Materials and Preparation

• Prepare to show students an example of an online form, like the checkout page on a site like Amazon (www.amazon.com) or the registration page on a site like Etsy (www.etsy.com).

• Preview the websites SecretBuilders (www.secretbuilders.com/gameplay/ gameplay.html), Scholastic’s The Stacks (www.scholastic.com/kids/stacks), and LEGO® (www.lego.com) and prepare to show them to students.

• Paper and pencils

Essential Question

What kinds of information should I keep to myself when I use the Internet?

Lesson Overview

Students learn that many websites ask for information that is private and discuss how to responsibly handle such requests. Students review what information is private and should not be shared without a trusted adult’s permission. They view an online form that asks for private information and understand that they should never share this kind of information online. Students then view sites that ask them to create usernames, and they learn rules for safeguarding their private information when they create usernames.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to ...

• recognize the kind of information that is private.

• understand that they should never give out private information on the Internet.

• learn to create effective usernames that protect their private information.

Key Vocabulary

private: something that you should keep to yourself, or share only with people you trust

username: a name you make up so that you can see or do things on a website, sometimes called “screen name”

Warm-up (10 minutes)

ASK

What would you do if someone you don’t know asked you for your address and your phone number?

DEFINE

Vocabulary term private

EXPLAIN

That it is important for them to know certain information about themselves, but that it is also important to keep this information private. They should keep it to themselves and not share it, except when they are dealing with trusted people such as relatives, teachers, or close friends.

INVITE

Have students to give examples of information that they should keep private. Write down their responses on the board or chart paper so that you can return to them later in the lesson. Make sure they understand that private information includes the following:

• full name

• age

• address

• telephone number

• email address (or parents’ email addresses)

• where they go to school or after school

• where their parents work

ENCOURAGE

Let students to discuss why it is important to keep this information private. Stress that it is never safe to give out private information to people they don’t know. They should always ask a parent or caregiver before they give out private information to anyone.

Teach 1

Ask Before You Tell (10 minutes)

Ask

What would you do if someone you don’t know sent you an email or an instant message asking for your address or phone number?

EXPLAIN

Talk to students about how important it is keep certain information private whenever they are using the computer. They will learn some rules to help them do this.

ENCOURAGE

Have students to share examples of when they or someone they know has filled out a form asking for private information. Students may mention filling in their name and class at the top of student handouts or tests. They also may have seen their parents fill out permission slips or other types of forms.

SHOW

Give students an online form that asks for private information.

ENCOURAGE

Have students to look over the form, naming the different pieces of information it asks for.

Teach 2

How to Use a Username (20 minutes)

INVITE

Have students to explore with you one or more of the following websites. Define the Key Vocabulary term username. Then click on the site(s) to show students where it asks them to make up a username.

SecretBuilders www.secretbuilders.com/gameplay/gameplay.html

Click on New Player, select an age, and then select “I’m a Girl” or “I’m a Boy.”

Scholastic’s The Stacks www.scholastic.com/kids/stacks

Click on Log In Now.

LEGO® www.lego.com

Click on Sign Up.

EXPLAIN

Explain to students that some websites ask them for a username before they can play games and do other things on the site. They can make up a username instead of giving out private information.

ASK

Do you think you should use your real name, or something that includes your real name, when you make up a username?

GUIDE

Help students through the following rules and tips for creating usernames:

Rules

• Ask a parent or other trusted adult before you create a username.

• Never include any private information in your username, such as your real name, age, birthday, the

name of your school or hometown, parts of your address or phone number, or email address.

• Avoid using symbols or spaces, as they are usually not allowed in usernames.

Tips

• Include the name of something that will help you remember your username, like your favorite animal,

character, or toy. You might have to combine this with other words or numbers.

• If the username you create is already taken, you will have to come up with another one.

• Write down your username and password and, with the help of a parent, find a safe place to keep

them in case you forget them.

DISTRIBUTE

Handout paper and place students in pairs.

HAVE

Let students interview their partner using the following questions, and write down their responses:

• What is your favorite pet or animal?

• What is your favorite TV show, book, or movie character?

• What are your favorite numbers?

INSTRUCT

Have students make up three safe usernames for their partner using information from their interview responses. They should not include their partner’s name, age, school, email address, birthday, or any other private information.

INVITE

Have students share one or more of their usernames with the class. Encourage students to respond to one anothers' usernames, confirming that each name follows the rules they have learned.

Closing

Wrap-up (5 minutes)

You can use these questions to assess your students’ understanding of the lesson objectives.

ASK

When might you be asked to give out private information on the computer?

What information should you always keep private when you are using the computer?

What rules should you follow when you make up a username?