What should you do when someone uses mean or hurtful language on the internet? As kids grow, they'll naturally start to communicate more online. But some of what they see could make them feel hurt, sad, angry, or even fearful. Help your students build empathy for others and learn strategies to use when confronted with cyberbullying. Approximately 45 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Understand that it's important to think about the words we use, because everyone interprets things differently. Identify ways to respond to mean words online, using S-T-O-P. Decide what kinds of statements are OK to say online and which are not.

What information about you is OK to share online? It's in our students' nature to share and connect with others. But sharing online comes with some risks. How can we help kids build strong, positive, and safe relationships online? Help your students learn the difference between what's personal and what's best left private. Approximately 45 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Identify the reasons why people share information about themselves online. Explain the difference between private and personal information. Explain why it is risky to share private information online.

How can you respect the privacy of others online? Tagging friends on social media is a great way to connect with others and capture memorable experiences. But what if they don't want to be tagged? Encourage your students to take responsibility for how they may affect the digital footprints of others. Approximately 50 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Define "digital reputation," and identify examples of social media posts that can have a positive or negative effect. Use the 1-2-3-1 Perspectives activity to consider the causes and effects of posting about others online. Generate a list of questions to ask themselves before posting pictures or information about someone else.

What should you do if someone is mean to you online? The internet is filled with all kinds of interesting people, but sometimes, some of them can be mean to each other. With this role play, help your students understand why it's often easier to be mean online than in person, and how to deal with online meanness when they see it. Approximately 35 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Understand what online meanness can look like and how it can make people feel Identify ways to respond to mean words online, using S-T-O-P

What are the important parts of an online news article? Kids find and read news in lots of different ways. But studies show they're not very good at interpreting what they see. How can we help them get better? Teaching your students about the structure of online news articles is an important place to start. Approximately 45 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Understand the purposes of different parts of an online news page. Identify the parts and structure of an online news article. Learn about things to watch out for when reading online news pages, such as sponsored content and advertisements.

How should you respond to online hate speech? Students can come across all kinds of negative content online and on social media, whether it's rude, mean, or even hateful. But what should students do when they encounter hate speech online? Have students think through digital dilemmas and identify the best ways to respond. Approximately 45 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Examine and respond to a piece of artwork about the power of technology. Analyze an online hate speech dilemma using the Feelings & Options steps. Identify specific actions to positively affect a situation involving hate speech.

How can I make sure my relationships are healthy and positive? "It's complicated" can describe many of our relationships with others, both romantic and otherwise. Add digital devices and social media to the mix, and things get complicated even further. Help students take the first step toward building healthy and rewarding friendships and romantic relationships, both online and off. Approximately 45 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Reflect on how their relationships are affected by devices and the internet. Identify the qualities of healthy and rewarding relationships. Use the Feelings & Options thinking routine to brainstorm strategies for navigating challenging relationships.

What privacy risks do new technologies present, and how do we decide if they're worth it? New tech, like location services and smart devices, helps make our lives easier and opens opportunities that didn't exist before. But these innovations also come with a cost -- especially to our privacy. Help students consider the benefits and drawbacks of these new technologies -- and decide whether they're ultimately worth it. Approximately 50 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Identify important benefits and privacy risks that new technologies present. Decide whether or not the benefits of new technologies outweigh their privacy risks. Use the Take a Stand thinking routine to consider both the benefits and the risks of new technologies.

How do you go places safely online? The power of the internet allows students to experience and visit places they might not be able to see in person. But, just like traveling in the real world, it's important to be safe when traveling online. On this virtual field trip, kids can practice staying safe on online adventures. Approximately 30 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Discover that the internet can be used to visit faraway places and learn new things. Compare how staying safe online is similar to staying safe in the real world. Explain rules for traveling safely on the internet.

