Is it Safe to Talk to Strangers Online?: A Kindergarten Lesson

🎯 Learning Objectives for Our Digital Safety Explorers

• 🧠 Students will understand that strangers online are different from strangers in real life.
• 🗣️ Students will learn to identify appropriate people to talk to online (trusted adults).
• 🛑 Students will practice saying "No" to online strangers and telling a trusted adult.
• 🏡 Students will recognize that online interactions should always involve a trusted adult's supervision.

🎒 Essential Materials for Our Online Safety Adventure

• 🎨 Chart paper or whiteboard with markers.
• 🖼️ Pictures of different online scenarios (e.g., chatting, gaming, video calls).
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Pictures of "trusted adults" (parents, teachers, guardians).
• ✂️ Construction paper, crayons, safety scissors for "Safety Shield" activity.
• 📱 A pretend tablet or phone for role-playing.

👋 Warm-up Activity: Who's Your Trusted Grown-Up? (5 mins)

• 🙋 Ask: "Who are the people you can always talk to if you have a question or feel worried?"
• 👪 Guide students to name parents, guardians, teachers, etc.
• 💡 Explain that these are their "Trusted Grown-Ups."

🛡️ Main Instruction: The Online Safety Shield

• 🌐 Begin by explaining that the internet is a wonderful place for learning and fun.
• 👤 Introduce the idea that sometimes people online aren't who they seem to be.
• 🎭 Compare it to a costume party where people might look different.
• 🚨 Emphasize: "Never talk to someone you don't know online without a Trusted Grown-Up right there with you."
• 💬 Explain that online strangers might ask personal questions or ask to meet.
• ❌ Teach them to say "No thank you!" and immediately tell a Trusted Grown-Up.
• 🎮 Use the pretend tablet/phone. "What if someone you don't know sends you a message while you're playing a game?"
• 🗣️ Practice the "Tell a Trusted Grown-Up" response.
• 🤫 Discuss why it's important not to share personal information (name, address, school).
• 🛡️ Guide students to draw their own "Online Safety Shield."
• ✍️ On the shield, they can draw things that keep them safe online (e.g., a trusted adult, a "no" sign, a speech bubble saying "tell").

✅ Assessment: Our Safety Check-in

• ❓ Ask open-ended questions: "What should you do if an online stranger asks for your name?"
• 👍 Observe students' participation in role-playing and their "Safety Shield" creations.
• 🏡 Reinforce the message: "Always talk to your Trusted Grown-Up about anything that makes you feel worried online."