Activity: eSafety For Kids – Your Social Brain – HPE & English – Years 5 & 6

Quick summary: In this lesson, students will be made aware of some of the warning signs of online grooming, and consider how to respond to inappropriate interactions, including confiding in others and seeking support. They will understand how, as they approach adolescence, their desire for social connection increases, coupled with an increase in risk-taking that does not always align with the development of reasoning and problem-solving. They consider how this may increase their risk of being targeted by tricky people online.

Although this can be completed as a standalone lesson, it will be most effective if completed within the sequence of the unit, as follows:

1. Know The Internet
2. You Decide
3. Feeling Fishy Online
4. Express Yourself Safely
5. My Social Brain
6. 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).

The images for this eSafety for Kids package are sourced from The Tweeting Galah book series and used with permission from Kim Maslin.

Learning intentions:

• Students will understand how their developing brain plays a role in their actions and responses
• Students will recognise some of the signs of tricky online communication
• Students will know how they can take action if in an uncomfortable situation.

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)
• Investigate resources and strategies to manage changes and transitions associated with puberty (ACPPS052)

Year 6 English:

• Participate in and contribute to discussions, clarifying and interrogating ideas, developing and supporting arguments, sharing and evaluating information, experiences and opinions (ACELY1709)

Syllabus outcomes: PHS3.12, PHS3.12, COS3.1, INS3.3, IRS3.11, GDS3.9, EN3-1A

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 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 6 English achievement standards: 

Students contribute actively to class and group discussions, taking into account other perspectives.

Topic: Health & Wellbeing, Social Issues

This lesson is part of the wider unit of work eSafety For Kids.

Time required: 60 mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion and unpack information.

Resources required:

• Device capable of presenting a video to the class
• Device per pair of students (optional)
• Glossary of Key Terms (optional)
• Handling Sensitive Topics and Issues Factsheet (digital copy)
• Student Worksheets – one copy per student.

Connected resources: 

• eSafety For Kids – School Facilitation Guide
• eSafety For Kids – Take It Home Resource Pack

Keywords: manipulation, grooming, trust, support, needs, risks, brain development, adolescence, puberty, relationships, connection

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.