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Malware and Viruses

Seventh graders learn that a virus is a kind of malware, software written to harm or spy, and how safe habits and antivirus tools keep it off a device, then check what they know.

Grade 7Malware and Viruses50 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…

  • ✓Define malware.
  • ✓Name kinds of it.
  • ✓Know how it spreads.
  • ✓Check what you know.
Essential Question

Most software helps you; some is built to harm, steal, or lock your files. How does malware get onto a device, and what keeps it out?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Malware Check · Interactive

Malware Check

Project this and answer each question about malware and how to keep a device safe — read the explanation after each one.

🦠 Check what you know about malware and virusesTry it
Answer each question about malware and how to keep a device safe.
The Lesson · Explicit teaching

50 minutes, five moves

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

1

Hook — Software That Harms

5 min

Most software is built to help you. Some is built to harm: to delete files, steal data, or lock a computer for ransom. How does harmful software get onto a device, and how do you stop it?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Ask what a computer virus is.
  • Collect ideas.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Malware Check

12 min

Students answer questions about malware.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

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

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Check.
  • Read it.
3

Modify — How Did It Get In?

13 min

Students trace how malware spreads.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a way malware spreads.
  • Say what habit would stop it.
  • Say what it might do.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name.
  • Say.
  • Say.
4

Create — My Safety Checklist

15 min

Students build a protection checklist.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • List three habits that block malware.
  • Add one tool that helps.
  • Say what to do if a device is infected.

🎒 Student Actions

  • List.
  • Add.
  • Say.
5

Reflect — Keeping Devices Safe

5 min

Students reflect on malware.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What is malware?
  • Name one way to keep malware off a device.
  • 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 physical and digital security measures protect electronic information.

CSTA
2-NI-06

Apply multiple methods of information protection to a computing system.

CSTA
2-IC-23

Describe tradeoffs between allowing information to be public and keeping it secure.

ISTE
1.1.d

Empowered Learner: understand how to keep devices and data secure.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Malware / safe-habit cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ is malware that ___ .”
  • Answer one question at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with what malware is.
  • Discuss one example together.
  • Review one question at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Compare viruses, worms, and ransomware.
  • Research one real malware attack.
  • Explain how updates close security holes.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🦠Malware type cards
  • 💻Malware Check
  • 🔒A device update screen
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

malwaremalicious software made to harm a device or steal datavirusmalware that copies itself and spreads to other fileswormmalware that spreads across a network on its ownransomwaremalware that locks files and demands paymentspywaremalware that secretly watches and sends your activityantivirussoftware that scans for and removes malwareupdatea fix that closes security holes in softwarebackupa saved copy of files that helps you recover after an attack
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 is malware?
Malicious software written on purpose to harm a device, steal data, or take control of it.
QUESTION 2
Name one way to keep malware off a device.
Keep software updated, use antivirus, and do not click unknown links or open unknown attachments.
QUESTION 3
How is a virus different from malware in general?
A virus is one kind of malware, the kind that copies itself and spreads to other files or devices.

Create: my safety checklist.

Have students list three habits that block malware, add one tool that helps, and say what to do if a device is infected, so protection becomes a routine. A printable malware-safety 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.

🃏 Malware and VirusesFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

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

📝 Malware and VirusesQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
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.

🖨️ Malware and VirusesPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: antivirus, backup, malware, ransomware, spyware, update, virus, worm
  1. malware that locks files and demands payment
  2. malware that secretly watches and sends your activity
  3. a fix that closes security holes in software
  4. a saved copy of files that helps you recover after an attack
  5. malware that spreads across a network on its own
  6. software that scans for and removes malware
  7. malicious software made to harm a device or steal data
  8. malware that copies itself and spreads to other files

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is malware?
  2. Name one way to keep malware off a device.
  3. How is a virus different from malware in general?
Answer key — Part A: 1) ransomware · 2) spyware · 3) update · 4) backup · 5) worm · 6) antivirus · 7) malware · 8) virus
Part B: 1) Malicious software written on purpose to harm a device, steal data, or take control of it. 2) Keep software updated, use antivirus, and do not click unknown links or open unknown attachments. 3) A virus is one kind of malware, the kind that copies itself and spreads to other files or devices.