Top 7 Internet Safety Sites for Kids

The internet is changing our classrooms!  No longer are we limited by the physical structure of the building we teach in.  Instead the internet has opened up the teaching and learning environment to the rest of the world.  The ability to rapidly communicate and interact with others, inquire and find sources of information about anything, be independent or cooperative, and support higher-order thinking skills through creating and constructing projects such as interactive posters, videos and voicethreads* is exciting, but also requires us as teachers to think about Internet safety.  So, as you head into your classrooms this fall, get to know your students and begin developing your rules and routines, I encourage you to think about Internet safety and what your students need to know.  

My top 7 Internet Safety Sites for Elementary Students are:  

http://pbskids.org/license/

1. PBS Kids, Get Your Web License provides students with a Web Licenses once they have completed a series of questions on a variety of topics related to internet safety. The questions are interactive and provides the students with immediate feedback on their answers, giving them the opportunity to "try again" if a mistake is made.  The Web License is printable and only available once all questions have been answered correctly.

http://home.disney.com.au/activities/surfswellisland/

2. Disney's Surf Swell Island is a quiz-driven adventure game.  Internet safety information is presented to users in a series of games, each featuring well-known Disney characters and focusing on an area of concern; privacy, viruses, or netiquette.  Each game is followed by a mini-quiz reinforcing the area presented in the game.   

http://www.ikeepsafe.org/

3. iKeep Safe is a site that provides teachers with an amazing Internet Safety program covering all of the basics including: keeping children safe online, how to handle cyber-bullying, balancing real life with screen time, and dangerous downloads.

http://www.infinitelearninglab.org/

4. Internet Safety with Professor Garfield is an easy to navigate site (especially when you follow the quick start guide) with printable lessons (available under teacher's materials) on online safety, cyberbullying, fact or opinion and forms of media.  Each lesson includes a watch (video), try (game) and apply (quiz) section.   

http://www.netsmartz.org/index.aspx

5. NetSmartz teaches internet safety with engaging characters, songs, videos and interactive games.  The topics presented include knowing the rules, chat abbreviations, dangers of sharing personal information, viruses, passwords and what makes a good one, and cyber-bullying.  

www.hectorsworld.com

6. Hector's World is a site that helps students stay safe online and learn about digital citizenship.  Hector and his friends are engaging characters that face interesting and challenging situations in order to model the behaviour of good digital citizens.  The topics include Your Personal Information Online, Cyberbullying, and Computer Security.

http://www.covenantworks.com/

7. Internet Safety provides the user with links to many of the sites I have listed above as well as others.  There is information applicable to any grade level and its all in one easy to find location.  Got to love that!








Do you have a favourite site that I missed?  I would love to hear about it. Please share your experiences below.

*more on these later.  But, I linked to my favourite sites for those who are interested. :)