1. US Curriculums
  2. TEKS
  3. Grade 9
  4. Health Education
  5. Injury and violence prevention and safety--digital citizenship and media. The student understands how to be a safe and responsible citizen in digital and online environments

Grade 9 · Health Education

Injury and violence prevention and safety--digital citizenship and media. The student understands how to be a safe and responsible citizen in digital and online environments

Quarter 2 · Week 6 · TEKS

Standards Alignment

  • TEKS.115.38.11A primary
    develop strategies to resist inappropriate digital and online communication such as social media posts, sending and receiving photos, sexting, and pornography; and
  • TEKS.115.38.11B primary
    identify appropriate responses to situations in which digital and online safety are at risk, including identity protection and recognition of predators.

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Lesson Overview

This Grade 9 Health Education lesson focuses on teaching students how to be safe and responsible citizens in digital and online environments. Students will learn strategies to resist inappropriate digital communication such as social media posts, sexting, and pornography, and identify appropriate responses to protect their identity and recognize online predators. The lesson aligns with TEKS standards TEKS.115.38.11A and TEKS.115.38.11B and includes direct teaching, guided practice, and reflection activities.

Learning Objectives

  • Develop strategies to resist inappropriate digital and online communication such as social media posts, sending and receiving photos, sexting, and pornography.
  • Identify appropriate responses to situations where digital and online safety are at risk, including protecting personal identity and recognizing online predators.

Success Criteria

  • Students can list and explain at least three strategies to resist inappropriate digital communication.
  • Students can identify safe responses to risky digital situations, including how to protect their identity and recognize predators.
  • Students demonstrate understanding through role-play or scenario-based activities showing safe digital behavior.

Prerequisite Knowledge

Students should understand basic concepts of digital communication and have experience using social media or online platforms. They should also have a general awareness of personal safety and privacy.

Key Vocabulary

  • Digital citizenship
  • Inappropriate digital communication
  • Sexting
  • Pornography
  • Identity protection
  • Online predators
  • Social media
  • Privacy settings
  • Cyberbullying

Materials and Resources

  • Whiteboard or chart paper
  • Markers
  • Scenario cards describing digital safety situations
  • Projector or computer for digital examples
  • Handouts with strategies for digital safety

Teacher Preparation

  • Prepare scenario cards illustrating various digital safety challenges.
  • Review TEKS standards TEKS.115.38.11A and TEKS.115.38.11B to ensure alignment.
  • Gather examples of inappropriate digital communications and safe responses.
  • Prepare discussion questions and role-play prompts.
  • Set up any digital tools or simulations if available.

Detailed Lesson Notes

Understanding Inappropriate Digital Communication

Inappropriate digital communication includes social media posts, sending or receiving photos that are not appropriate, sexting (sending sexually explicit messages or images), and pornography. These can lead to emotional harm, legal issues, and safety risks. Students need to recognize these behaviors and understand why they are harmful or risky.

Strategies to Resist Inappropriate Digital Communication

Students should learn specific strategies such as: ignoring or blocking inappropriate messages, not sharing personal photos or information, reporting inappropriate behavior to trusted adults or platform moderators, and thinking critically before posting or responding online. Emphasize the importance of saying no and setting personal boundaries in digital spaces.

Recognizing Risks to Digital and Online Safety

Digital safety risks include identity theft, exposure to predators, cyberbullying, and privacy breaches. Students should be able to identify signs of these risks, such as strangers asking for personal information, requests for inappropriate photos, or suspicious online behavior. Understanding these signs helps students stay safe.

Appropriate Responses to Digital Safety Risks

When students encounter risky situations, appropriate responses include: protecting personal information by using privacy settings, not sharing passwords, reporting suspicious or harmful behavior, telling a trusted adult, and avoiding engaging with predators or bullies. Reinforce the importance of immediate action to protect oneself.

Role of Digital Citizenship in Injury and Violence Prevention

Being a responsible digital citizen means respecting others online, protecting oneself and others from harm, and using technology ethically. This helps prevent injury and violence that can occur through digital means, such as harassment or exploitation. Encourage students to model positive digital behavior and support peers in safe online practices.

