Sing along to our video and teach students how to be a good digital citizen.
Something you may not know about us here at Common Sense Media, is that quite a few of us are former classroom teachers! When we develop new materials, we always have our favorite memories to guide us. One thing we remember fondly is being amazed by how music transformed a classroom – kids would jump to their feet, whatever the song, to sing and sway while the teacher subtly wove word play and pattern recognition into the mix.
This summer, we worked with a great animator and composer to create our first digital citizenship song for elementary students!
The song plays off of our popular poster that illustrates how kids can use their heads, hearts, guts, arms, and legs to be a good digital citizen. Pause and Think Online (a good mantra!) also stresses the connection of safe, respectful, and responsible behavior online and offline.
To accompany the song, we've created this classroom-ready PDF bundle with posters illustrating each step toward being a good digital citizen!
Pause and Think Online
Use your head to hold your hat, and your smarts will tell you where you're at
And to think about the zoo and to nod hello to you and you.
Use your head when you're online to keep what's yours inside your mind
And to know how to be safe, how to give your life some private space.
CHORUS
From your head down to your toes, pause, think about it.
From your feet up to your nose, pause, and think online.
Use your heart to grow and grow and to give yourself a healthy glow
And to make a valentine, and tell someone you'll be mine.
Use your heart when you're online to feel what's right and always kind.
Show your friends respect to be fair and nice on the Internet.
CHORUS
Use your arms to hug a pet and to keep your clothes from getting wet
And to wear your favorite sleeves and to help you fly in make-believe.
Use your arms when you're online to take a break and balance time
And to leave your tech behind and to find yourself a tree to climb.
CHORUS
Use your gut to store your food and to listen to its growling mood
And to make a belly flop and to feel the gas in soda pop.
Use your gut when you're online and know to watch for certain signs
And to let it guide the way and tell you when it's not okay.
CHORUS
So, think with your head
And feel with your heart.
Balance with your arms.
Listen to your gut online.
Use your legs to run and kick and to jump and bounce on a pogo stick
And to dance around the block and to skip along in your smelly socks.
Use your legs when you're online, and stand up to bullies who cross the line,
And remember to stand tall -- be nice to creatures great and small.
CHORUS
So, think with your head
And feel with your heart.
Balance with your arms.
Listen to your gut.
Stand up with your legs.
CHORUS
So download the video, hang up the posters, and have fun! Please share!
