and online.
Divided into small groups, each group receives a scenario—some focusing on in-person communication (like sharing toys), and others on digital communication (like sending a message to a friend online). Each group rehearses two versions of their scenario: one where communication is respectful and kind, and another where it is disrespectful or hurtful. For example, one group shows how sending a supportive message online can make someone feel happy, while a disrespectful comment can hurt feelings. After performing their role-plays, the class reflects on how respectful communication, both in person and digitally, is essential for being a good citizen, emphasizing that words online are just as powerful as words spoken in real life.
Objective:
Students will act out scenarios that involve both in-person and online communication, learning how to practice good citizenship by being respectful and kind in all forms of interaction. They will explore how their words and actions, both face-to-face and electronically, impact others, developing skills for positive digital citizenship.
Materials Needed:
Simple props for role-playing (e.g., classroom supplies, digital devices like tablets or paper stand-ins for messaging apps)
Chart paper or whiteboard for recording student reflections and key discussion points
Steps:
Introduction:
Ask the class, "How do we talk to each other at school, and how should we talk to each other when we're online?"
Discuss how being respectful and kind in our communication is important in all settings—both in-person and online.
Explain that students will role-play different situations, acting out how respectful communication looks face-to-face and when using technology, such as sending messages or posting online.
Group Activity:
Divide students into small groups and assign each group a scenario. Some scenarios will focus on face-to-face communication, like taking turns or sharing toys. Other scenarios will involve digital communication, like sending a message to a friend or responding to a classmate’s post in an online chat.
Provide simple props, such as classroom items for in-person scenarios or mock digital devices (e.g., paper tablets) for online scenarios.
Each group will rehearse two versions of their scenario: one showing respectful, kind communication, and another showing disrespectful or hurtful communication.
Building and Acting Out Scenarios:
Students will practice their role-plays, focusing on how respectful vs. disrespectful behavior affects the feelings and responses of others.
In digital scenarios, they can act out how a supportive comment in an online chat makes someone feel good, while an unkind comment makes someone feel sad or frustrated.
In face-to-face scenarios, they will show how sharing or listening respectfully builds positive relationships, while interrupting or being rude creates conflict.
Testing and Refining:
After practicing, students will perform their role-plays for the class.
As each group performs, ask the class to observe the differences between respectful and disrespectful communication.
After the performances, students discuss what went well in the role-plays and how communication could be improved, especially focusing on digital interactions.
Presentation and Discussion:
Each group presents their role-play, explaining the behaviors they acted out and the impact on others.
Lead a class discussion on how we can practice good citizenship in both face-to-face and online settings.
Emphasize that online communication is just as important as in-person communication, and how being respectful digitally is a key part of digital citizenship. Discuss how words online have real-world consequences, just like spoken words.
Equity and Access:
Offer simplified role-play scenarios for students who may need extra support, and allow peer collaboration to ensure all students feel comfortable participating.
Real-World Application:
Connect the lesson to real-life digital interactions, such as texting a friend, chatting in an online game, or using school apps like Seesaw or Google Classroom.
Explain how being mindful of what we say online helps prevent misunderstandings and conflict, helping to build a respectful digital community.
CS Practice(s):
Fostering an Inclusive Computing Culture: Students practice creating a positive environment by using respectful communication, both face-to-face and online. They understand that respectful online behavior is essential for an inclusive and supportive digital community.
Communicating About Computing: Students practice discussing how respectful communication, especially in digital spaces, can prevent problems and help build better relationships in both real and virtual environments.
CA History-Social Science K.1.1
CA CS K-2.IC.19
Creating a Digital Story on Good Citizenship
The teacher explains how students will use coding to create a story about good citizenship, demonstrating a Scratch Jr. program example of a sprite (character) smiling after sharing toy blocks. Working in pairs, the students select sprites and backgrounds in ScratchJr to set up their scenes. One group animates a playground where two children share a swing, using coding blocks to make the characters move toward each other and take turns. Another group codes a classroom scene, where a student helps a classmate with a math problem.
As they test their animations, the students adjust the timing to show how following rules creates positive outcomes, while breaking them leads to conflict. During presentations, the groups explain their stories, emphasizing the importance of sharing, taking turns, and helping others.
Objective:
Students will use ScratchJr. or another coding app to create a digital story demonstrating examples of good citizenship, such as sharing, taking turns, honesty, and responsibility. Through coding, they will sequence events and illustrate the positive effects of following rules.
Materials Needed:
Tablets or computers with ScratchJr or another coding app
Steps:
Introduction:
Begin by asking, "What does it mean to be a good citizen?"
Discuss behaviors like sharing, taking turns, and being honest.
Explain that students will use ScratchJr to create an animated story, showing characters practicing good citizenship in different situations and demonstrating the consequences of following rules.
Group Activity:
In pairs, students will choose a scenario, such as sharing toys at school or taking turns on the playground.
They will use ScratchJr to create a series of animations, showing characters in a playground or classroom setting. Students will create a scene where good citizenship is practiced (e.g., sharing toys or helping a classmate).
Creating and Coding:
Guide students in using ScratchJr to animate their stories.
Students will drag and drop character sprites and backgrounds, using coding blocks to animate actions such as sharing, walking, or playing.
They can program the characters to move toward each other to share toys or animate a sequence where characters take turns playing a game.
Encourage students to use ScratchJr's coding blocks to show the flow of events and consequences, such as characters being happy when rules are followed.
Testing and Refining:
After creating their animated stories, students will test their ScratchJr projects to make sure the animations correctly show the sequence of actions and consequences.
They will refine their work by adjusting the timing of movements, adding dialogue, or fixing any errors in the animation sequence.
Presentation and Discussion:
Each group will present their animated ScratchJr story to the class, explaining the scenario they chose and how they used coding to demonstrate the behaviors.
The class will discuss the importance of good citizenship, with students reflecting on the effects of following rules, being responsible, and how those behaviors improve the classroom environment.
Equity and Access:
Provide pre-made ScratchJr project templates with basic animations for students who need extra support, and encourage peer collaboration to ensure everyone is actively engaged.
Real-World Application:
Relate the lesson to how students practice good citizenship in daily situations, like following playground rules, sharing with classmates, or helping someone in need. Discuss how small actions contribute to a positive community both at school and at home.
CS Practice(s:
Creating Computational Artifacts: Students use ScratchJr to create animated stories that illustrate good citizenship, using coding blocks to sequence actions and consequences.
Testing and Refining Computational Artifacts: Students run their animation and alter blocks to change it as needed.
CA History-Social Science K.1.1
CA CS K-2.AP.12
CA CS K-2.AP.16
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