Computer Science: Personal Health and Safety – Grade 2

When you use a computer or tablet to talk to people online, it's important to know the difference between safe and unsafe communication. Just like you have rules about talking to strangers in real life, there are similar rules for talking to people online! 👥

Safe online communication means talking to people you already know in real life – like your family members, friends from school, or your teacher. When you video chat with your grandparents 👵👴, send a message to your cousin, or work on a school project with your classmates online, these are examples of safe communication.

Safe communication also means:

• Only sharing information that your parents or guardians say is okay to share
• Using kind and respectful words, just like you would in person
• Telling a trusted adult if someone online makes you feel uncomfortable
• Never agreeing to meet someone in person that you only know from online

Unsafe communication happens when strangers online try to talk to you, ask for personal information, or make you feel uncomfortable. Remember, people online might not be who they say they are! 🎭 Someone who says they're a kid your age might actually be a grown-up trying to trick you.

Warning signs of unsafe communication include:

• Someone you don't know asking for your real name, address, or phone number 📞
• People asking you to keep secrets from your parents or guardians
• Anyone asking you to send photos of yourself
• Someone trying to get you to meet them in person
• Messages that make you feel scared, confused, or uncomfortable

Here's an easy way to remember what's safe: If you wouldn't talk to this person or share this information in real life, don't do it online either! The internet is like a giant playground where most people are nice, but just like any playground, there might be some people you should avoid.

If someone online makes you feel uncomfortable or asks you to do something that doesn't seem right, here's what you should do:

1. Stop talking to that person immediately 🛑
2. Don't reply to their messages
3. Take a screenshot or save the conversation (ask an adult to help you)
4. Tell a trusted adult right away – like your parents, guardians, or teacher
5. Block or report the person (with help from an adult)

Remember, you'll never get in trouble for telling an adult about something that makes you uncomfortable online. Adults want to help keep you safe! 🛡️

Safe: Sending a birthday message to your friend from school through a kids' app that your parents approved.

Unsafe: A stranger in an online game asking what school you go to and if you want to meet up at the park.

Safe: Video chatting with your aunt who lives in another state, with your parents nearby.

Unsafe: Someone you don't know asking you to keep your conversation secret from your parents.

By following these simple rules, you can enjoy all the fun and educational activities that technology offers while staying safe and protected! 🌟

Login information is like the key 🔑 to your digital world! Just like you wouldn't give your house key to a stranger, you should never share your usernames, passwords, or login information with people who shouldn't have them. Let's learn how to keep your digital keys safe and secure.

Login information includes:

• Username: The name you use to sign into an account (sometimes this is your email)
• Password: The secret code you type to prove the account belongs to you
• Security questions: Special questions only you should know the answers to
• Two-factor codes: Extra security codes sent to your phone or email

Think of this information as your digital identity – it proves that you are really you! 🆔

Imagine if someone else had the key to your bedroom – they could go through all your stuff, take your toys, or even mess up your room! 🏠 The same thing can happen with your online accounts. If someone else has your login information, they could:

• Read your private messages and emails 📧
• Use your account to say mean things that would get you in trouble
• Delete your photos, games, or schoolwork
• Change your password so you can't get into your own account
• Use your information to pretend to be you online

There are only a very few people who should know your login information:

• Your parents or guardians – They help keep you safe online and might need access to help you
• Other trusted family members – Like a grandparent who helps take care of you, but only if your parents say it's okay
• Teachers – Sometimes for school accounts, but they usually have their own way to access these

You should NEVER share your login information with:

• Friends at school (even your best friend!) 👫
• Other kids in your neighborhood
• Strangers online
• People who ask you to "help them" by sharing your password
• Anyone who promises you prizes or rewards for your login information

Since passwords can be hard to remember, especially strong ones, it's important to store them in a safe place. But where should you keep them? 🤔

Good places to store passwords:

• A password notebook that your parents keep in a safe place at home
• A password manager app that your parents set up and control
• Written down and stored in a secure location that your family chooses together

Bad places to store passwords:

• Sticky notes on the computer screen (anyone can see them!) 📝
• In your school backpack (it could get lost)
• Saved on public computers like those at the library
• In a regular notebook that you carry around

Sometimes people might try to trick you into sharing your password. They might say things like:

• "I'm from tech support and need your password to fix your computer" 🔧
• "Tell me your password and I'll give you free games or prizes" 🎁
• "I forgot my password, can I borrow yours?"
• "Your account will be deleted if you don't give me your password right now!"

