Overview

Digital spaces bring new opportunities – and new challenges – for how students communicate and build relationships with others. From texting and social media to online games and video chats, students are navigating a fast-changing social landscape, much of it online. Things are often different in these online spaces: body language is missing, boundaries can be blurry, and online community norms are constantly changing and evolving.

Our Relationships & Communication lessons help students build important social and emotional skills to support healthy online communication and positive digital interactions. Students learn how to communicate clearly and kindly, set and respect boundaries, and engage in online communities with empathy. Through age-appropriate, interactive activities, they practice managing the unique dynamics of digital spaces, combining the technical skills for using various apps and platforms with the human skills of building real connections and participating thoughtfully in shared spaces.

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Our Instructional Approach

Communication, Consent, and Community

Our curriculum approaches relationships and communication through three interconnected areas:

• Communication: Students develop the ability to express themselves clearly and interpret others accurately in digital contexts where nonverbal cues are often absent. These lessons help students recognize the gap between their intentions and impacts in online messages, adapt their communication to different digital formats, and resolve misunderstandings constructively. Students practice strategies for clear, empathetic communication that builds understanding across digital divides.
• Consent: Students learn to identify, express, and respect personal boundaries in digital relationships. These lessons help students recognize when interactions feel uncomfortable, use techniques like "I-statements" to establish their boundaries clearly, and respond respectfully when others express their limits. Topics include navigating the complexities of consent in scenarios like photo sharing, group participation, and more.
• Community: Students explore how to contribute positively to digital communities and develop meaningful connections. These lessons help students understand different types of online relationships, from close friendships to parasocial relationships with content creators. Students learn to establish shared norms, support peers in group interactions, and understand their responsibilities as members of digital communities.

Nurturing Friendship and Fostering Community

Rather than focusing mostly on dangers and risks, our curriculum emphasizes how kids can develop skills for building positive relationships and communication skills online. We recognize that meaningful connections are central to students' wellbeing and development, and that digital spaces offer important opportunities for social growth when navigated thoughtfully.

Our lessons use realistic scenarios that reflect students' actual experiences online, inviting them to practice communication strategies, boundary-setting techniques, and community-building approaches in contexts that feel authentic and relevant. This approach acknowledges that healthy digital relationships require active care and commitment to flourish.

Grade-by-Grade Progression

Each grade level addresses all three dimensions of relationships and communication through developmentally appropriate lessons:

• Grades K-2: Young learners begin exploring digital citizenship by engaging with our Digital Citizens characters, and particularly our "Heart" character, who helps them understand kindness and empathy in digital spaces. Students learn foundational concepts about communicating respectfully, recognizing uncomfortable situations, and being a good friend both online and offline.
• Grades 3-5: Older elementary students explore more complex concepts such as conflict resolution strategies (like the CALM method), and distinguishing between different types of online relationships. They practice using clear communication to bridge the gap between intent and impact, setting personal boundaries with "I-statements," and recognizing "red flags" in online interactions. Students also examine how technology connects global communities and how to be supportive in group digital spaces.
• Grades 6-8: Middle school students tackle more sophisticated topics like managing digital drama, navigating social dynamics across platforms, and understanding the complexities of consent in digital contexts. They analyze how technology shapes relationship expectations, develop strategies for maintaining authentic connections amid social media pressures, and explore the ethical responsibilities that come with being part of different online communities. Students also practice more advanced communication skills for expressing their emotions clearly, and responding constructively to challenging online situations.

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