Intermediate Grades 3-5

Password Security

Grades 3-5 Password Power Up

Common Sense Media lessons are shareable with attribution for noncommercial use only. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Lesson Overview:

How can a strong password help protect your privacy?

Stronger, more secure online passwords are a good idea for everyone. But how can we help kids create better passwords and actually remember them? Use the tips in this lesson to help kids make passwords that are both secure and memorable.

Students will be able to:

Define the term "password" and describe a password's purpose.
Understand why a strong password is important.

Practice creating a memorable and strong password.

Key Vocabulary: password · phrase · symbol · username

Lesson Outline:

Warm Up: Pssst ... What's a Password?

10 mins.

Evaluate: Uh-Oh! If ... Then ...

20 mins.

Create: Power Up Your Password

10 mins.

Wrap Up: Password Tips Notes

5 mins.

Lesson Plan PDF

Password Power-Up _ Common Sense Education.pdf

Lesson in Google Slides

Copy of Grade 3 - Password Power-Up - Lesson Slides

Student Handout

Copy of Grade 3 - Password Power-Up - If...Then...Scenarios Student Handout

Teacher Handout

Grade 3 - Password Power-Up - If...Then..Scenarios Student Handout (TEACHER VERSION)

Student Activity

Grade 3 - Password Power-Up - Power-Up Your Password Student Handout

Student Quiz

Full Lesson on Commonsense

Password Power-Up | Common Sense EducationHow can a strong password help protect your privacy? Check out Password Power-Up, a free digital citizenship lesson plan from Common Sense Education, to get your grade 3 students thinking critically and using technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate.

Keep your personal information safe and secure with a STRONG student password!

It's really easy to do; just follow these simple guidelines:

• Don't keep the default password, change it using CTL-ALT-DEL

Stay away from easily guessed passwords such as 'password' or '12345678'

Replace a letter with a symbol (such as $ instead of S)

• Use both capital and lowercase letters

• Use a phrase instead of a word