Looking for real-world digital citizenship lesson plans for freshmen

[Larry91]

I'm a high school teacher developing a new unit on digital citizenship for my freshman students, moving beyond basic internet safety to cover topics like evaluating online sources, understanding digital footprints, and engaging in respectful discourse. I'm looking for relatable, real-world examples and activities that resonate with teenagers, rather than just lecturing them. For educators who have taught this, what specific lesson plans or projects have successfully made concepts like media literacy and ethical online behavior tangible and impactful for your students?

[Jonathan27]

Quick idea: run a 'fact-check sprint.' Students pick a current news story or social post, trace its sources, check claims against reputable outlets, and then share a 2‑minute verdict with the class. It teaches source evaluation in a concrete, teen-friendly way.

[Avery_M]

Medium-length plan: build a 'source portfolio' around a hot topic. Each student (or pair) collects 3–5 sources, rates them with a kid-friendly CRAAP-style rubric (Authority, Accuracy, Currency, Relevance, Purpose), and posts a short justification. Then host a 'Source Expo' where groups defend their choices and challenge each other politely.