Elementary Library

Unit 3 5

Week 2 Why do people use avatars online?

STUDENT OBJECTIVES

I CAN…

Students will be able to define ‘avatar’. Students will understand that avatars are used in place of real people online and therefore use caution when interacting online.

I can be cautious when interacting with avatars online.

RESOURCES & MATERIALS

VOCABULARY

Avatar pictures Avatar worksheet Pencils Crayons or Colored Pencils

Avatar - a cartoon picture or drawing that represents you when you're online, especially in video games or on social media Cautious - being careful and paying attention to avoid danger or trouble

WELCOME & ACTIVATE BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE Greet students warmly at the library door. Follow opening procedures to prepare students for learning. Display picture of avatars from pop culture. Have students compare and contrast the characters. Instruct students to raise their hand if they want to share out.

Say: How are these characters the same? (allow think and response time) How are these characters different? (allow think and response time)

Students should realize that both characters are avatars. Guide discussion to discover what “avatar” means.

Say: People use avatars online to interact with others and the world. What does avatar mean in this context?

As a class, decide on a definition of avatar. Example: An avatar is a symbol or picture of a person online representing a real person. Or: an avatar is like a mask. It hides someone’s real identity online. OBJECTIVE Say: The avatars you know from tv and movies are the good guys. But because anyone online can make an avatar, not every avatar is trustworthy. We need to be careful to remember that avatars are real people behind the screen and be cautious when we interact with them, as well as remember to be our best selves when we are represented by an Avatar. Our learning goal today is:

Read and display “I can” statements.

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