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Digital Citizenship
Topic area

Digital citizenship
Target age group Lesson duration

Upper Primary

Lesson Overview
In todays rapidly evolving digital environment, students often find themselves becoming digital citizens the
moment they begin using digital technologies, such as signing up for an email address, using the internet
and mobile phones. In acknowledging themselves to be digital citizens from the beginning of their use of
technology, young students should come to recognise the importance of protecting their private
information online, the value of taking responsibility for themselves and their actions, and the necessity of
treating others with an appropriate standard of behaviour online.
This lesson includes four short activities. Teachers can select a single activity or multiple activities to make
up the recommended 45 minutes, depending on what they feel is appropriate to their class.
Lesson outcomes
Describe the importance of a persons digital footprint online
Demonstrate safe behaviours regarding passwords and privacy online
Define who to trust about choices and activities online
Identify positive and negative social behaviours online

Australian Curriculum
This lesson plan module supports a number of learning areas in the Australian Curriculum, including
Health and Physical Education, Civics and Citizenship and Technologies.

Activity 1 Page Subject focus Duration Resources required

Drawing/Writing 4 Digital footprint Worksheet 1, pen

Activity 2 Page Subject focus Duration Resources required

Multiple Choice 5 Making safe, Worksheet 2, pen
Activity responsible,
informed choices
online
Activity 3 Page Subject focus Duration Resources required
Word search 9 Words and concepts Worksheet 3, pen
essential to digital
citizenship
 2

Activity 4 Page Subject focus Duration Resources required

Research 10 Privacy A3 paper, pens
Activity/Discussi
on Activity

External links included in lesson

Nil
Technology and Terminology referred to in this lesson
Internet, post, download, sites, social networking, cyberbullying, online, email, blogging

This work is based on materials that constitute copyright of the Commonwealth of Australia and is
licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 2.5 Australia Licence.
See https://esafety.gov.au/about-the-office/privacy-and-legal for more information.
Digital Citizenship
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Digital Citizenship
Background
The Digital Citizenship lesson plans focus on positive engagement with digital technology. Who
is a digital citizen? Everyone online is a digital citizen! The concept of digital citizenship is crucial
to students learning about technology - understanding the opportunities presented by the online
world, learning how to minimise associated risks, and developing awareness of the impact of
individual footprints online.
Engaged digital citizens recognise that upsetting behaviours such as bullying can contribute to
negative experiences and longer term consequences.
Acting with consideration, resilience and self-awareness in digital landscapes includes respecting
other participants and recognising the value of personal privacy.
It is important to empower younger internet users with the knowledge of how their reputations can
be affected by their interactions online, what language and actions are considered appropriate
online, and to give them practical strategies to avoid participating in negative online behaviours.
The digital citizenship principles outline how to become a better digital citizen:
1. Know your online world: be curious, learn new things and but be aware of risks and how to
protect yourself.
2. Choose consciously: think before you act - the choices you make online can last forever.
3. Engage positively: what you say and do online can affect everyone! Avoid bullying,
harassment and online abuse and learn how to take positive steps if others dont.
For more information about the digital citizenship principles see the Office of the Childrens
eSafety Commissioners website: https://www.esafety.gov.au/education-resources/classroom-
resources/digital-citizenship.
Digital Citizenship
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Activity 1: Digital footprint

Activity 1 Page Subject focus Duration Resources required
Drawing/Writing 4 Digital footprint Worksheet 1, pen

Instructions
1. Distribute Worksheet 1 to each student
2. Ask students to write their full name at the top of the footprint drawing so it is clearly identified
as theirs.
3. In the blank spaces inside the top of the footprint drawing, ask students to write all the things
they would like to be and want known about them. These might include values; such as
clever, kind, helpful, brave, a good friend, or aspirations for their futures; such as doctor,
animal trainer or artist.
Teachers Tip: Allow ample time to focus on the positive aspects of reputation and how
your students would like to be perceived.
4. In the blank spaces inside the bottom part of the footprint drawing, ask students to consider
and record - what do you not want known? The focus on here is on privacy as well as
reputation, so lead your class to answers which include their home address, name of school,
phone number and other identifying details.
Teachers Tip: Place the footprints around the classroom in order to keep the message alive.
Remind students that our digital footprints can be followed, just like real footprints.
Digital Citizenship
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Activity 2: Digital citizenship test

Activity 2 Page Subject focus Duration Resources required
Multiple choice 5 Making safe, Worksheet 2
activity responsible,
informed choices
online

This activity requires students to complete a multiple choice test modelled on the Australian
citizenship test. The test focuses on the ways in which good digital citizens think and choose
before acting online.
When becoming a citizen of a country, people must first pass a test designed to ensure that they
understand both the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Being a good digital citizen means understanding what you are entitled to and what you are
responsible for in an online environment.

Instructions
1. Distribute Worksheet 2 directly to all students
2. Allow ten minutes for students to read through the test and record their answers
3. Working through the test as a class, discuss the answers schedule.

