DC+Lessons+Kindergarten

Digital Citizenship Lessons for Kindergarten
Students in Grade K- 2 will be in the early years of a tech integration program in the classroom. At this stage it is important to build a strong understanding about what it means to be a good digital citizen, especially in the context of anytime, anywhere learning. This is a good time to build healthy, safe habits and a respect for digital rights.

**A 5- to 6-year-old is generally anchored in the “here and now” (Media Awareness Network, 2008) and : ** ► thrives on routine and predictability. ► starts to develop simple reasoning skills, loves making things and solving puzzles. ► begins to understand cause and effect relationships. ► engages in pretend play and role-playing ►develops understanding of right and wrong, guided by positive reinforcements from others ► doesn’t question authority. ► has happy, positive outlook and an accepting nature. ► loves having conversations and sharing ideas. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">►<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> starts to develop sense of identity. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">►<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> likes to make own decisions and loves to feel “grown up.”

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Relationship to Media ** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Children this age often have trouble telling the difference between fantasy and reality, and they are inclined to accept what they see at face value, including advertising messages whose logos, slogans and mascots they have been able to recognize since early childhood. They trust characters and people they see in the media, which makes them particularly vulnerable to stereotypes. They identify with fictional heroes and often re-enact activities they have seen on TV, in movies or in video games. Kids this age can also easily be frightened by visual images, both realistic and fantastic.


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tw Cen MT','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Lessons: **

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tw Cen MT','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Digital Communication **
<span style="font-family: 'Tw Cen MT','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Students discover that: <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">► <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Computers can be used to visit far-away places, learn new things, and find information <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">► The Internet provides a means of communicating with real people <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">► <span style="font-family: 'Tw Cen MT','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> There are differences between private and public communication and the online communication is open and public <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">► The difference between real-life friendships and branded characters online who they feel are their friends.

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tw Cen MT','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Digital Security **
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Students <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">► Learn that <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">staying safe online is similarto staying safe in the real world

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">► <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Learn rules for traveling safely on the Internet

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">► <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Tw Cen MT','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> Students are introduced to the use of passwords when communicating in a public domain


 * <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Outcomes **

<span style="font-family: 'Tw Cen MT','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- Students use the computer for information <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">(ex. library books available) with help <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Students differentiate real-life friends from online make-believe character friends <span style="font-family: 'Tw Cen MT','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- Students use websites which are posted by Tech, the Library or the classroom teacher. <span style="font-family: 'Tw Cen MT','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">- Students only use computers when supervised by an adult