Be an Upstander! It’s Cool to Be Kind Lesson 4: Be Internet Kind (pgs. 37-45) Ask students: Why does kindness matter?

Behind every username, there’s a real person with real feelings. Activity 1: How can I be an upstander? (Pg. 39-40) Ask students if they’ve ever had their feelings hurt by a friend in real life, or online.

When bullying happens, there are THREE types of people involved.

The Bully The Target or Victim The Bystander This could be one person, or a group of people. Ask students if they know what “bystander” means.

The Bystander has the power to stop it, but doesn’t do anything.

Don’t be a Bystander, be an Upstander! Tell students: your goal is to be an Upstander by fighting bad behavior and standing up for kindness and positivity. A little positivity can go a long way online, just how negativity can spread into something big and ugly online.

You can be an Upstander if you….. Set a good example. Be a friend. Don’t encourage bad behavior by giving it an audience. Don’t pass on hurtful messages. Report mean, bullying behavior.

Taking action as a bystander is what makes you an upstander!

It’s time to visit Interland! Kind Kingdom Students will play Kind Kingdom in Interland. https://beinternetawesome.withgoogle.com/interland

Turn a negative into a positive! Activity 2: ...but say it nicely! (pgs. 41 - 42) Ask students: Have you or someone you know ever experienced a random act of kindness in person, or online? Have you ever seen someone be negative in person, or online? How did it make you feel? What simple actions can we take to turn a negative interaction into a positive one?

Read the negative comments. Think about these two questions: How could you have made the same or similar points in a more positive and constructive way? If one of your classmates made comments like these, how could respond in a way that would make the conversation more positive? ...but say it nicely! Read the negative comments. Think about these two questions: Use Worksheet Activity 2 (pg. 42) Group the students and assign them each one negative statement. Have them come up with a positive scenario to share with the class.

Mind your tone! Messages sent via chat or text can be interpreted differently than they would in person or over the phone. Have you ever been misunderstood in a text? Have you ever misunderstood a text someone sent you? Activity 3: Mind your tone (pg. 43)

Mind your tone! That’s so cool! Whatever. I’m so mad at you! Look at these sample messages. Read each one in a specific tone. (Angry, sarcastic, friendly, etc.) How does changing your tone change the message? Can you tell what someone’s tone is over text message?

Do you think you and your friends can build an Internet that’s kinder and more positive? Activity 4: Walking the walk (pg. 44)