Answer key and notes for teachers:

Number Question Answer

1 I should stop and THINK before sharing
things about myself online.
C: Even the most careful online user can
never be sure of privacy. Treat everything
you share as if it would eventually be
made public, and always think before
risking your privacy.
Digital Citizenship
Number Question
2 Sometimes I share passwords with my
friends.
3 Sometimes I use my friends name and
post things pretending to be them as a
joke.
4 When going online at school, it is
important to know:
5 When I say something online in class or
at home, I should:
6 How long I spend online:
6
Answer
B: Passwords are needed for almost
everything we do online. Keeping track of
them is not always easy but is extremely
important. Change them regularly and
never share them with anyone except
your parents, not even your closest
friends. In fact, sharing passwords may
cause serious problems between friends
and in friendship groups.
C: Pretending to be as someone else
online or using their passwords to buy
things or say things online is identity theft.
It can cause serious problems and is
never a joke.
D: Going online at school is a great way
to extend learning beyond the classroom.
To get the most out of it, you need to
learn the rules about how to be
responsible and respectful towards
yourself, your classmates, and your
school.
B: Sometimes its hard to remember that
what we say and do online is permanent
and there for everyone to see. This
means that using bad or negative
language, even as a joke, might be much
stronger than when spoken aloud. The
same goes for images you create. To
avoid trouble, simply ask a teacher or
parent about some of their expectations
for your behaviour online, and always
stop and think before you post.
D: Spending time online is fun,
entertaining and can help you learn.
However, too much time online can have
serious negative effects, such as
disrupting your sleep, causing bad or sad
feelings, and affecting your physical
fitness. Its important to get the right
balance to keep yourself healthy and
keep enjoying your time online.
Digital Citizenship
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Number Question Answer

7 Giving private information to strangers or C: Giving private information out to

companies online is: strangers online is never OK. Its
impossible to tell who someone really is
online, and there are many reasons that
people may try to get personal
information about you or your family
online. Its important to protect details
about your identity, your school, your
family, and your address. There are lots
of ways to make friends and interact
online without needing to reveal private
information.

8 If I can tell someone is being bullied C: Bullying online, often called

online: cyberbullying, is complicated. Some of us
may have experienced being bullied, and
some may have even bullied others. In
many cases of bullying there are
bystanders who witness the bullying but
dont want to get involved. Its important
to act responsibly as a bystander and
help the person being bullied. If you cant
help easily by yourself by using calm,
positive words, do report it right away to a
teacher or parent.

9 I try to be positive and helpful online:
D: Being helpful, using positive language
and trying to include others is what we
can do every day to be good digital
citizens. It makes time spent online better
for everyone, including yourself.

10 If Im allowed to buy or download things C: Its important to check with your

online: parents before buying or downloading
things online, even if you are allowed to.
There are a lot of scams and tricks online
as well as great stuff, and your parents
know more about that, even if you think
they wont understand the technology.
Digital Citizenship
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Activity 3: Digital citizenship word search

Activity 3 Page Subject focus Duration Resources required
Word search 9 Words and concepts Worksheet 3, pen
essential to digital
citizenship

Instructions
Distribute Worksheet 3 and allow students sufficient time (around 10 minutes) to fill them out.
The words to be searched for are: respect, privacy, think, password, safe, help, friend, positive,
kindness, considerate, learn, ask, question, appropriate, inclusive, trust, secure, responsible,
informed.
Teachers Tip: Use the word search words as discussion starters on why those concepts
or attributes are important.

Solution
(OVER,DOWN,DIRECTION)
APPROPRIATE(5,9,E)
ASK(5,11,W)
- E T - N - - D - K - E P P D
CONSIDERATE(2,11,NE)
- V S S - O N - I - T - A O E
FRIEND(3,6,NE)
- I U - E E I N - A - L S S M
HELP(7,10,W)
- S R - I C D T R - E - S I R
INCLUSIVE(2,9,N)
E U T R - N U E S A - - W T O
INFORMED(15,8,N)
L L F - E - D R R E - - O I F
KINDNESS(10,1,SW)
B C - S - I - N E - U - R V N
LEARN(12,3,SW)
I N S - S - - E F A S Q D E I
PASSWORD(13,1,S)
S I - N A P P R O P R I A T E
POSITIVE(14,1,S)
N - O P L E H - T C E P S E R PRIVACY(4,13,E)
O C K S A - - - - - - - K - - QUESTION(12,8,NW)
P - - - - - - - - - - N - - - RESPECT(15,10,W)
S - - P R I V A C Y I - - - - RESPONSIBLE(1,15,N)
E - - - - - - - - H - - - - - SAFE(11,8,W)
R - - - - - - - T - - - - - - SECURE(4,2,SE)
THINK(9,15,NE)
TRUST(3,5,N)
Digital Citizenship
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Activity 4: Privacy
Activity 4 Page Subject focus Duration Resources required
Drawing/Discus 10 Privacy A3 paper, pens
sion Activity

