CyberShield Kids • Module 1 • Lesson 1.2
Private Information
In this lesson, students learn which details should stay private online. They will practice recognizing information that could reveal where they live, where they go to school, how to contact them, or how to access their accounts.
What You Will Learn
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
Safety Reminder
Do not type real private details.
This lesson should never ask students to enter real addresses, real phone numbers, real passwords, real school names, real birthdays, or real family details. All examples should be fake, safe, and age-appropriate.
Simple Explanation
What information should stay private?
Private information is information that can tell others too much about you, your family, your location, or your accounts. Some websites and games may ask for information they do not need. Students should pause before sharing and ask a trusted adult if they are not sure.
Key Vocabulary
Words to know
Private information
Details that should be protected because they can tell others too much about you, your family, your accounts, or where you are.
Personal information
Information about a person. Some personal information is harmless, but some details should stay private.
Location
Information that shows where someone is, where they live, where they go to school, or where they are right now.
Oversharing
Sharing too many details online, especially details that strangers or unsafe websites do not need.
Safe and Unsafe Examples
Practice noticing private information.
These examples use fake situations. Students should use them to practice deciding when to pause and ask for help.
Safer example
A student uses a classroom nickname during a teacher-approved activity and does not share their address, phone number, password, or school name.
Unsafe example
A student tells a stranger in an online game their full name, school, birthday, and where they live.
Safer example
A student asks a parent or teacher before filling out a form on a new website.
Think About It
Why should some information stay private?
Private information can help someone contact you, find where you are, pretend to be you, or get into one of your accounts. That is why students should slow down and ask for help before sharing sensitive details.
Discussion Question
Why might sharing your school name or home address online be unsafe?
What To Do In Real Life
Use the protect-private-info habit.
Mini Practice
What should stay private?
Read each situation and think about the safest response. These are classroom-safe examples and do not include real private student information.
Practice 1
A game asks for your home address before giving you free coins. What should you do?
Safer answer
Do not type your address. Pause and ask a trusted adult because your home address is private information.
Practice 2
A class website asks for your first name while your teacher is helping the class. What should you do?
Safer answer
Follow your teacher's directions. If you are unsure, ask the teacher before typing anything.
Practice 3
Someone in an online game asks what school you go to. What should you do?
Safer answer
Do not share your school name. School information can help someone learn where you are, so ask a trusted adult for help.
Practice 4
A friend asks for your password so they can help you in a game. What should you do?
Safer answer
Do not share your password. Passwords are private, even with friends.
Review Checklist
Before moving to Lesson 1.3, students should be able to say:
Lesson Navigation
Continue the Online Safety Basics module.
Next, students will learn how to choose safer usernames that do not reveal private information.