About This Review
This page is part of my EDC 108 ePortfolio and focuses on Digital Citizenship — one of the most important topics I will cover as a future educator. We only have about 7 hours a day with these kids, and a big part of that responsibility is making sure they know how to handle themselves online. In this review I share my own definition of Digital Citizenship, explain why I think it matters, and spotlight two lessons from Common Sense Education that I would actually use in my 5th grade classroom.
My Definition of Digital Citizenship
"Digital Citizenship is knowing how to use technology responsibly — not just following rules, but understanding why those rules exist. It means treating people online the same way you would in person, thinking before you post or share something, protecting your personal information, and being able to tell the difference between what is real and what is not. A good digital citizen does not need someone looking over their shoulder to make the right call."
— Zachary Morris, EDC 108
Why It Is Important to Teach Digital Citizenship
By the time students reach 5th grade, most of them already have devices and are spending real time online — often without the skills to navigate it safely. The internet is not going anywhere, and neither are the risks that come with it. Cyberbullying, misinformation, privacy issues — these are not hypothetical problems, they are things kids are already running into. I personally believe it is one of the most important things we can teach, because unlike most subjects, the consequences of not learning it show up immediately in their real lives. If we do not teach them how to handle themselves online, who will?
How I Will Develop Digital Citizenship in My Classroom
Make it part of everyday class
I would not treat Digital Citizenship as a one-time unit and move on. Whether we are evaluating a source for a research project, talking about a news story, or just discussing how to word a message — those are all opportunities to reinforce it naturally.
Use real situations, not hypotheticals
I would bring in actual examples — a misleading headline, a screenshot of a hurtful comment, a suspicious link — and walk students through how to respond. Real scenarios build real judgment. Abstract rules do not stick the same way.
Model it myself
I would be intentional about how I use technology in front of my students. If I look something up, I say where it came from. If I am not sure something is accurate, I say that too. Students pick up on what you actually do, not just what you tell them to do.
Use Common Sense Education as a backbone
The lessons are already built, grade-appropriate, and well-structured. There is no reason to reinvent the wheel when a solid curriculum already exists. I would use it as my foundation and build from there.
Two Lessons I Would Use in My Classroom
Both lessons are drawn from the Common Sense Education Digital Citizenship Curriculum and are selected from two different categories, each appropriate for 5th grade.
Finding My Media Balance
Common Sense Education — Digital Citizenship Curriculum
Lesson Summary
This lesson has students take a real look at their own media habits and ask whether their screen time is actually balanced. Students categorize different types of media use — passive scrolling, active creation, communication, background noise — and then track their own patterns over time. The goal is not to tell kids to put their phones down, but to help them develop the self-awareness to figure that out for themselves. The lesson ends with students setting a personal media balance goal, which makes it feel relevant and actionable rather than just another lecture.
Why I Chose This Lesson
I chose this lesson because it meets students where they actually are. At this age, a lot of 5th graders already have phones or tablets and are developing habits around them — good and bad. What I like about this lesson is that it does not talk down to them. It gives them a framework to evaluate their own behavior and make their own choices. That is the kind of lesson that actually sticks. It also opens the door to conversations about mental health and well-being in a way that feels natural, which is something I think is genuinely important at this age.
Common Sense Education. (n.d.). Finding my media balance [Lesson plan]. Common Sense Media. https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship/lesson/finding-my-media-balance
Reading News Online
Common Sense Education — Digital Citizenship Curriculum
Lesson Summary
This lesson teaches students how to actually evaluate what they read online. Students learn the difference between news, opinion, and entertainment content, and practice identifying whether a source is credible — checking who wrote it, whether there is evidence, and whether the language is trying to manipulate them emotionally. The lesson uses real examples students might actually come across, which makes it feel practical rather than theoretical. Students also talk about why misinformation spreads and what their own role is in stopping it.
Why I Chose This Lesson
I read a lot — way more than I watch — and I can tell you from personal experience that being able to evaluate what you are reading is a skill that matters every single day. I check news aggregators every morning and I still have to stop and think about whether something is credible. If adults struggle with this, 5th graders definitely need to be taught it explicitly. I also like that this lesson gives students a process, not just a warning. Telling kids 'be careful online' does nothing. Giving them actual tools to figure out what is real — that is useful.
Common Sense Education. (n.d.). Reading news online [Lesson plan]. Common Sense Media. https://www.commonsense.org/education/digital-citizenship/lesson/reading-news-online