8th Grade Internet Safety Portfolio
The Assignment
Plan and write a children’s story about online safety. You will submit the story as a portfolio assignment at the end of the lesson.
Use this document for your planning activity and story. You will save the document and submit it at the end of Lesson 15.
To create a copy of this document that you can edit, go to File and click Make a copy. If you prefer working in Word or another word processing program, you can download the document by going to File and clicking Download (choose .docx or .odt).
Part 1: Story Planning
Fill in the planner below to plan your story.
What age of children are you writing your story for?
What information should children that age know about cyber bullying and being a good cyber citizen?
Who are the characters you will include in your story? Provide a short description of each.
What should students learn from the story?
What will happen in the story?
How will it end?
Part 1: Story Planning
What age of children are you writing your story for?
I am writing my story for children aged 8-10 years old.
What information should children that age know about cyberbullying and being a good cyber citizen?
Children of this age should know about the importance of being kind and respectful online, not sharing personal information with strangers, and dealing with cyberbullying by talking to a trusted adult.
Who are the characters you will include in your story? Provide a short description of each.
1. Emma - The main character, an 8-year-old girl who loves using the internet to play games and connect with friends.
2. Max - Emma's best friend, also 8 years old, who enjoys playing games online and chatting with Emma.
3. Mr. Smith - Emma's teacher, who believes in the importance of online safety and educates his students about it.
What should students learn from the story?
Students should learn about the potential dangers of the internet, how to handle cyberbullying situations, and the importance of being responsible digital citizens.
What will happen in the story?
Emma and Max are excited about a new online game they discovered. They start playing the game regularly but soon notice a user who bullies others. Emma tries to stand up to the bully but ends up becoming a target herself. Feeling upset and unsure of what to do, Emma decides to confide in her teacher, Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith helps Emma understand the importance of not responding to cyberbullying and reporting it to the game moderators or a trusted adult. Emma takes Mr. Smith's advice and reports the bully, and the game administrators take appropriate action, resolving the issue.
How will it end?
In the end, Emma and Max continue to enjoy playing the online game together, but they now know how to handle cyberbullying situations and promote positive online behavior. Emma is proud of herself for standing up against bullying and learns the importance of seeking help from adults when needed.
Part 2: Draft Your Story
Here are a few more reminders before you start writing your story:
Know your audience. Keep in mind what age you are writing for. Don't use words they won't understand. Keep sentences short and simple.
Explain things. Don't expect younger children to understand the cyber community. Some may have never even been on the Internet before. Break things down so anyone could understand.
Make it interesting. Write a good story. Have a plot. Use different characters. What do you think would appeal to your audience?
Plan what you will say. Before you write, have an idea of where the story is going, who the characters are, and what you want to teach. That way you have a road map for writing the story.
Write a simple rough draft. Use this to make sure you include everything you want. That way you haven't wasted time illustrating a story only to find out you forgot to mention viruses. Also, this way you can proofread and perfect your story.
Have fun with it! If you are having fun writing it, then chances are the students will have fun hearing the story.
Title: Emma and the Online Adventure
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Emma. She was 8 years old and loved using the internet to play games and connect with her friends. Her best friend, Max, enjoyed playing games online too, and they often played together. They loved the excitement and adventure the online world offered.
One day, Emma and Max discovered a new online game called "Fantasy Land." It was a magical world where they could explore enchanted forests, solve puzzles, and meet other players. Emma and Max were thrilled and couldn't wait to start their online adventure.
As they started playing the game, Emma and Max noticed a user named "DarkShadow" behaving meanly towards others. DarkShadow would make fun of other players and say hurtful things. Emma didn't like seeing others being treated this way, so she decided to stand up against DarkShadow.
One day, when DarkShadow was being particularly mean to another player, Emma spoke up, telling DarkShadow to stop. But instead of backing down, DarkShadow turned their attention to Emma. Emma was called names and made to feel small and hurt.
Feeling upset and unsure of what to do, Emma remembered her teacher, Mr. Smith, who always talked about the importance of online safety. The next day, Emma went to Mr. Smith and told him about DarkShadow's cyberbullying.
Mr. Smith listened attentively to Emma and praised her for doing the right thing by seeking help. He explained to Emma that cyberbullying was not okay, and it was important to report such behavior to trusted adults or game moderators. He assured her that there were ways to deal with cyberbullies.