Remember: Legitimate websites and services will NEVER ask you for your password through email, phone calls, or messages. If someone asks for your password, always check with a trusted adult first! 🛡️

There might be times when sharing login information seems okay, but it's important to always check with your parents first:

• Group projects: Even if you're working on a school project with friends, don't share your personal accounts
• "Emergency" requests: If someone says they need your password for an emergency, always ask an adult first
• Family devices: Some devices at home might be shared, but each person should still have their own accounts when possible

By keeping your login information private and secure, you're taking an important step in protecting yourself online! 🌟

Creating a strong password is like building a really good fortress to protect your digital castle! 🏰 Some passwords are like strong castle walls that keep intruders out, while others are like paper walls that anyone can break through. Let's learn how to build the strongest digital fortress possible!

A strong password is like a super-secret code that's really hard for other people to guess. Here are the special ingredients that make a password strong:

Length: Strong passwords are long! 📏 A good password should have at least 8-10 characters, but longer is even better. Think of it like this: would you rather have a short fence or a tall fence around your yard?

Numbers: Adding numbers to your password makes it much stronger! Instead of just "rainbow," you could use "rainbow7" or "rain2bow."

Capital Letters: Using both big (CAPITAL) and small (lowercase) letters adds extra protection. For example: "Rainbow7" is stronger than "rainbow7."

Special Characters: These are symbols like !, @, #, $$, %, &, and *. They make passwords super strong! For example: "Rainbow7!" is even better.

Let's look at some examples to understand the difference:

Weak Passwords (Easy to Guess):

• "password" – This is one of the most common passwords people use! 😱
• "123456" – Counting numbers are too easy to guess
• "abc123" – Simple patterns are not secure
• Your name like "Emma" or "Jake" – Personal information is easy for others to figure out
• "birthday" – Common words are not safe

Strong Passwords (Hard to Guess):

• "MyDog$Loves2Play!" – Long, has numbers, capital letters, and special characters
• "Purple7Elephants&Dance" – Combines unexpected words with numbers and symbols
• "I❤️Pizza4Breakfast!" – Personal but not obvious, with variety of characters

Let's help Alana create a strong password for her school account! She needs to use 10 characters, including at least one number and one capital letter.

Weak password for Alana: "alana12345" (uses her name and simple numbers)

Strong password for Alana: "Music4Ever!" (10 characters, has a capital letter 'M', includes the number '4', and has an exclamation point)

Why is "Music4Ever!" so much better? 🎵

• It doesn't use her real name
• It's something she can remember (if she loves music)
• It has all the required elements: length, numbers, capitals, and symbols
• It would be very hard for someone else to guess

The trick to a good password is making it strong but memorable. Here are some fun strategies:

The Favorite Things Method: Think of two things you love and combine them with numbers and symbols. For example, if you love cats and pizza: "Cats&Pizza8!"

The Sentence Method: Take the first letter of each word in a sentence you can remember. "I have 2 cats and 3 dogs at home" becomes "Ih2ca3dah" – then add symbols: "Ih2ca3dah!"

The Story Method: Create a tiny story with numbers and symbols. "My sister is 5 years older" could become "MySis+5Years!"

Weak passwords are like leaving your front door unlocked! 🚪 Here's what could happen:

• Easy to guess: If your password is "password123," almost anyone could figure it out
• Computer programs: Bad people use special computer programs that can guess millions of simple passwords very quickly
• Personal information: Passwords using your name, birthday, or pet's name are easy for people who know you to guess

Just like you wouldn't use the same key for your house, your car, AND your bike lock, you should use different passwords for different accounts! 🔑 This way, if someone figures out one password, they can't get into all your accounts.

For example:

• School account: "ReadBooks4Fun!"
• Gaming account: "Level99Hero$"
• Email account: "MyMail&Safe8"

Creating and remembering lots of strong passwords can be tricky! That's why many families use password helpers:

• Password notebooks: A special book where your family writes down passwords and keeps it in a safe place
• Password manager apps: Special computer programs that create and remember strong passwords for you (your parents would set this up)

By learning to create strong passwords now, you're building an important skill that will help keep you safe online for your whole life! 🌟

Have you ever had someone take your picture when you didn't want them to? 📸 It probably didn't feel very good! The same thing can happen online – when people share photos, videos, or recordings of others without asking permission first. Learning about digital consent and privacy helps you respect others and helps others respect you too!

