Internet Safety Lessons + Grammarly + Google Image Search Tools

Common Sense Media Lessons

A recent blog from the online resource Common Sense Media highlighted 4 great lesson plans for internet safety. These are fantastic, ready-made lessons that can help you continue conversations around digital citizenship with students of any age.

There is a quick summary of each below, and you can click on the title to access the lesson itself. You do need to create a Common Sense Media account, but it only takes moments to do so.


Going Places Safely (K-2)

It is never too early to start talking to students about being safe online. In this lesson, students can learn how to think of using the internet as going on a field trip. This metaphor helps drive discussion built around 3 smart rules to keep them safe.

• Always talk to your parent (or teacher) first.
• Only talk to people you know.
• Stick to the places that are just right for you.

Talking Safely Online (3-5)
As students grow up they will most likely have more unsupervised time using technology at home and/or at school. This lesson hits home the idea of personal information, and how we should never give it out online. This lesson helps students think about the difference between online and in-person friends.


Safe Online Talk (6-8)
Bullying can be amplified on the internet with social media, chat rooms, and other online messaging forums. This lesson is built around a video called, “Perspectives on Chatting Safely Online,” in which teens share personal advice to help drive the discussion.


Risky Online Relationships (9-12)
This lesson for high school students offers tips and guidance on staying safe in the digital world. It points out the potential risks and encourages thoughtful online behavior when dealing with relationships online.

Grammarly Chrome Extension

We all write important things each day. E-mails, feedback to students, or other forms of communication. Grammarly is a great Chrome Extension that can help you make sure everything looks good before you hit send. The extension can fix hundreds of complex grammatical errors with ease. I know it has saved me multiple times.

Add it from the Chrome Web Store by clicking here.

Google Image Search Tips

Many of us or our students use Google Images for all sorts of different reasons. Did you know that there are a bunch of built-in tools that can help find exactly what you are looking for?

When searching, if you click on “Tools” in the bottom right of the search bar, some different options will become available.

• Size: You can search for large, medium, icon (perfect square pictures), or set the exact dimensions you need.

• Color: Find images of a certain color, black and white, or transparent so you don’t have those pesky white background squares.

• Type: You can filter to only see images that are faces, photos, clip art, line drawings, or animated GIFs (yes please!)

• Time: Find a photo that was recently published or on a certain date.

• Usage rights: This one is HUGE...as you can filter photos that you can legally reuse or modify. It's how I got the images for this tech tip :-)

Please contact your Digital Learning Specialist if you would like additional information on anything mentioned above.