Online Safety — Year 1 — Year 1 Lesson Plan
National Curriculum: Computing KS1 — use technology safely and respectfully, keeping personal information private; identify where to go for help and support when they have concerns about content or contact on the internet or other online technologies.
Overview
Pupils are introduced to the concept of staying safe when using technology. Through age-appropriate scenarios and discussion, they learn to recognise personal information that should be kept private, practise responding kindly online, and identify the trusted adults they can turn to if something online makes them feel worried or uncomfortable. The lesson uses storytelling and role-play to make abstract concepts accessible and memorable.
Learning Objectives
- Identify examples of personal information that should be kept private online.
- Understand that being kind online is as important as being kind in person.
- Know how to respond if something online makes them feel worried or uncomfortable.
- Name at least two trusted adults they could speak to about a concern online.
Key Vocabulary
Suggested Lesson Structure
Read a short picture-book style scenario about a character called Sam who uses a tablet to play games and message friends. Pause at key points to ask: is Sam being safe? Is Sam being kind? Pupils respond using thumbs up or thumbs down. This activates discussion without requiring pupils to share personal details.
Introduce the idea of personal information using a sorting activity displayed on the interactive whiteboard. Show cards with different types of information (name, favourite colour, home address, school name, age, phone number, name of a pet). Ask pupils: would you tell a stranger this in the street? Establish that information which could help someone find you in real life should stay private. Then discuss online kindness: messages are real even though we cannot see the person, and unkind messages can still hurt feelings.
In pairs, pupils sort a set of printed information cards into two envelopes labelled 'Safe to share' and 'Keep private'. Groups compare their sorting and discuss any cards they disagreed on. Then pupils look at three scenario strips showing online situations (receiving an unkind message, being asked for a home address, seeing something scary on a website) and discuss what the character in each scenario should do.
Each pupil completes a simple worksheet: draw or name two trusted adults they would tell if something online made them feel worried; circle three things that are safe to share online; put a cross through three things to keep private.
Revisit Sam from the warm-up story. Ask: what advice would you give Sam? Collect responses and create a class 'Staying Safe Online' list of three golden rules, which is displayed in the classroom near devices.
Common Misconceptions
- Pupils often think that their first name alone is harmless to share online — explain that combining a first name with a school name, town, or photograph can give a stranger enough information to identify them.
- Some pupils believe that if they do not show their face in a photo, they cannot be identified — discuss other identifying details such as school uniform, street signs, or home details visible in images.
Prior Knowledge
Pupils should already be able to:
- Awareness that the internet and apps are used on tablets, phones, and computers.
- Understanding from PSHE that some information is personal and private.
Want a personalised version of this lesson?
Use Staffroom to generate a complete lesson plan tailored to your class — add context about ability, recent learning, or specific pupils and get a plan ready to teach. Free trial, no card required.