Digital content includes all the things you can create and share using technology:

• Photos 📷 (pictures taken with cameras, phones, or tablets)
• Videos 🎥 (moving pictures, like recordings of you playing or talking)
• Audio recordings 🎤 (recordings of your voice or sounds you make)
• Screenshots 📱 (pictures of what's on a computer or phone screen)
• Digital artwork 🎨 (drawings or creations made on computers or tablets)

All of this content can be shared online through apps, websites, email, or social media platforms.

Consent means getting permission before you do something that affects another person. In the digital world, this means:

• Asking before taking: "Can I take a picture of you?"
• Asking before sharing: "Is it okay if I post this video of us online?"
• Respecting the answer: If someone says "no," you respect their choice, even if you don't understand why

Think of consent like asking before you borrow someone's toy 🧸 – it's just good manners and shows you respect the other person!

Let's think about what happened with Wes:

The Situation: Wes took a photo of his friend and posted it online without asking first.

Why This Was Wrong:

• His friend didn't know the photo was being taken
• His friend didn't give permission to share it online
• The friend couldn't choose whether they wanted to be in the photo or not
• Other people online could now see the friend without the friend's consent

What Wes Should Have Done:

1. Ask permission first: "Hey, can I take a picture of you?"
2. Show the photo: Let his friend see the picture before sharing it
3. Ask about sharing: "Is it okay if I post this online?"
4. Respect the answer: If his friend said no, Wes should respect that choice

When you don't ask permission before sharing someone's photo or video, several problems can happen:

Privacy Invasion: Everyone has the right to control their own image and decide who gets to see them 🔒

Embarrassment: The person might not like how they look in the photo, or they might have been doing something private

Safety Concerns: Sharing someone's image without permission could put them in danger or make them feel unsafe

Trust Issues: Friends might not trust you anymore if you share their photos without asking

Digital Footprint: Once something is online, it can be very hard to remove completely – it might be there forever! 👣

Your Rights:

• You have the right to say "no" if someone wants to take your picture 🚫
• You can ask someone to delete a photo of you if you don't like it
• You can choose who gets to see photos or videos of you
• You should never be forced or pressured to be in digital content

Your Responsibilities:

• Always ask permission before taking photos or videos of others
• Respect other people's privacy, just like you want yours respected
• Don't share content that might embarrass or hurt someone
• Tell a trusted adult if someone shares your photo without permission

Just like you want others to ask your permission, you should also protect your own privacy:

Think Before You Share: Ask yourself these questions:

• Would I be okay if everyone at school saw this? 🏫
• Will I still be happy about this photo in a few years?
• Does this show anything private that others shouldn't see?
• Would my parents be okay with me sharing this?

Family Photos: Even family pictures should be shared carefully. Always check with your parents before posting photos that include family members.

School and Friends: Before sharing photos from school events or with friends, make sure everyone in the photo is okay with you sharing it.

Sometimes, even when we try to be careful, problems can happen:

If someone shares your photo without permission:

1. Tell them calmly that you didn't give permission 🗣️
2. Ask them to remove or delete the content
3. Tell a trusted adult (parent, teacher, or guardian)
4. Save a screenshot as evidence (with adult help)
5. Report it to the app or website if needed (with adult help)

If you accidentally share someone else's content without permission:

1. Remove or delete it immediately 🏃‍♀️
2. Apologize to the person sincerely
3. Tell a trusted adult what happened
4. Learn from the mistake and always ask permission next time

Remember, respecting others' privacy online is just as important as respecting their privacy in real life. When everyone follows these rules, the internet becomes a safer and more respectful place for everyone! 🌈

Using technology can be super fun and helpful for learning! 💻 But it's important to use it in healthy ways that make you feel good and help you grow. Let's explore what healthy digital habits look like and how you can track your screen time to make sure you're using technology in the best way possible.

Screen time is the amount of time you spend looking at screens like:

• Tablets and iPads 📱
• Computers and laptops 💻
• TVs and streaming devices 📺
• Gaming devices like Nintendo Switch or Xbox 🎮
• Phones (when you use them for games or videos)

Everything you do on these devices counts as screen time, whether you're playing games, watching videos, doing homework, or video chatting with family!

