Emergency Sub Plan: Basic Computer Skills and Internet Safety

Objective

Students will learn essential computer skills, including typing proficiency and internet safety practices, through engaging activities that promote critical thinking and collaboration.

Materials/Resources

• Computers or laptops with internet access
• Projector and screen (if available)
• Printed handouts for typing exercises and internet safety tips
• Access to typing practice websites (e.g., TypingClub, NitroType)
• Whiteboard and markers

Lesson Plan Procedure

Opening/Lesson Hook (10 minutes)

• Warm-Up Activity: Tech Trivia

  • Prepare a set of 5-10 tech-related trivia questions (e.g., "What year was the first iPhone released?").
  • Divide the class into small groups and give them 2 minutes to discuss and write down their answers.
  • Review answers as a class and provide brief explanations for each question.

Main Lesson (30 minutes)

• Lesson Focus: Basic Computer Skills

  • Introduction to Typing

    • Explain the importance of typing skills in academic and professional settings.
    • Demonstrate proper typing posture and finger placement using a keyboard.

• Guided Practice: Typing Exercise (15 minutes)

  • Instruct students to visit a typing practice website (e.g., TypingClub).
  • Allow students to complete a 10-minute typing exercise focusing on accuracy and speed.

• Internet Safety Discussion (15 minutes)

  • Discuss key concepts of internet safety, such as:

    • Protecting personal information
    • Recognizing phishing attempts
    • Understanding privacy settings on social media

  • Use real-world examples, like recent news stories about data breaches, to illustrate the importance of online safety.

Independent Practice (15 minutes)

• Task 1: Typing Exercise

  • Students will complete a short typing test on the same website for 5 minutes and record their words per minute (WPM) score.

• Task 2: Writing Internet Safety Tips

  • Instruct students to write down three tips for staying safe online. Provide a handout with prompts if necessary.

  • Example prompts:

    • "What personal information should you never share online?"
    • "How can you recognize a safe website?"

Differentiated Activities

• Below Grade Level

  • Use a simpler typing program that focuses on letter recognition and basic sentence typing.
  • Provide a list of common online dangers for students to match with safety tips.

• At Grade Level

  • Encourage students to complete a typing speed test and aim for improvement.
  • Have students research a recent internet safety incident and present their findings to the class.

• Above Grade Level

  • Challenge students to create a digital poster on internet safety using a tool like Canva or Google Slides.
  • Have them draft a short blog post about why internet safety is crucial for teens.

Closing (5 minutes)

• Gather students together and ask for volunteers to share one typing or internet safety tip they learned today.
• Encourage them to practice their typing at home and to discuss internet safety with their families.

Extension Activities or Sample Questions

• Formative Assessment:

  • Ask students, "Why is it important to keep your passwords secure?"
  • Quiz on key internet safety terms (e.g., phishing, malware).

• Summative Assessment:

  • Assign a short essay on how students can improve their online safety habits.
  • Create a class poster summarizing the best internet safety tips.

Reflection

• After the lesson, the substitute teacher should note what went well and what could be improved for future classes. Suggestions include:

  • Were students engaged in the activities?
  • Did the students grasp the key concepts of typing and internet safety?
  • Any notable challenges faced during the lesson?

This sub plan is designed to be engaging and enable students to learn essential computer skills, adaptable for any time of the year.