Sharing Information Online Lesson Plan: The Share Jumper Game

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

In this lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades 3-8, students use BrainPOP resources (including a free online game) to practice identifying the when and hows about sharing information online.

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Students will:

  1. Use online game play and class discussions to identify information that is safe and unsafe to share online.
  2. Reflect (both verbally and in writing) on the consequences of sharing inappropriate information on the internet.
  3. Use multi-media and digital tools to convey what they have learned about sharing information safely.


Lesson Procedure:

  1. Project the Share Jumper game for students to see. Play the short introductory video in which a girl tells about a time when she wrote something inappropriate online.

  2. Have students write or talk with a partner about a time they shared something online and regretted it. Have student volunteers share their experiences. Were they able to delete what they had written? Was it really gone? What were the consequences of sharing something that should not have been put online?

  3. In another tab or window of your internet browser, play the Information Privacy movie to further student understanding on the topic. Talk about the common scams and dangers that Tim explains. Why is it important to read a site’s privacy policy before entering it? What kinds of information shouldn't be shared with people you don’t know in real life? What kinds of information should never be shared online?

  4. Tell students they will have the opportunity to play a game that allows them to practice identifying information that is safe and unsafe to share online. Switch back to the tab or window with the Share Jumper game and read the game instructions together, and then click "Next". Read and answer the first few questions together to reinforce what students have learned so far and continue the class discussion.

  5. Provide 10-15 minutes for students to explore the game with a partner. Encourage students to talk about their decisions.

  6. After game play, ask students to share examples that they disagreed with their partner on whether it was safe to share. Refer students back to what they learned in the movie as needed, and use the Language FYI and/or the Q&A as additional resources. Guide students to understand that deciding what to share online is not always a clear cut situation, and when they are unsure, it's better to err on the side of caution.

  7. Assess student learning using the Information Privacy Quiz. You can also have students share what they learned by creating a blog post, video, online slideshow, or other presentation. Talk with students about effective and appropriate ways to share their creations on the internet via social media. This can be a great opportunity to talk about writing appropriate comments online and building positive social connections on the internet.

Extension Activity:

Use the Graphic Organizer to have students reflect on what can happen if their personal information gets into the wrong hands. You can also have students explore the Digital Ettiquette topic page.