Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Students will read a story that introduces the concept of ‘catfishing’. That is, pretending to be someone else online in order to gain trust and ultimately request something from their target. They will then explore how to respond if something seems ‘off’ in an online interaction.
Although this can be completed as a standalone lesson, it will be most effective if completed within the sequence of the unit, as follows:
- Know The Internet
- You Decide
- Feeling Fishy Online
- Express Yourself Safely
- My Social Brain
- Cleaning Up
The eSafety for Kids education package was developed in consultation with a team of experts, including a child and adolescent psychologist, education specialist, teachers, parents and in reference to the latest research and guidelines (at time of publication). It is designed to align with the recommendations in the Best Practice Framework for Online Safety Education (eSafety Commissioner).
This lesson includes a story from the cyber safety children’s book series, The Tweeting Galah. The Tweeting Galah series is written by West Australian author, Kim Maslin and illustrated by John Field. The Tweeting Galah series is available in both print and eBook format. You can purchase the series here: https://thetweetinggalah.com/. Kim Maslin has collaborated with us on this lesson’s content and given permission for us to use images from this series in the eSafety for Kids education package.
Learning intentions:
- Students will understand that it is easy to fabricate identities and information when communicating online
- Students will understand the term ‘catfishing’
- Students will understand the importance of being cautious when interacting with unknown people online
- Students will know where to go for help.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Years 5 & 6 Health and Physical Education
- Plan and practise strategies to promote health, safety and wellbeing (ACPPS054)
- Examine the influence of emotional responses on behaviour and relationships (ACPPS056)
- Recognise how media and important people in the community influence personal attitudes, beliefs, decisions and behaviours (ACPPS057)
Year 5 English
- Present a point of view about particular literary texts using appropriate metalanguage, and reflecting on the viewpoints of others (ACELT1609)
Year 6 English
- Make connections between students’ own experiences and those of characters and events represented in texts drawn from different historical, social and cultural contexts (ACELT1613)
Syllabus outcomes: PHS3.12, SLS3.13, COS3.1, INS3.3, IRS3.11, DMS3.2, EN3-2A, EN3-8D
General capabilities: Literacy, Personal and Social Capability, Ethical Understanding, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Capability
Relevant parts of Years 5 & 6 HPE achievement standards:
Students explain the influence of people and places on identities. They recognise the influence of emotions on behaviours and discuss factors that influence how people interact. They describe their own and others’ contributions to health, physical activity, safety and wellbeing.
Relevant parts of Year 5 English achievement standards:
Students analyse and explain literal and implied information from a variety of texts. They describe how events, characters and settings in texts are depicted and explain their own responses to them. They listen and ask questions to clarify content. They recognise the influence of emotions on behaviours and discuss factors that influence how people interact.
Relevant parts of Year 6 English achievement standards:
Students compare and analyse information in different and complex texts, explaining literal and implied meaning. They select and use evidence from a text to explain their response to it. They recognise the influence of emotions on behaviours and discuss factors that influence how people interact.
Topic: Health & Wellbeing, Social Issues
This lesson is part of the wider unit of work eSafety For Kids.
Time required: 50 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: High – support students with research and ideas.
Resources required:
- Device to share video and text with class
- Glossary of Key Terms (optional)
- Handling Sensitive Topics and Issues Factsheet (digital copy)
- Reverse Image Search Factsheet
- Student Worksheet – one copy per student
- The Strange Story of the Singing Clownfish.
Connected resources:
Keywords: catfishing, identity, trust, tricky people, online safety, privacy, online
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
