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Securing Your Online Account

Seventh graders learn that a password is only the first lock on an account, and walk through the full routine that keeps an account safe, then put the steps in order.

Grade 7Securing Your Online Account50 minutes1 class periodUse → Modify → CreateExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Build a strong password.
  • ✓Turn on two-factor.
  • ✓Keep logins private.
  • ✓Order the steps.
Essential Question

A strong password helps, but accounts still get broken into. What steps turn a single lock into a whole security routine, and in what order?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Order the Steps · Interactive

Order the Steps

Project this and put the steps to secure an online account in order — tap each one from the password to updating after a breach.

🔐 Put the account-security steps in orderTry it
Tap the steps to secure an online account in order, starting with the password.
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 — More Than a Password

5 min

A strong password helps, but accounts still get broken into. What extra steps turn a single lock into a whole security routine?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Ask what protects an account.
  • List ideas beyond a password.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Order the Steps

12 min

Students put the account-security steps in order.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Order the Steps.
  • Order the steps.
  • Name each one.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Order.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Modify — Rate an Account

13 min

Students audit a sample account.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Read an account's settings.
  • Spot a weak point.
  • Say how to fix it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Read.
  • Spot.
  • Say.
4

Create — My Security Checklist

15 min

Students build a checklist.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • List the steps for one account.
  • Mark which you already do.
  • Add one to improve.

🎒 Student Actions

  • List.
  • Mark.
  • Add.
5

Reflect — Locking It Down

5 min

Students reflect on account security.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Why is two-factor stronger than a password alone?
  • What should you do on a shared computer?
  • 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 ISTE Standards for Students.

CSTA
2-NI-05

Explain how physical and digital security measures protect electronic information.

CSTA
2-NI-06

Apply security practices to protect access to personal accounts and data.

CSTA
2-IC-23

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

ISTE
1.2.d

Digital Citizen: manage personal data to maintain digital privacy and security.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Step cards for the routine.
  • Sentence frame: “First I ___ , then I ___ .”
  • Order two steps at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with password and log out.
  • Walk through one account together.
  • Add one step at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add a password manager to the routine.
  • Compare two-factor methods (app vs text).
  • Audit a real account's security settings.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🗂️Step cards
  • 💻Order the Steps
  • 📱A phone showing a 2FA prompt
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

accounta personal login that holds your data on a servicepassworda secret you type to prove an account is yoursstrong passworda long, hard-to-guess mix of letters, numbers, and symbolsunique passworda different password for each accounttwo-factor authenticationa second check, like a code sent to your phonebreachwhen a company's stored data, including passwords, is stolenlog outto end your session so others cannot use your accountphishinga trick to steal your login by pretending to be real
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
Why is two-factor authentication stronger than a password alone?
Even if someone learns your password, they still need the second check (like a code on your phone) to get in.
QUESTION 2
What should you do after using a shared or public computer?
Log out of your accounts so the next person cannot use them.
QUESTION 3
What should you do if a service reports a data breach?
Change that account's password right away, and anywhere you reused it.

Create: my security checklist.

Have students list the security steps for one account, mark which they already do, and add one to improve, so good habits become a routine. A printable account-security 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.

🃏 Securing Your Online AccountFlip
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.

📝 Securing Your Online AccountQuiz
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.

🖨️ Securing Your Online AccountPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: account, breach, log out, password, phishing, strong password, two-factor authentication, unique password
  1. a different password for each account
  2. a second check, like a code sent to your phone
  3. to end your session so others cannot use your account
  4. a trick to steal your login by pretending to be real
  5. a long, hard-to-guess mix of letters, numbers, and symbols
  6. when a company's stored data, including passwords, is stolen
  7. a personal login that holds your data on a service
  8. a secret you type to prove an account is yours

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Why is two-factor authentication stronger than a password alone?
  2. What should you do after using a shared or public computer?
  3. What should you do if a service reports a data breach?
Answer key — Part A: 1) unique password · 2) two-factor authentication · 3) log out · 4) phishing · 5) strong password · 6) breach · 7) account · 8) password
Part B: 1) Even if someone learns your password, they still need the second check (like a code on your phone) to get in. 2) Log out of your accounts so the next person cannot use them. 3) Change that account's password right away, and anywhere you reused it.