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Grade 6

Finding Balance in a Digital World

How do we balance digital media use in our lives?

We use digital media every day, from texting, streaming TV shows, and gaming all the way to using voice assistants or ordering our food online. For today's kids, it's a lot more than just "screen time." So how can we help students balance their online and offline lives? It starts with recognizing just how much media we use.

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Learning Objectives:

  • Reflect on their common online and offline activities.

  • Identify ways to "unplug" to maintain balance between online and offline activities.

  • Use the Digital Habits Checkup routine to create a personal challenge to achieve more media balance.

Key Vocabulary: digital media   ·   media balance   ·   red flag feeling   ·   unplug   ·   digital habits  
digital media:
information that comes to us through the internet, often through a tablet, smartphone, or laptop
media balance:
using media in a way that feels healthy and in balance with other life activities (family, friends, school, hobbies, etc.)
red flag feeling:
when something happens on digital media that makes you feel uncomfortable, worried, sad, or anxious
unplug:
to engage in activities that don't involve devices, apps, or the internet
digital habits:
behaviors we do often or regularly with digital media and devices
This lesson meets standards for  Common Core ELA,  ISTE,  CASEL, and  AASL .  See standards
Don't have time for a full lesson?
15 mins.
This SEL activity helps students build self-management strategies in their digital lives.  Get the quick activity

Lesson Plan

50 mins.

What You'll Need

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Classroom resources

Take-home resources

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Lesson last updated: September 2022
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