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Digital Citizenship

Sixth graders learn what it means to be a good digital citizen, protecting their privacy, treating others with respect, and thinking before they post, then check what they know.

Grade 6CASEL: Responsible Decision-Making45 minutes1 class periodCASELExplicit teaching4 StandardsCASEL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define digital citizenship.
  • ✓Protect your privacy.
  • ✓Post with respect.
  • ✓Think before you share.
Essential Question

Everything you post leaves a trail that can last for years. What does it take to be safe, kind, and responsible in the digital world?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Digital Citizenship Check · Interactive

Digital Citizenship Check

Project this and answer each question about being safe, kind, and responsible online — read the explanation after each one.

📱 Check what you know about being a good digital citizenTry it
Answer each question about being safe, kind, and responsible online.
The Lesson · SEL Flow (Check-In · Learn · Practice · Apply · Reflect)

45 minutes, five moves

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

1

Hook — Your Digital Footprint

5 min

Everything you post, share, or like leaves a trail that can last for years. What kind of trail do you want to leave?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Ask what a footprint is.
  • Connect it to posting.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Digital Citizenship Check

12 min

Students answer questions about being safe and kind online.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Digital Citizenship Check.
  • Answer each question.
  • Read the why.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Check.
  • Read it.
3

Modify — What Would You Do?

13 min

Students judge online situations.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Read an online situation.
  • Say the responsible choice.
  • Explain why.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Read.
  • Say.
  • Explain.
4

Create — A Posting Rule

15 min

Students write a personal rule.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Think about a tricky online moment.
  • Write one rule to follow.
  • Say when it applies.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Write.
  • Say.
5

Reflect — Think Before You Post

5 min

Students reflect on digital citizenship.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What is one way to protect your privacy?
  • Why think before you post?
  • 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 CASEL Framework for Social and Emotional Learning across its five core competencies.

CASEL
Responsible Decision-Making

Consider the consequences of online choices for yourself and others.

CASEL
Responsible Decision-Making

Protect personal privacy and recognize online safety risks.

CASEL
Social Awareness

Treat others with respect and empathy in digital spaces.

CASEL
Responsible Decision-Making

Evaluate whether online information is reliable.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Online-scenario cards.
  • Sentence frame: “A good digital citizen would ___ .”
  • Answer one question at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with privacy and passwords.
  • Discuss one scenario together.
  • Review one idea at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Debate a gray-area posting dilemma.
  • Trace a digital footprint over time.
  • Fact-check a real online claim.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🖼️Online-scenario cards
  • 💻Digital Citizenship Check
  • 📱A sample social feed
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

digital citizenshipusing technology in safe, respectful, and responsible waysdigital footprintthe lasting trail of what you post and share onlineprivacykeeping personal information from people who should not have itpassworda private key that protects an accountresponsible decision-makingmaking choices that are safe, caring, and fairupstandersomeone who steps in to help instead of joining in harmreliable sourcea trustworthy place that information comes fromrespecttreating others the way you would want to be treated
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
What does it mean to be a good digital citizen?
To be safe, kind, and responsible online, toward yourself and others.
QUESTION 2
Name one way to protect your privacy online.
For example, keep passwords private or do not share personal details like your address.
QUESTION 3
Why should you think before you post?
Posts can last a long time and reach many people, so a quick choice can have lasting effects.

Create: a posting rule.

Have students recall a tricky online moment, write one personal rule to follow, and say when it applies, so good choices are decided before the moment arrives. A printable digital-citizenship worksheet is in the Social-Emotional Learning 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.

🃏 Responsible Decision-Making: Digital CitizenshipFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

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

📝 Responsible Decision-Making: Digital CitizenshipQuiz
Score: 0
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Question 1
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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.

🖨️ Responsible Decision-Making: Digital CitizenshipPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: digital citizenship, digital footprint, password, privacy, reliable source, respect, responsible decision-making, upstander
  1. a private key that protects an account
  2. making choices that are safe, caring, and fair
  3. a trustworthy place that information comes from
  4. treating others the way you would want to be treated
  5. keeping personal information from people who should not have it
  6. someone who steps in to help instead of joining in harm
  7. using technology in safe, respectful, and responsible ways
  8. the lasting trail of what you post and share online

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does it mean to be a good digital citizen?
  2. Name one way to protect your privacy online.
  3. Why should you think before you post?
Answer key — Part A: 1) password · 2) responsible decision-making · 3) reliable source · 4) respect · 5) privacy · 6) upstander · 7) digital citizenship · 8) digital footprint
Part B: 1) To be safe, kind, and responsible online, toward yourself and others. 2) For example, keep passwords private or do not share personal details like your address. 3) Posts can last a long time and reach many people, so a quick choice can have lasting effects.