SID 2017 activities for schools
We have put together some activities you can use in your school to celebrate Safer Internet Day. All the activities are described below and you can download a Powerpoint presentation with scripts, videos, and worksheets. You can use to help get things started.
Activity 1 – Super Selfie.
Show your support for SID 2017 by taking a Super Selfie. Share your Safer Internet Day photos to #Up2Us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and you could win a great prize. Click on the Competition page for more details.
Activity 2 – Positive messages campaign
Counter cyber bullying with a positive messages campaign. You might use the#Up2Us interactive poster making kit to create colourful anti-bullying posters. Or maybe your school would run a RASK event or create an uplifting thoughts notice board. The #Up2Us interactive poster making kit is FREE to order here.
Activity 3 – The Granny Rule: which photos are okay to share?
Have students take out their phones and have a look at the last photos they took with friends. Then have the students use the Share or Delete checklist to help decide if these photos should be shared publicly online. “If you wouldn’t show a picture to your granny then it probably shouldn’t be online!”
Activity 4 – When photos go viral
Play the short cartoon, The Photo, to show how photo sharing can quickly get out of hand. Then have students use calculators or a pen and paper to complete the Going Viral worksheet. This activity shows how, within minutes, a photo can be shared with thousands of people online.
Activity 5 – Agree an online code
Split the class into groups. Using the Our Online Code worksheet, have the groups come up with guidelines that encourage responsible photo sharing and prevent cyber bullying. Then have the whole class agree on what should be included in the class code or charter and sign up to it.
Activity 6 – Debate the issues
Hold a walking debate around issues relating to internet safety and photo sharing. Read out motions and have students show whether they agree or disagree with the statement by standing under the appropriate signs. Ask some people to explain why they chose a particular side and give people the freedom to change sides if they are convinced by other people’s arguments.
Activity 7 -Watch Your Space comic strip activity (post-primary)
Use the Watch Your Space comic strip activity to encourage students to think about and discuss their social networking practices. This activity will help students consider why it is important that they are selective about who they become friends with online. It also explores the topic of photo sharing.
Activity 8 – Sharing personal info online
This activity helps students to realise the consequences of sharing too much personal information online. The My Profile worksheet is a good starting point for exploring the subject of privacy settings on social networking accounts as students fill in the worksheet as if they were signing up to a new social networking service.
For additional materials and longer internet safety education programmes, check out the Resources page.