Worked Examples

Worked Example 1

Scenario

A friend asks you to send a photo that makes you uncomfortable. What is a safe and responsible way to respond?

Explanation

The student should recognize this as inappropriate digital communication and respond by refusing to send the photo, explaining their boundaries if comfortable, and possibly blocking or reporting the friend if the request continues. This protects their safety and respects their personal limits.

Answer Guide

I would say no and tell my friend I am not comfortable sending that photo. If they keep asking, I would block them or tell a trusted adult.

Worked Example 2

Scenario

You receive a message from someone you don't know asking for personal information. What should you do?

Explanation

Recognizing this as a potential online predator or identity risk, the student should not share any information, block the sender, and report the message to a trusted adult or platform moderator to protect their identity and safety.

Answer Guide

I would not share any information, block the sender, and tell a trusted adult about the message.

Engage

Teacher Activity

Introduce the topic by asking students about their experiences with social media and online communication. Share a real-life example or news story about digital safety risks to capture interest.

Student Activity

Students share their own experiences or observations about digital communication and safety. They discuss what they think is appropriate or inappropriate online.

Explanation

This phase activates prior knowledge and sets the context for learning about digital citizenship and safety.

Examples

  • Students mention examples of inappropriate posts or messages.
  • Students express awareness of privacy concerns.
  • Students show curiosity about how to stay safe online.

Explore

Teacher Activity

Present scenario cards describing situations involving inappropriate digital communication or online safety risks. Facilitate small group discussions where students identify the risks and brainstorm strategies to respond.

Student Activity

In groups, students analyze each scenario, discuss possible responses, and share their ideas with the class.

Explanation

This phase allows students to apply their understanding to realistic situations and develop problem-solving skills related to digital safety.

Examples

  • Students identify inappropriate communication and safety risks.
  • Students suggest strategies like blocking, reporting, or telling an adult.
  • Students demonstrate understanding of protective actions.

Explain

Teacher Activity

Directly teach key strategies to resist inappropriate digital communication and appropriate responses to online safety risks. Use examples and model respectful, safe digital behavior.

Student Activity

Students take notes, ask questions, and participate in guided practice such as role-playing safe responses to digital challenges.

Explanation

This phase clarifies concepts and provides explicit instruction on digital citizenship and safety strategies.

Examples

  • Students articulate strategies clearly.
  • Students engage in role-play demonstrating safe behavior.
  • Students ask clarifying questions about digital safety.

Elaborate

Teacher Activity

Lead a class discussion on the importance of digital citizenship in preventing injury and violence. Encourage students to reflect on how their online actions affect themselves and others.

Student Activity

Students share reflections and examples of how they can be responsible digital citizens. They create personal digital safety plans or guidelines.

Explanation

This phase deepens understanding by connecting digital citizenship to broader health and safety outcomes.

Examples

  • Students make connections between digital behavior and safety.
  • Students develop thoughtful personal safety plans.
  • Students express commitment to positive online actions.

Evaluate

Teacher Activity

Assess student understanding through a short quiz or exit ticket where students list strategies to resist inappropriate communication and describe responses to digital safety risks. Observe role-play performances for application of skills.

Student Activity

Students complete the assessment task and participate in a final role-play or discussion demonstrating their knowledge.

Explanation

This phase measures student mastery of lesson objectives and readiness to apply digital safety skills independently.

Examples

  • Students correctly list strategies and responses.
  • Students demonstrate safe digital behaviors in role-play.
  • Students show confidence in protecting their online safety.

Classroom Activity

In groups, students analyze each scenario, discuss possible responses, and share their ideas with the class.

Guided Practice

Guided Practice 1

Prompt

What is a safe way to respond if someone asks you to send an inappropriate photo?

Teacher Answer Guide

Say no firmly, do not send the photo, and tell a trusted adult if needed.

Guided Practice 2

Prompt

How can you protect your identity online?

Teacher Answer Guide

Use privacy settings, do not share personal information, and be cautious about who you communicate with.

Guided Practice 3

Prompt

What should you do if you suspect someone online is a predator?

