Be Internet Awesome’s five pillars of digital citizenship:  

Be Internet Smart (Unit 1) 

Good (and bad) news travels fast online, and without some forethought, kids can find themselves in tricky situations with lasting consequences. The solution? Learning how to share with those they know and those they don’t.  Helping kids understand that what they post can be forwarded, copied, and found is crucial to staying safe online. Teach students how to recognize and steer clear of potentially embarrassing or even dangerous situations that could have lasting consequences. 

Be Internet Alert (Unit 2)

It’s important to help kids become aware that people and situations online aren’t always as they seem. Discerning between what’s real and what’s fake is a very real lesson in online safety. Many details that raise "red flags" for adults can go overlooked by kids. Help them learn what they are, what to look for, and how to "trust their gut" when they encounter suspicious or possibly harmful emails, websites, and apps.

Be Internet Strong (Unit 3)

Personal privacy and security are just as important online as they are offline. Safeguarding valuable information means thinking about what’s incoming and outgoing and being smart about passwords, the information you share, and understanding the choices you have when it comes to protecting your privacy online.  Help your students understand that privacy is more than just what they choose to share or not share online. This lesson helps students understand what information should be private and safeguarded – and what they need to do to keep it that way. 

Be Internet Kind (Unit 4)

The Internet is a powerful amplifier that can be used to spread positivity or negativity. Kids can take the high road by applying the concept of “treat others as you would like to be treated” to their actions online, creating a positive impact for others and disempowering bullying behavior.  The "golden rule" is just as important online as it is "IRL". The internet can be a truly great place to learn when comments, conversations, and content are positive. Help students see how to make choices that disempower bullying behavior and create healthy, productive spaces to interact.

Be Internet Brave (Unit 5)

One lesson that applies to any and all encounters of the digital kind: When kids come across something questionable, they should feel comfortable talking to a trusted adult. Adults can support this behavior by fostering open communication at home and in the classroom. Reinforce lessons that parents and educators have taught from early childhood: When kids come across something questionable, they should feel comfortable talking to a trusted adult. Adults can support this behavior by fostering open communication at home and in the classroom.