Instructions
Begin discussion by asking students to consider the different ways in which they use the internet
to communicate with others. Consider social networking posts, texts, instant messaging, email,
blogging, online games, sharing photos etc.
1. Ask students to draw three concentric rings on an A3 sheet of paper, placing themselves in
the centre ring. The placement of other people within the rings should reflect the proximity of
their relationship to the student.
2. Once students have placed themselves in the centre ring, in the next ring students record
people they communicate with online but also know in real life. They should also note how
they communicate with these people.
3. In the outer ring students record people they communicate with online, but do not know in real
life. They should also note how they communicate with these people.
4. Once the students have completed the rings suggest that they review the relationships by
asking the following questions:
Do I communicate differently with people I know in real life compared with people I
dont know in real life?
What things do I share with people online? Are they different for people I know and
dont know? Are there things I should not communicate to people I dont know in
real life?
Am I posting things publicly that should not be shared?
How much time do I spend communicating with people online (this includes people
I know and people I dont know)?
Teachers Tip: Once completed, ask the class to share some of their thoughts about online
relationships. Make the point that the people furthest from the centre of the ring are the
people with whom we should not share personal, identifying information such as our full
name, date of birth, home address or name of school. Emphasise that people we meet
online, but who are not known to us in real life, may not have our best interests in mind, or
even may not be who they say they are.
Digital Citizenship

WORKSHEET 1: DIGITAL FOOTPRINT

Figure 1 - This graphic shows the tread of a shoe, with gaps in which students can write
their responses to Activity 1 - 'Digital Footprint'.
Digital Citizenship

Your digital footprint. What do you want people to know and not know about you?
WORKSHEET 2: DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP TEST

1. I should stop and THINK before sharing things about myself online:

a. Not at all thinking takes too much time!

b. Sometimes, but only if I think Ill get in trouble.
c. Always, because the information I share is never private online.
d. Sometimes, because privacy is only important sometimes.

2. Sometimes I share passwords with my friends:

a. Its OK to share passwords with friends if we never fight and I trust them.
b. Its never OK to share my passwords with anyone except my parents.
c. I only share my password with my best friend.
d. My password is just my name, so anyone can guess it anyway.

3. Sometimes I use my friends name and post things pretending to be them as a joke:

a. Yes, a joke is a joke, and I can pretend to be my friend for fun!

b. No, but I probably would if I could figure out their password!
c. Never, its called identity theft and can cause big problems for both of us.
d. Yes, because I only go online for fun and so do my friends.

4. When going online at school, it is important to know:

a. The agreed rules for going online at school.

b. How to work well with others and get the most out of using the internet.
c. How to choose and use the right language so I dont upset anyone or get into trouble.
d. All of the above.

5. When I say something online in class or at home, I should:

a. Say whatever I want.

b. Ask a teacher or parent about whats OK to say online.
c. Use a fake name if I want to say anything hurtful.
d. Do whatever everyone else is doing if its fine for everyone, its fine for me.

6. How long I spend online:

a. Can affect my health if its too many hours a day.

b. Can affect how I sleep.
c. Can help me learn about the world and help me with homework.
d. All of the above.
7. Giving private information to strangers or companies online is:

a. No problem if I think they look like good people or companies.

b. Nothing to worry about if I know they dont live near me.
c. Never OK, no matter what the circumstances are.
d. Always OK; I have nothing to hide.

8. If I can tell someone is being bullied online:

a. I should just stay away from it I dont want to be the next!

b. Ignore it if I dont like whos being bullied anyway.
c. Think about what it would feel like if it was happening to me or my best friend and get
help.
d. Why does it matter? A bit of bullying toughens you up.

9. I try to be positive and helpful online:

a. Always its important to treat others well online.

b. Yes, being positive is a good habit to get into.
c. Yes, even though I sometimes have to think carefully to make sure I say the right thing.
d. All of the above.

10. If Im allowed to buy or download things online:

a. I dont bother checking with my parents, they dont understand!

b. I check with my friends to see if something is good.
c. I check with my parents each time because there are scams and tricks online as well as
great stuff.
d. I use my instinct to tell if its good or not.
 WORKSHEET 3: WHAT MAKES A GOOD DIGITAL CITIZEN?

Name: ____________________________________________________

R E T P N Z S D Q K N E P P D

E V S S U O N X I O T Q A O E

M I U K E E I N G A D L S S M

R S R I I C D T R K E E S I R

E U T R J N U E S A Z I W T O

L L F V E F D R R E C H O I F

B C N S X I D N E A U Y R V N

I N S Y S E S E F A S Q D E I

S I R N A P P R O P R I A T E

N R O P L E H T T C E P S E R

O C K S A D K O Z A D Q K H R

P X L U W K U L C K F N F T O

S L N P R I V A C Y I Z Q E X

E M Q A Z O O W T H S E H X A

R Z M Q J U B M T G Y M T I N

APPROPRIATE ASK CONSIDERATE

FRIEND HELP INCLUSIVE
INFORMED KINDNESS LEARN
PASSWORD POSITIVE PRIVACY
QUESTION RESPECT RESPONSIBLE
SAFE SECURE THINK
TRUST