Teacher Answer Guide

Do not engage with them, block them, and report to a trusted adult or platform.

Independent Practice

  1. Foundational: What does it mean to be a responsible digital citizen?
  2. Developing: Name two types of inappropriate digital communication you should resist.
  3. Application: If someone online asks you to send a private photo, what strategies can you use to resist this request?
  4. Analysis: Explain why it is important to recognize online predators and how you can protect your identity from them.
  5. Challenge: Describe a scenario where digital and online safety is at risk and outline appropriate responses to keep yourself safe.

Independent Practice Teacher Answer Key

  1. 1. Being a responsible digital citizen means using technology safely, respectfully, and ethically, protecting yourself and others online.
  2. 2. Sexting and sharing inappropriate photos or pornography.
  3. 3. You can say no firmly, ignore or block the person, and tell a trusted adult or report the behavior.
  4. 4. Recognizing online predators helps prevent exploitation or harm. Protecting your identity by not sharing personal information and using privacy settings reduces the risk of being targeted.
  5. 5. If a stranger on social media sends inappropriate messages and asks for personal information, appropriate responses include not responding, blocking the stranger, reporting the behavior, and telling a trusted adult.

Guiding Questions

  • What are examples of inappropriate digital communication?
  • How can you protect your identity online?
  • What steps should you take if you encounter an online predator?
  • Why is it important to be a responsible digital citizen?
  • How can you support friends in staying safe online?

Common Misconceptions

  • Some students may think that sharing any photo or message online is safe if it is with friends, not realizing friends can share it further.
  • Students might believe that online predators always look suspicious or obvious, but they can appear friendly or trustworthy.
  • Some may think that ignoring inappropriate messages is enough, without knowing the importance of reporting and blocking.
  • Students might assume that using privacy settings alone guarantees safety, ignoring other protective behaviors.

Differentiation

Support and Intervention

Provide sentence starters or scripts for students to practice saying no in digital scenarios. Use visual aids and examples to explain key vocabulary and concepts. Allow students to work in pairs or small groups for discussions and role-plays.

English-Language Learner Support

Use simple, clear language and define key terms with visuals. Provide bilingual glossaries if possible. Use role-play to practice common phrases for digital safety.

Advanced and Extension

Challenge students to create digital safety campaigns or presentations for peers. Encourage research on laws and policies related to digital communication and online safety. Have students analyze complex scenarios involving multiple digital safety risks.

Assessment

  • Observe student participation in role-plays and group discussions to check understanding.
  • Use exit tickets where students list strategies to resist inappropriate digital communication.
  • Ask students to explain how they would respond to a given digital safety risk scenario.
  • List three strategies to stay safe from inappropriate digital communication.
  • What should you do if someone online asks for your personal information?
  • Why is it important to recognize online predators?
  • Create a digital safety plan that includes strategies to resist inappropriate communication and protect your identity.
  • Write a reflection on how being a responsible digital citizen can prevent injury and violence online.

Answer Guide

  • What is a safe way to respond if someone asks you to send an inappropriate photo?
    Answer: Say no firmly, do not send the photo, and tell a trusted adult if needed.
  • How can you protect your identity online?
    Answer: Use privacy settings, do not share personal information, and be cautious about who you communicate with.
  • What should you do if you suspect someone online is a predator?
    Answer: Do not engage with them, block them, and report to a trusted adult or platform.

Real-Life Application

Encourage students to discuss digital safety strategies with family members and create a family agreement on safe and responsible use of digital devices and social media.

Homework or Home Connection

  • Encourage students to discuss digital safety strategies with family members and create a family agreement on safe and responsible use of digital devices and social media.

Lesson Summary

In this lesson, students learned how to be safe and responsible digital citizens by developing strategies to resist inappropriate digital communication and identifying appropriate responses to online safety risks. They practiced recognizing signs of danger such as online predators and protecting their identity. By applying these skills, students can help prevent injury and violence in digital environments and promote respectful, safe online communities.

Teacher Notes

Use the exact standards alignment and retrieved-source provenance stored with this enrichment.

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