Not all screen time is the same! Some activities are more helpful for learning and growing than others:

Educational Screen Time: 📚

• Learning apps that teach math, reading, or science
• Educational videos about animals, space, or history
• Digital art and creativity programs
• Video calls with teachers for school lessons
• Research for school projects (with adult help)

Entertainment Screen Time: 🎬

• Watching cartoons or movies
• Playing games for fun
• Listening to music or stories
• Looking at funny videos

Creative Screen Time: 🎨

• Making digital artwork or animations
• Recording videos or taking photos
• Writing stories or making presentations
• Learning to code or program

Social Screen Time: 👥

• Video chatting with family members who live far away
• Playing online games with friends
• Sharing photos or messages with family

All of these types can be part of healthy screen time when used in balance!

For second-grade students like you, healthy screen time includes:

Taking Regular Breaks: Just like your eyes need to blink, they also need breaks from screens! ⏰ Try the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.

Mixing Different Activities: Don't spend all your screen time doing just one thing. Mix educational activities with creative ones and entertainment!

Using Good Posture: Sit up straight and keep the screen at eye level so your neck doesn't hurt 🪑

Choosing Quality Content: Pick apps, games, and videos that are made for kids your age and that teach you something new

Being Mindful: Pay attention to how you feel before, during, and after screen time. Do you feel happy and energized, or tired and cranky?

Just like the curriculum example suggests, you can track how much time you spend on electronic devices! Here's how:

Using Tools to Measure Time:

• Timer or stopwatch: Set a timer when you start using a device ⏲️
• Clock watching: Write down the time when you start and stop
• Parent apps: Many devices have built-in tools that parents can use to track time
• Screen time notebooks: Keep a simple chart where you write down your daily screen time

Creating a Screen Time Chart:

You can make a simple chart like this:

Categorizing Your Screen Time:

Like the curriculum example suggests, you can also track what you do during screen time:

• Educational activities (learning apps, school videos) 📖
• Entertainment (cartoons, games) 🎮
• Creative activities (art apps, making videos) 🎨
• Social activities (video calls with family) 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

This helps you see if you're getting a good balance of different types of activities!

Once you've tracked your screen time for a week or two, you can create a bar graph to see patterns! 📊 Here's what you might discover:

• Which days do you use screens the most?
• What type of screen time do you do most often?
• Are there days when you barely use screens at all?

Creating graphs helps you become a screen time detective – you can solve the mystery of how you spend your digital time!

Signs Your Screen Time is Healthy: ✅

• You feel happy and calm after using devices
• You easily stop when it's time to do something else
• You're still excited about non-screen activities
• Your eyes don't hurt or feel tired
• You sleep well at night
• You have energy for physical activities

Signs You Might Need to Adjust: ⚠️

• You feel grumpy when you have to stop using devices
• Your eyes feel tired or your head hurts
• You don't want to play outside or do other activities
• You have trouble falling asleep
• You feel tired during the day
• You get upset easily when not using screens

Every family is different, and every kid has different needs! Work with your parents to create a personal screen time plan:

Morning Screen Time: Maybe 15-30 minutes of educational content After School: Perhaps 30-60 minutes mixing educational and entertainment Evening: Possibly 30 minutes of calm activities before bedtime

Screen-Free Times: 🚫📱

• During meals (so you can talk with family)
• Right before bedtime (so your brain can relax)
• During outdoor play time
• When friends come over to play

Remember, the goal isn't to avoid screens completely – they're amazing tools! The goal is to use them in ways that help you learn, grow, and feel your best! 🌟

Sometimes you might discover that you're spending more time with screens than makes you feel good! 📱 That's totally normal – it happens to lots of kids and even grown-ups. The good news is that there are tons of amazing, fun activities you can do without screens that will make you feel energized, creative, and happy!

Pay attention to these feelings and signs that might mean you need more balance:

Physical Signs: 💪

• Your eyes feel tired, dry, or sore
• You get headaches after using devices
• Your neck or back hurts from looking down at screens
• You feel restless or have trouble sitting still
• You have trouble sleeping or feel tired during the day

Emotional Signs: 😊

• You feel grumpy or angry when you have to stop using devices
• You don't feel excited about playing outside or doing other activities
• You feel bored when you're not using a screen
• You get upset easily throughout the day
• You don't want to spend time with family or friends unless screens are involved

Behavioral Signs: 🎯

• You rush through other activities (like eating or homework) to get back to screens
• You sneak extra screen time when parents aren't looking
• You argue with parents about screen time rules
• You don't want to try new activities that don't involve screens

If you notice several of these signs, it might be time to add more non-screen activities to your day!

