Common Sense Education: free digital citizenship lessons by grade

How we suggest using it:

1. Start with the grade band your learners are in and read the lesson overview before choosing. Each one is usually built for a single class period.
2. Pick the topic that matches what you're seeing right now. If students are starting group chats, a lesson on online kindness fits. If they repeat things they saw in a video, try one on checking information.
3. Teach one lesson every week or two rather than all at once. Short, regular conversations stick better than a single unit.
4. Send the family activity home, or do it together if you homeschool. Children apply these ideas most at home, where most screen time happens.
5. Keep one simple class agreement on the wall, written by the students, such as "Ask before you post a picture of someone."

A quick discussion starter you can use tomorrow, no prep needed: "If a friend sends you a funny photo of another kid, what are your choices? What would you want someone to do if it were a photo of you?"

What to change next time: with younger children, act out short scenarios with puppets instead of discussion. With grades 6–8, let students lead a lesson for a younger class. Teaching it is a strong way to learn it.