Digital Citizenship (Lower Elementary) Teacher Resource Pack

Digital Citizenship – Lower Elementary Resource Pack (Ages 5–8)

Teach young learners how to be safe, kind, and responsible in their digital world.

About This Resource

Students in early elementary grades are beginning to interact with technology through classroom tools, videos, games, and simple online communication. This Digital Citizenship Resource Pack helps children ages 5–8 learn foundational digital habits that support safety, empathy, and responsible choices.

Through stories, hands-on activities, visuals, and discussion prompts, students explore what it means to be safe online, how to communicate kindly, how to take breaks from screens, and how to ask for help when something doesn’t feel right. Lessons are developmentally appropriate, highly engaging, and easy for teachers to deliver with minimal prep.

Perfect for classrooms, SEL lessons, library/media classes, technology rotations, after-school programs, and homeschool families.

What’s Inside

This 80+ page printable and digital resource includes:

Teacher & Parent Guides

Simple overviews that explain key concepts, learning objectives, and suggestions for supporting young learners.

Pre-Assessment & Post-Assessment

Kid-friendly reflection tools using visuals and simple questions to gauge understanding and growth.

Five Ready-to-Teach Lessons

Each lesson includes a short story or reading, clear vocabulary, discussion prompts, hands-on activities, and a digital exploration extension.

Lesson Overview

Lesson 1: What Is Digital Citizenship?

Students learn what technology is, how we use it, and how to be safe and responsible online.
Activities include:

• Digital vs. non-digital sorting

• Safe vs. unsafe choices

• “Being a Good Citizen” poster

• Technology Tail discussion

Lesson 2: Staying Safe Online

Students learn what personal information is, when it’s okay to share, and when to ask an adult for help.
Activities include:

• Personal vs. public information sorting

• Safe adult helpers chart

• “Ask for Help” role-play cards

• Digital safety pledge

Lesson 3: Being Kind and Respectful Online

Students explore empathy, kindness, and how words and actions affect others—even through screens.
Activities include:

• Kind vs. unkind message cards

• Feelings check-in

• “Choose Kindness” posters

• Classroom kindness commitments

Lesson 4: Finding Balance with Technology

Students discover how screen time affects their bodies and feelings, and learn ways to take healthy breaks.
Activities include:

• Brain and body signals chart

• Screen-Free Choice Board

• Daily balance plan

• “Move, Rest, Play” activity sort

Lesson 5: Making Good Choices Online

Students apply everything they’ve learned to make safe, kind, and responsible decisions in digital situations.
Activities include:

• Problem-solving cards

• “What Should I Do?” scenario sort

• Responsible choice checklist

• Class digital citizenship promise

Bonus Student Resources

A set of visual tools to reinforce learning, including:

• Digital safety posters

• Emotions chart

• Home connection activities

• Goal-setting templates

• Certificates of completion

Skills Students Will Build

By the end of the unit, students will be able to:

• Understand basic digital tools and their purposes

• Protect personal information and ask for adult help

• Communicate kindly and respectfully

• Recognize when they need a screen break

• Make responsible choices in digital spaces

• Show empathy and care for others online

Perfect For

• Grades K–2 Classrooms

• SEL Programs

• Library/Media & Technology Classes

• Counseling Groups

• After-School & Enrichment

• Homeschool Use