When you do activities without screens, amazing things happen to your body and mind:

For Your Body: 🏃‍♀️

• Your muscles get stronger from moving and playing
• Your heart gets healthier from physical activity
• Your eyes get a rest and feel better
• You sleep more soundly at night
• You have more energy during the day

For Your Brain: 🧠

• Your imagination grows stronger when you create your own entertainment
• You learn to focus better and concentrate longer
• You become better at solving problems creatively
• Your memory improves
• You feel calmer and less stressed

For Your Relationships: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

• You have better conversations with family and friends
• You learn to play cooperatively without digital distractions
• You build stronger connections with people
• You develop better social skills

Here are tons of fun activities that don't need any screens:

Active and Outdoor Activities: 🌳

• Go for a nature walk and collect interesting rocks or leaves 🍃
• Ride your bike or scooter around the neighborhood 🚲
• Play tag, hide-and-seek, or red light/green light with friends
• Jump rope, hopscotch, or play with a hula hoop
• Plant seeds in a garden and watch them grow 🌱
• Have a picnic in the backyard or at a park
• Play catch, frisbee, or basketball
• Go on a "photo scavenger hunt" (using your eyes, not a camera!)

Creative and Artistic Activities: 🎨

• Draw, color, or paint with real art supplies
• Make crafts with paper, glue, and decorations
• Write stories or draw comic books 📚
• Build with LEGOs, blocks, or other construction toys
• Make up songs or learn to play a musical instrument 🎵
• Create puppet shows or dress-up plays
• Make friendship bracelets or other jewelry
• Try origami (paper folding) or make paper airplanes ✈️

Learning and Discovery Activities: 🔬

• Read books or have someone read to you
• Do simple science experiments (like making slime or volcanoes)
• Look at stars or clouds and make up stories about them 🌟
• Learn about different animals by looking at books or visiting a zoo
• Practice math with real objects like coins or snacks
• Write letters or draw pictures to send to family members 💌
• Start a collection (rocks, shells, stickers, etc.)

Social and Family Activities: 👥

• Play board games or card games with family
• Have dance parties with music playing 💃
• Cook or bake something yummy together 🍪
• Tell stories or jokes to each other
• Have indoor camping adventures with blankets and flashlights
• Play charades or other guessing games
• Plan a special surprise for someone you love

Quiet and Calming Activities: 🧘‍♀️

• Do puzzles (jigsaw puzzles, word searches, or crosswords)
• Practice breathing exercises or simple yoga
• Listen to audiobooks or podcasts while doing quiet activities
• Organize your room or help with household tasks
• Take a relaxing bath with bubbles 🛁
• Practice mindfulness by paying attention to sounds around you

Work with your family to create a special list of activities you can do when you want to reduce screen time. Here's how:

Make It Personal: Choose activities YOU actually enjoy, not just what others think you should do

Make It Accessible: Pick activities you can do with materials you have at home

Make It Varied: Include active activities, creative activities, and quiet activities for different moods

Make It Visible: Write your list on colorful paper and hang it somewhere you can see it easily

Example "Instead of Screens" List:

1. Build a fort with blankets and pillows 🏠
2. Go outside and find 10 different colored things
3. Draw a picture of my family
4. Play with my pet or stuffed animals
5. Help cook dinner
6. Read three books
7. Dance to my favorite songs
8. Call or write to a grandparent
9. Do a puzzle
10. Invent a new game

The "Bored Jar": Write different activities on slips of paper and put them in a jar. When you feel bored, pick one randomly! 🎯

The "Energy Check": Ask yourself how you're feeling – do you need something active, creative, or calm? Then choose an activity that matches your mood.

The "Timer Method": Set a timer for 30 minutes and commit to doing a non-screen activity for that time. You might discover you want to keep going!

The "Buddy System": Find a friend or family member to do activities with – everything is more fun with a companion! 👫

The "Reward System": After spending time doing non-screen activities, you might find that screen time feels even more special and enjoyable!

Reducing screen time doesn't have to be hard or unpleasant:

Start Small: Begin by replacing just 15-30 minutes of screen time with other activities

Plan Ahead: Choose your non-screen activity before you stop using screens, so you know exactly what to do next

Get Support: Ask family members to join you or encourage you

Be Patient: It might take a few days to get used to new routines, and that's perfectly normal

Celebrate Success: Feel proud when you try new activities or successfully reduce screen time!

Remember, the goal isn't to eliminate screens completely – they're useful tools! The goal is to have a healthy balance where you enjoy both digital and non-digital activities, helping you feel your absolute best! 🌈