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What is Digital Literacy & Citizenship?
In Needham, we believe that Digital Literacy & Citizenship is the development of positive and balanced habits with technology that promote a student's overall well-being. In collaboration with NPS's Social-Emotional Learning/Mental Health Framework, it builds upon the foundation of Digital Literacy & Citizenship by encouraging students to:
Be mindful: Think critically about how technology use impacts your physical, social, and emotional health.
Make healthy choices: Set boundaries for screen time, prioritize sleep, and engage in activities outside the digital world.
Be responsible users: Practice online safety, cyberbullying prevention, and responsible digital communication.
Develop critical thinking: Evaluate information online, identify biases, and be discerning consumers of digital content.
Maintain a healthy balance: Technology is a tool for learning and connection, but it shouldn't replace real-world interactions, physical activity, and creative pursuits.
Most importantly, Digital Literacy & Citizenship is an ongoing process, not just about following rules. It empowers students to make informed choices about technology use and fosters a healthy relationship with the digital world.
Want to learn more?
Want to learn more?
Expecially at the Elementary level, Needham Public Schools is dedicated to cultivating thoughtful, safe, and curious digital citizens through our elementary digital learning framework. Grounded in our "Three Be’s"—being safe, responsible, and respectful—our K-5 curriculum fosters lifelong digital literacy by balancing intentional screen time with creative, active exploration. We invite families to partner with us in this mission by utilizing our shared resources and modeled habits to help students navigate digital spaces with kindness, integrity, and purpose both in and out of the classroom.
An introduction for our youngest learners - K-2.
A playlist for students in grade levels 3-5 that covers responsibility, cyberbullying, and sharing personal information.
A playlist for students in grade levels 6-8 that covers relationships, self-image online, and using social media safely.
Video playlist for students in grade levels 9-12 that covers social media strain, hate speech online, fake news sources, and how to have conversations online.
Students learn strategies for maintaining their personal safety on the internet including identifying inappropriate content and fostering positive connections
Students reflect on how they can use intrapersonal and interpersonal skills to build and strengthen positive online communication and communities. They delve into the concept of digital citizenship and digital ethics, and they reflect on their online interactions.
Relationships & Communication
Relationships & Communication
Screen Out The Mean (K-2)
Sending Email (K-2)
My Online Community (K-2)
What is Cyberbullying? (3-5)
Rings of Responsibility (3-5)
Students learn strategies for managing their online information and keeping it secure from online risks such as identity thieves and phishing. They learn how to create strong passwords, how to avoid scams and schemes, and how to analyze privacy policies.
Privacy & Security
Privacy & Security
Keep it Private (K-2)
Follow the Digital Trail (K-2)
Powerful Passwords (K-2)
Strong Passwords (3-5)
You've Won a Prize! (3-5)
Students learn what to do if they are involved in a cyberbullying situation. They explore the roles people play and how individual actions — both negative and positive — can impact their friends and broader communities. Students are encouraged to take the active role of upstander and build positive, supportive online communities.
Students learn to protect their own privacy and respect the privacy of others. Our digital world is permanent, and with each post, students are building a digital footprint. By encouraging students to self-reflect before they self-reveal, they will consider how what they share online can impact themselves and others. These lessons are designed to help students explore their own digital lives, focusing on their online versus their offline identity. Students learn the benefits and risks of presenting themselves through different personas and the effects on their sense of self, their reputation, and their relationships.
Digital Footprint & Identity
Digital Footprint & Identity
Follow the Digital Trail (K-2)
Super Digital Citizen (3-5)
Selling Stereotypes (3-5)
Picture Perfect (3-5)
Rings of Responsibility (3-5)
Digital Life 101 (6-8)
Digital information literacy includes the ability to find, identify, evaluate, and use information from electronic sources effectively. Students will learn effective search strategies and techniques to evaluate the quality, credibility, and validity of websites and give proper credit.
Information Literacy
Information Literacy
ABC Searching (K-2)
Using Keywords (K-2)
Sites I Like (K-2)
Things for Sale (K-2)
The Key to Keywords (3-5)
How to Cite a Site (3-5)
Living in a “copy/paste” culture, students need to reflect on their responsibilities and rights as creators in the online spaces where they consume, create, and share information. From addressing plagiarism to piracy, students learn about copyright and fair use.
Creative Credit & Copyright
Creative Credit & Copyright
My Creative Work (K-2)
Whose is it, Anyway? (3-5)
Picture Perfect (3-5)
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