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Lesson Plan - My Apps Are Following Me!
Learning Objective
Students will learn why the apps they use might collect data about them and what they can do to protect their privacy.
Text Structure
Problem/Solution
Content-Area Connections
Media Literacy, Economics
Standards Correlations
CCSS: RI.4.1, RI.4.2, RI.4.3, RI.4.4, RI.4.5, RI.4.7, RI.4.8, RI.4.10, L.4.4, SL.4.1, W.4.2
NCSS: Science, Technology, and Society
CASEL: Responsible Decision Making
TEKS: Social Studies 4.20, 4.12
1. Preparing to Read
Watch a Video: Digital Decisions: Pause Before You Post
Ask: Which situation in the video do you think is the hardest one to handle? Why?
Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.
Set a Purpose for Reading
Point out the “As You Read” question. Have students think about why some apps might collect data on users.
2. Close-Reading Questions
1. Why does the author talk about a company called Pixalate? The author mentions Pixalate because this company did a study that found that many apps track kids’ online activity.
(RI.4.8 AUTHOR’S PURPOSE)
2. Summarize the central ideas in the section “Data for Sale.” The section “Data for Sale” explains why many companies want to collect information about users. One reason is to give users a more personal online experience. Another is to make money by selling information about users to advertisers.
(RI.4.2 MAIN IDEA)
3. What are two things kids can do to protect their privacy online? Sample response: Kids can protect their privacy by only downloading apps that their parents approve and never lying about their age.
(RI.4.1 TEXT EVIDENCE)
3. Skill Building
FEATURED SKILL: Informative Writing
Use the Skill Builder “App Awareness” to have students write a public service announcement about apps and privacy.
(W.4.2 INFORMATIVE WRITING)
