Safer Internet Day 2020 Educational Resources for 3-7-Year Olds

For Safer Internet Day 2020, we have created a range of educational resources that are designed for educators to deliver with young people aged 3-18 years old, including specific resources tailored for use with 3-7 year olds.

Safer Internet Day 2020 will be celebrated globally on Tuesday 11th February with the slogan ‘Together for a Better Internet’. In the UK, the day will be celebrated with a specific focus on identity online.

In the UK, we choose an annual theme that we think best suits the current landscape of online safety and the issues that young people may face online. This year, we are encouraging young people to explore how they manage their online identity and think about how the internet shapes how they view themselves and others.

We will look at whether the internet allows young people to experiment and express themselves or if they feel limited in who they can be online, as well as how offline stereotypes and discrimination are challenged or reinforced online. By opening up conversations around online identity, we aim to inspire young people to support each other in being who they want to be, to celebrate difference, and help work towards creating a truly inclusive internet.

To help schools to celebrate Safer Internet Day, each year we create a range of educational resources that look at the theme in a way that is suitable for children and young people of different ages.

The resources for 3-7 year olds include two differentiated lesson plans – one for 3-5 year olds and one for 5-7 year olds – an accompanying PowerPoint with all the supporting resources, an assembly, whole school activities, a poster, a film, and guidance on how to use the pack effectively.

The pack aims to facilitate discussion with the youngest internet users, using a variety of learning techniques and activities to engage their knowledge of the internet so far.

Some children within this age range may just be starting to understand what the internet is and what it means for them in practical terms. Others may be regularly using the internet and able to articulate aspects of their emerging online identity – for example by naming what they do online such as; watching favourite TV shows, playing games, or video calling family etc. The resources for this age group cater for all levels of experience and are adaptable for all young people, whatever their experiences online have been.

There is also an accompanying film which is designed for use with 5-11 year olds. This short film looks at different groups of children creating avatars online and discussing the choices they make about how they represent themselves.

The aim of this pack is to help young people understand that the internet plays a central role in everyday life. Learners will think about how different people enjoy different things online and offline, and look at where and how they can ask for help and support.

Learning outcomes include: identifying activities that use the internet and naming different ways that it can be accessed, explaining what is meant by the term ‘identity’ in an online and offline context, understanding the ways in which we are similar and different to others, and recognising that identity online can be copied, changed or altered.

There are a range of activities to help schools, youth groups and other settings get involved on Safer Internet Day. These include some quick activities which are practical, easy to organise, and transferrable to any educational setting – whether that is a classroom, youth group, or wider.

The activities include:

“This is me!” – Learners will create their own device screen, filled with images that represent their life online. For example, logos from favourite TV shows, games, apps, services, etc. They will then think about which pieces of information can be freely shared, versus those that should be kept private.

“Everyone can…” – Learners will explore what it feels like when they are told what they can/should like online, through moving around the room in and out of a series of hoops, and will discuss these feelings as a group.

Other activities include a new poem as part of the assembly that talks about all the amazing things that the internet can offer you; making bunting to reflect your online identity; and sharing a series of books that celebrate difference and diversity.

We have also created a guidance pack for the people delivering the Safer Internet Day messages in your school, youth group or other setting.

This gives further advice about how to mark Safer Internet Day and information, how to handle disclosures and sensitive topics, and how you can spread the word even further – including by contacting local press.

Join hundreds of organisations across the UK

For Safer Internet Day 2019, our education packs were downloaded over a million times, with teachers explaining the positive impact these lessons had on their pupils.

One teacher said:

“All of the classes engaged well with their particular tasks and really enjoyed sharing it with the parents. It gave us the chance to have the parents in and we ran two follow-up workshops with parents too. – Primary school teacher, Manchester

You can link up with the wider campaign taking place across the UK – and globally in over 130 countries – by joining the social media campaign and registering as an official supporter.

Simply complete our registration form on our website to become an official supporter and receive your supporter certificate. Remember to get involved with our social media activities by using the hashtags #SaferInternetDay and #freetobe.