As a digital learning specialist, I’m always looking for ways to make digital citizenship lessons meaningful, age-appropriate, and (let’s be honest) a little fun. Recently, I had the opportunity to work with a group of sixth graders on two essential topics in their digital lives: website credibility and digital drama.
Our sessions were built around two interactive experiences:
🔍 “Fact Files: The Case of the Untrustworthy Website” and
💬 “Digital Drama: STRATEGIES for Dealing with It.”
🔍Fact Files: The Case of the Untrustworthy Website
In this activity, students became digital detectives, exploring suspicious-looking websites and identifying red flags. We zoomed in on things like unusual domain names, unreliable authorship, lack of citations, and strange or exaggerated content. Students collaborated in small teams to analyze sample websites and fill out a "Fact File" report to determine if the site was credible, partially credible, or totally untrustworthy.
One of the biggest “aha!” moments? Realizing that just because something looks polished doesn't mean it's true—and that even fake websites can have ads, clickable links, and slick design.
💬 Digital Drama: STRATEGIES for Dealing with It
Middle school is no stranger to conflict, and online spaces can sometimes amplify that. In our digital drama session, students explored different scenarios that might unfold via texting, gaming chats, or social media—everything from exclusion in group messages to “sub-tweeting” and rumors.
Using the acronym STRATEGIES (S: Stop and breathe, T: Talk to a trusted adult, R: Reflect, etc.), students practiced how to respond to drama in thoughtful, emotionally intelligent ways. We used real-world examples and even role-played a few scenarios, which opened up honest conversations about empathy, boundaries, and when to log off.
Teaching digital citizenship isn’t a one-time lesson—it’s a mindset we build over time. With sixth grade, these two lessons helped lay a strong foundation for critical thinking, emotional awareness, and healthy digital habits. And the best part? Watching students begin to own their role as responsible digital citizens.
Standards Covered (MA Digital Literacy and Computer Science)
Digital Tools: Demonstrate ability to navigate a virtual environment, including evaluating websites for credibility and identifying advertising and bias.
Safety and Security: Demonstrate an understanding of how to protect personal information and recognize digital red flags. Explain the consequences of inappropriate online behavior and strategies to handle cyberbullying or online conflict.
Computing and Society: Evaluate the positive and negative impact of technology on relationships, including how to manage online interactions. Describe appropriate and ethical behavior online and explain how to act respectfully in a variety of digital settings.
Technology Essential Questions
How can I tell if the information I find online is trustworthy?
What are healthy and respectful ways to respond to digital drama?
How do my actions online affect others—and myself—in the real world?