What are the risks and potential consequences of sexting? It's natural for teens to be curious about their emerging sexuality. But most middle schoolers aren't prepared for the risks of exploring this in the digital age. Help students think critically about self-disclosure in relationships and practice how they'd respond to a situation where sexting -- or a request for sexting -- might happen. Approximately 50 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Compare the risks and benefits of self-disclosure in relationships. Identify the risks and potential consequences of sexting. Use the Feelings & Options thinking routine to consider how to respond in situations where sexting could occur.

How does using social media affect our digital footprints? Social media can be a place to connect, learn, and, most of all, share. But how much do kids know about what they're sharing -- and not just about themselves but each other? Help students think critically about their digital footprints on social media. Approximately 50 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Identify reasons for using social media and the challenges that often come along with it. Reflect on the responsibilities they have that are related to digital footprints -- both their own and others' -- when they're using social media. Identify ways to make the most of social media while still caring for the digital footprints of themselves and others.

How does your social media use affect how you feel? Social media plays a big role in most teens' lives, and research shows that it causes intense feelings -- both positive and negative. But not all media use is the same. There are many benefits that come with both active and passive media use. For better social and emotional well-being, encourage students to become creators of digital media, not just consumers. Approximately 50 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Reflect on how their social media use makes them feel and how it compares to other teenagers'. Describe how active and passive social media use can lead to positive and negative feelings. Identify action steps to increase their positive feelings when using social media.

Connect with coworkers, business partners, and contacts from anywhere using Google Meet. Time to complete: 45-90 minutes

🎬 About this series:
"Teaching Media Literacy in the Classroom” series shows educators the importance of teaching media literacy concepts with real-world examples of how to bring them to life in their classrooms.
"Teaching Media Literacy in the Classroom" is brought to you by the Broadcast Educational Media Commission (BEMC), the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), and WOUB Public Media.

What kinds of information should I keep to myself when I use the internet? Staying safe online is a lot like staying safe in the real world. By helping a Digital Citizen sign up for a new app, students learn about the kinds of information they should keep to themselves when they use the internet -- just as they would with a stranger in person. Approximately 30 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Recognize the kind of information that is private. Understand that they should never give out private information online.

How does what I post online affect my identity? From selfies to social media, many of us create unique online identities for ourselves, and our students are no different. But do kids always understand how others might perceive what they post? Help your students think critically about the online identities they're creating. Approximately 45 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Consider how posting selfies or other images will lead others to make assumptions about them. Reflect on the most important parts of their unique identity. Identify ways they can post online to best reflect who they are.

How should we react to breaking news? With mobile phone alerts, social media updates, and 24/7 news cycles, it's hard to escape the daily flood of breaking news. But do kids really understand what they're seeing when stories first break? Help students analyze breaking news with a critical eye for false or incomplete information, and discuss the downsides of our "always-on" news media culture. Approximately 45 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Define breaking news, and understand why individuals and news outlets want to be first to report a story. Analyze breaking news alerts to identify clues of false or incomplete information. Reflect on the consequences of reacting right away to breaking news alerts.

Think about the actions you take online and then create a visual picture of your digital footprint in Google Sheets. Time to complete: 45-90 minutes

How can you respond when cyberbullying occurs? When cyberbullying happens, everyone involved brings their own perspective to the situation. Help students learn about the importance of empathy, how to consider others' feelings, and how to be an upstander when cyberbullying occurs. Approximately 45 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Consider the different perspectives of those involved in a cyberbullying incident. Identify ways to be an upstander or ally to someone being bullied. Problem-solve potential challenges to responding to cyberbullying.

How can we communicate with civility online? When we talk about our personal beliefs and politics, passions can run high -- especially when we're online. These intense moments can often lead to tit-for-tat insults, or worse. But, if addressed calmly and coolly, they can be an opportunity to find common ground and deeper understanding. Teach students to keep disagreements civil so their ideas will be heard and so they can advocate for positive change. Approximately 55 mins.

LESSON OBJECTIVES: Define civil discourse and identify why it can be challenging on the internet. Analyze resources to identify the causes and effects of uncivil online discourse. Learn strategies for civil discourse and apply them to a scenario involving uncivil discourse.