Be Polite

Students will:

• Be able to use polite words and comments when communicating on the  Internet.  
• Be able to differentiate between positive and negative comments.
• Understand that bad manners have consequences.

Vocabulary Words:

1. Positive comments: Positive comments are good or nice discussion notes.
2. Negative comments: Negative comments are bad or mean discussion notes
3. Consequence: A consequence is the result of an action.
4. Respect: Respect is treating someone kindly with consideration for their feelings.
5. Manners: Manners are the polite way to behave.
6. Netiquette: Netiquette is online etiquette (good behavior).

To prepare for this lesson:

• The teacher will need to view the Netiquette Only video ahead of time and ensure that technology for viewing is available within the classroom.  

• Another option is to have the students watch the Netzsmart Video and go through the lesson. 

• The teacher may also wish to explore resources included within the Digital Citizenship section of  21 Things 4 Educators in order to fully prepare for this activity. 

See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students.net site in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

1. The teacher will lead a class discussion about manners. Specifically, focusing on how our words - whether spoken in person or written on the Internet- have power and can affect others either positively or negatively. The teacher will also remind students that when leaving comments online, the other person cannot see the facial expression or mood of the one leaving the comment; thus jokes which are meant to be funny may be offensive.
2. Students will discuss the difference between positive and negative comments with a partner.
3. Brainstorm a list of situations when students may have the opportunity to post or leave a comment online.
4. As a whole group brainstorm several negative comments regarding a specific topic (e.g., What might someone comment/post after watching a video that he/she did not like?).
5. The teacher will write these negative comments down on chart paper or the board.
6. Working in pairs, the students will rewrite/reword the negative comments in order to make them positive.
7. The revised comments will be shared out and the class will discuss the way in which these comments might make someone feel, as opposed to the negative comments.
8. The class will watch the video, Netiquette Only.
9. The class will participate in a discussion about the video.
10. Within small groups, students will discuss the consequences of someone not being polite online (e.g., hurt someone’s feelings, make others feel bad, make others angry).
11. Each group will decide on two specific effects.
12. Each group will share out the top two effects of not being polite.
13. Work as a class to compile a list of netiquette rules for working online and being polite. (For example: when commenting on someone’s video only say nice things, when reading someone’s email or message do not use mean words).
14. Students may practice making positive posts within a shared Google Doc or on a class blog entry.

Optional Activity: Watch the Netzsmart Video and go through the lesson. 

Different options for assessing the students:

• Observations
• Check for understanding
• Informal observation during discussion using a checklist:
  • I can differentiate between positive and negative comments.
  • I can use positive comments when I talk to others.
  • ​I understand that my comments have consequences (either positive or negative).