Resources for Family and Students
Digital Citizenship Lessons
Discover these amazing printables for elementary age students along with 5 compelling reasons to use digital citizenship books to teach important values. This is a fantastic resource for parents and teachers looking for family resources that promote digital wellness. Don't miss out! Additionally, a great resource for 3rd-5th grade includes 14 different digital activities for teaching digital citizenship in Google Slides™ -- you can download it from TeachersPayTeachers. Learn more about Screen Smart Sam as a helpful tool in this journey!
Screen Zombie Game & Worksheets
This bundle includes a Digital Zombie board game—a fun way to tackle a serious topic for students and adults alike. It serves as an excellent center activity or a small group game for school counselors and Sped teachers. Additionally, it's a great supplement to digital citizenship books and family resources. Click here to purchase from Brandy via TeachersPayTeachers, and don’t forget to check out Screen Smart Sam for more engaging materials.
Gaming addiction critical thinking activities
Gaming addiction critical thinking activities
Your students will love exploring the hot topic of gaming disorder while reading one of the best digital citizenship books, featuring the sensationally popular game, Fortnite™. This resource also includes family resources to help navigate screen time effectively. Click here to purchase from Erin via TeacherPayTeachers, including the engaging Screen Smart Sam series.
Screen Zombie Game & Worksheets
Gaming addiction critical thinking activities
This resource is filled with worksheets that will help you cover the Ontario curriculum expectations for grade 1, specifically regarding Substance Use, Addictions, and Related Behaviours. Students will be introduced to devices with screens and will reflect on their daily usage of these devices, ultimately understanding the signs of being hooked on them, such as with video games. This upgraded resource is a significant enhancement from my free screen time resource, now complete with much more material, including elements from digital citizenship books and family resources. The resource also features graphing, Venn diagrams, and activities aimed at improving their understanding of time. It's truly cross-curricular! **American spelling included** Download from Chuck on TeachersPayTeachers to access Screen Smart Sam.
TRUSTED ORGANIZATIONS
Fairplay and the Action Network
Fairplay has an extensive library of trusted resources for parents, including valuable digital citizenship books that guide families in navigating the digital landscape.
Durable Human
Founded in 2009, Durable Human serves as a platform to inspire adults and children to cherish, strengthen, and protect their unique human assets, capabilities, and perspectives in a complex and increasingly digital world.
Healthy Screen Habits
Healthy Screen Habits 501(c)(3) raises awareness about the effects of technology and social media use on the brain and well-being. We aim to empower families to decide for themselves how they will incorporate technology into their lives, ensuring they foster healthy habits while using resources like Screen Smart Sam.
Unplugged Collaborative
Unplug Collaborative organizes the National Day of Unplugging, an annual global awareness campaign that has been running since 2009. Throughout the other 364 days a year, we help cities transform into Unplugged Villages™. With our social impact initiative, Unplug for a Cause®, we make tech-free experiences meaningful and accessible to all, further supporting families with the resources they need.
Caution: Funding sources =Bias
Common Sense Media is often referenced as a source for family resources and advice/ratings about apps. However, because they are funded by big tech companies and their foundations, we do not believe their content accurately reflects the risks to minors since the pandemic and the increasing advances of persuasive design, AI facial recognition, and privacy violations of apps and games. Additionally, the Digital Wellness Lab also conducts research and provides advice and resources but is heavily funded by major media and gaming tech companies. The National PTA also provides resources for parents, placing the responsibility on parents to co-use and constantly monitor, which is not feasible. They receive significant funding from Meta, TikTok, and Discord, frequently using these companies to give their own safety presentations. For a more balanced perspective, parents might consider looking into digital citizenship books like 'Screen Smart Sam' to help navigate these challenges.