Following Mr. Smith's advice, Emma reported DarkShadow to the game administrators, and they took immediate action to resolve the issue. DarkShadow was given a warning and would face consequences if they continued to bully others.
Emma and Max continued to play "Fantasy Land," but they knew now how to handle cyberbullying situations. They understood the importance of not responding to cyberbullies and instead reporting them to the right people. They also made an effort to promote kindness and positivity within the online community.
Emma felt proud of herself for standing up against bullying and learned that seeking help from adults was essential. She knew she could always turn to Mr. Smith if she faced any more challenges online.
From then on, Emma and Max continued to enjoy their online adventures in "Fantasy Land," making new friends and promoting good cyber behavior. They knew the importance of being kind and respectful online and always kept themselves safe by not sharing personal information with strangers.
The End.
In the story, we learn about the potential dangers of cyberbullying and the importance of being a responsible online citizen. We see through Emma's experience that it's essential to stand up against cyberbullying and seek help from trusted adults. The story also emphasizes the significance of promoting kindness and positivity within the online community.
Part 3: Write Your Story
In the space below, write your children’s story about online safety. Don’t forget to include visuals!
Title: Emma and the Online Adventure
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Emma. She was 8 years old and loved using the internet to play games and connect with her friends. Her best friend, Max, enjoyed playing games online too, and they often played together. They loved the excitement and adventure the online world offered.
One sunny afternoon, Emma and Max stumbled upon a brand-new online game called "Fantasy Land." It was a magical world filled with enchanted forests, talking animals, and hidden treasures. Emma and Max were thrilled and couldn't wait to start their online adventure.
As they started playing the game, Emma and Max noticed a user named "DarkShadow" behaving meanly towards others. DarkShadow would make fun of other players and say hurtful things in the chat. Emma didn't like seeing others being treated this way, so she decided to take a stand.
One day, when DarkShadow was being particularly mean to another player, Emma bravely spoke up. "Stop being mean! It's not nice to hurt others," she typed in the chat. But instead of backing down, DarkShadow turned their attention to Emma.
"You think you can stop me? You're just a silly little girl!" DarkShadow replied with a cruel laugh. Emma felt hurt and upset. She didn't know what to do.
Emma remembered her teacher, Mr. Smith, who always talked about the importance of online safety. The next day, Emma went to Mr. Smith's classroom and poured her heart out, telling him all about DarkShadow's cyberbullying.
Mr. Smith listened attentively to Emma and praised her for doing the right thing by seeking help. He reassured her that she wasn't alone and that there were ways to deal with cyberbullies.
"Emma, you did the right thing by telling me," Mr. Smith said kindly, "Cyberbullying is not okay, and it's important that we stand up against it together. Let's report this to the game administrators. They can take action to stop DarkShadow from causing harm."
Emma felt relieved knowing that she had done the right thing. Mr. Smith helped her report DarkShadow to the game administrators, providing them with screenshots of the cyberbullying. The game administrators took immediate action and sent DarkShadow a warning, keeping an eye on their future behavior.
With DarkShadow dealt with, Emma and Max continued to play "Fantasy Land" and have fun together. They encountered new challenges, discovered hidden treasures, and made new friends along the way. They always remembered to be kind and respectful to others in the game, spreading positivity wherever they went.
Emma also learned the importance of being a responsible digital citizen. Mr. Smith taught her that it's vital not to share personal information, like her full name or address, with strangers online. Emma promised to always be cautious and ask for help if she felt unsure or uncomfortable about anything while using the internet.
As time went on, Emma felt proud of herself for standing up against cyberbullying and advocating for a kinder online community. She realized that by reporting bullies and promoting positivity, she could make a difference.
The online world was a vast and exciting place, and Emma knew that as long as she stayed safe and followed Mr. Smith's advice, she could continue to enjoy her online adventures. And whenever she faced challenges, she would always remember to seek help from trusted adults, just like she did with Mr. Smith.
And so, Emma and Max's online adventure in "Fantasy Land" continued, filled with friendship, teamwork, and the joy of exploring a world of magic and wonder.
The End.
[Include colorful illustrations of Emma, Max, "Fantasy Land," and their online adventures throughout the story.]