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Lesson

Finding Balance in a Digital World

How do we balance digital media use in our lives?

Grade

6

Time

50 mins.
See quicker lesson

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.

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.

Vocabulary Show definitions
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
STANDARDS
This lesson meets standards for  Common Core ELA,  ISTE,  CASEL, and  AASL .  See standards
Lesson video
Digital Life 101
Student Video
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Topics 1

STANDARDS
This lesson meets standards for  Common Core ELA,  ISTE,  CASEL, and  AASL .  See standards
Sign in or join to unlock this free lesson.

Key Standards Supported

Common Core ELA

L.6.1, L.6.2, L.6.3, L.6.4, L.6.6, SL.6.1, SL.6.1a, SL.6.1b, SL.6.1c, SL.6.1d, SL.6.2, SL.6.3, SL.6.4, SL.6.6, W.6.10, W.6.4, W.6.8, W.6.9, L.6.2.B, L.6.3.A, L.6.3.B

ISTE

2a, 2b

CASEL

1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f

AASL

I.A.1, I.A.2, II.A.1, II.A.2, III.A.1, III.A.2, V.A.2, V.A.3, VI.A.1, VI.A.2, I.B.1, I.B.3, II.B.1, II.B.2, III.B.1, III.B.2, IV.B.2, I.C.1, II.C.1, II.C.2, III.C.1, III.C.2, V.C.1, I.D.1, I.D.2, I.D.3, I.D.4, II.D.1, II.D.2, II.D.3, III.D.1, III.D.2, V.D.1, V.D.2, VI.D.1, VI.D.2, VI.D.3, II.B.3

Lesson Plan

50 mins.

Warm Up: It's a Digital World!

10 mins.

Reflect: My Online and Offline Life

10 mins.

Apply: Balance It Out

15 mins.

Wrap Up: Finding Media Balance

15 mins.

Additional Resources

Creative Commons Attribution, Non Commercial,No Derivatives
© Common Sense Media. Lessons are shareable with attribution for noncommercial use only. No remixing permitted. View detailed license information at creativecommons.org. Lesson last updated: July 2020

What You'll Need

In Class

  • Lesson Slides
  • Video: Digital Life 101
  • Balancing Act
    Handout
    Teacher Version
  • Lesson Quiz

For Families

  • Family Activity
  • Family Tips
    English Spanish More languages
    Open
  • SEL Conversation Starter
    English Spanish
    Open
Select a resource, then open in English or Spanish.
Creative Commons Attribution, Non Commercial,No Derivatives
© Common Sense Media. Lessons are shareable with attribution for noncommercial use only. No remixing permitted. View detailed license information at creativecommons.org. Lesson last updated: July 2020

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