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Public or Private Information

Fifth graders learn that some information is fine to share online while other details should stay private to keep them safe, and sort real examples into public and private.

Grade 5Public or Private Information50 minutes1 class periodCSTA / ISTEExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Tell public from private.
  • ✓Protect personal details.
  • ✓Think before you share.
  • ✓Sort each example.
Essential Question

If you would not put it on a hallway poster for everyone to see, you probably should not post it online. Which details are safe to share, and which should stay private?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Sort the Information · Interactive

Sort the Information

Project this and sort each detail into safe to share publicly or keep private — tap a detail, then tap where it belongs.

🔒 Sort each detail: safe to share publicly or keep private?Try it
🌐 OK to share publicly
🔒 Keep private
Tap a piece of information, then tap whether it is safe to share publicly or should be kept private.
The Lesson · Use → Modify → Create (a coding progression with Unplugged practice)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Would You Put It on a Poster?

5 min

If you would not put it on a poster in the hallway for everyone to see, you probably should not post it online either. Which details are safe to share, and which should stay private?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a sample profile.
  • Ask what is safe to share.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Sort the Information

12 min

Students sort details into public and private.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Sort the Information.
  • Drop each one.
  • Explain each choice.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Say.
  • Explain.
3

Modify — Why Keep It Private

13 min

Students explain the risk.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a private detail.
  • Say who could misuse it.
  • Say a safer choice.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Say.
  • Say.
4

Create — My Safe Profile

15 min

Students build a safe profile.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Write what is safe to share.
  • Leave out private details.
  • Explain one choice.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Write.
  • Leave out.
  • Explain.
5

Reflect — Share Smart

5 min

Students reflect on sharing.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name one detail you should keep private.
  • Why keep your address and password private?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and the ISTE Standards for Students.

CSTA
2-NI-05

Explain how to protect personal information and devices online.

CSTA
2-IC-20

Compare tradeoffs of sharing information online.

CSTA
2-IC-21

Discuss how online sharing affects privacy and safety.

ISTE
2

Act as a responsible, safe digital citizen.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Information cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ should be ___ .”
  • Sort two details at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with name vs address.
  • Sort one detail together.
  • Sort the public ones first.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Discuss how small details combine to identify you.
  • Review privacy settings on an app.
  • Explain why a schedule is risky to post.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🖼️Information cards
  • 💻Sort the Information
  • 🔒A sample profile
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

public informationdetails that are safe for anyone to seeprivate informationpersonal details you should protectpersonal informationdata that identifies you, like your addresspassworda secret that unlocks your accountprivacykeeping your personal information protectedprofilethe information you share about yourself onlineidentitywho you are, which others could misuse if exposedover-sharingposting more personal detail than is safe
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Name one detail you should keep private online.
For example, your home address, phone number, password, or school schedule.
QUESTION 2
Why should you keep your address and password private?
Sharing them could let a stranger find you or get into your accounts, which is unsafe.
QUESTION 3
Is your first name alone usually safe to share?
Usually yes, but it is safest paired with care; details like your full name plus address or school are what make you findable.

Create: my safe profile.

Have students write what is safe to share in a profile, leave out private details, and explain one choice, so sharing smart becomes a habit. A printable public-or-private worksheet is in the Computer Science library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Public or Private InformationFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Public or Private InformationQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Public or Private InformationPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: identity, over-sharing, password, personal information, privacy, private information, profile, public information
  1. a secret that unlocks your account
  2. keeping your personal information protected
  3. who you are, which others could misuse if exposed
  4. posting more personal detail than is safe
  5. data that identifies you, like your address
  6. the information you share about yourself online
  7. details that are safe for anyone to see
  8. personal details you should protect

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Name one detail you should keep private online.
  2. Why should you keep your address and password private?
  3. Is your first name alone usually safe to share?
Answer key — Part A: 1) password · 2) privacy · 3) identity · 4) over-sharing · 5) personal information · 6) profile · 7) public information · 8) private information
Part B: 1) For example, your home address, phone number, password, or school schedule. 2) Sharing them could let a stranger find you or get into your accounts, which is unsafe. 3) Usually yes, but it is safest paired with care; details like your full name plus address or school are what make you findable.