CommonSense Media's - Digital Literacy and Citizenship Curriculum - is a free online based curriculum focusing on helping students use the Internet safely, responsibly, and effectively.
| Grades 6 - 8 | ||
| Unit 1 | ||
| 6-8 | Digital Life 101 | Students are introduced to the 24/7, social nature of digital media and technologies, and gain basic vocabulary and knowledge for discussing the media landscape. |
| 6-8 | Strategic Searching | Students learn that to conduct effective and efficient online searches, they must use a variety of searching strategies. |
| 6-8 | Scams and Schemes | Students learn strategies for guarding against identity theft and scams that try to access their private information online. |
| 6-8 | Cyberbullying: Be Upstanding | Students learn about the difference between being a passive bystander versus a brave upstander in cyberbullying situations. |
| 6-8 | A Creator's Rights | Students are introduced to copyright, fair use, and the rights they have as creators. |
| Unit 2 | ||
| 6-8 | My Media | Students review their media habits and the array of media they use on a weekly basis, and reflect on the role of digital media in their lives. |
| 6-8 | A Creator's Responsibilities | Students reflect on their responsibilities as creators and users of creative work. |
| 6-8 | Safe Online Talk | While acknowledging the benefits of online talk and messaging, students learn how to handle situations or online behavior which may make them feel uncomfortable. |
| 6-8 | Which Me Should I Be? | Students learn that presenting themselves in different ways online carries both benefits and risks. |
| 6-8 | Gender Stereotypes Online | Students analyze a "Dress Up Your Avatar" feature of a virtual world for kids for evidence of stereotypes about boys and girls. |
| Unit 3 | ||
| 6-8 | Trillion Dollar Footprint | Students learn that they have a digital footprint and that this information can be searched, copied and passed on, but that they can take some control based on what they post online. |
| 6-8 | Identifying High-Quality Sites | Students learn that anyone can publish on the Web, so not all sites are equally trustworthy. |
| 6-8 | Reality of Digital Drama | Students draw connections between young teens’ perceptions of digital drama and stereotypes of men and women on reality TV. |
| 6-8 | Cyberbullying: Crossing the Line | Students learn to distinguish good-natured teasing from cyberbullying. |
| 6-8 | Rework, Reuse, Remix | Students expand their understanding of fair use, apply it to case studies, and create an original work of fair use. |
Privacy & Security - Students learn strategies for managing their online information and keeping it secure from online risks such as identity thieves and phishing.
Digital Footprint& reputation - Students learn to protecttheir own privacy and respect others’ privacy.
Self-image & identity - These lessons are designed to help students explore their own digital lives, focusing on their online versus their offline identity.
Relationships& Communication - Students reflect on how they can
use intrapersonal and
interpersonal skills to build and strengthen
positive online communication and
communities.
Creative Credit & Copyright - Living in a “copy/paste” culture, students need to reflect on their responsibilities and rights as creators in the online spaces where they consume, create, and share information.
Cyberbullying - Students learn what to do if they are involved in a cyberbullying situation.
Information Literacy - Information literacy includes the ability to identify, find, evaluate, and use information effectively.
Internet Safety - Students explore how the Internet offers an amazing way to collaborate with others worldwide, while staying safe through employing strategies such as distinguishing between inappropriate contact and positive connections.