Lesson
Smart Screen Detectives
Summary
AI isn't a thinking brain — it's a pattern-guessing machine, and tricky buttons online are designed to fool even careful clickers. Explore how AI works, why it messes up, and how to spot sneaky ads and links so kids can browse with confidence.
Warm-Up: Real or AI-Generated?
- Show two images side by side and ask students to silently guess which is AI-generated
- Take a quick show of hands, then ask a couple students to explain their reasoning before revealing the answer
Instruction
- Explain that AI is a pattern-recognition system, not a thinking mind
- Cover why AI makes silly mistakes and how tricky buttons, hidden "X" buttons, sneaky in-game payments, and clickbait try to fool users
Share: The Stop, Look, & Ask Rule
- Walk through the three-step Stop, Look, & Ask rule as a class
- Have students recite the Screen Detective Pledge together
Activity: Digital Dragons Vocab & Posttest
- Students complete the Digital Dragons vocabulary and posttest activity
- Circulate to help students connect key terms to what they just learned
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- Is everything on the internet true?
- Put a thumbs up if you think yes and a thumbs down if you think no.
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 3 min | Warm-Up: Real or AI-Generated? |
|
| 8 min | Instruction |
|
| 6 min | Share: The Stop, Look, & Ask Rule |
|
| 10 min | Activity: Digital Dragons Vocab & Posttest |
|
| 3 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Lesson Prep
Digital Dragons Vocab
Review the vocab terms from Digital Dragons.
Digital Dragons Posttest
Assess student learning after completing Digital Dragons.
Class Presentation
Includes a 15-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.
Presentations, Ready to Go
- Built-in PresentationPresent full screen, straight from Banzai
- Copy to Google SlidesMake an editable copy for your class
- Download or PrintSave as a PDF or print
- Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout
Unit 1: Digital Literacy Basics
Being Kind Online
A comment that seems harmless in your head can land like a punch once it hits someone else's screen. Explore the Invisible Person Rule, the T.H.I.N.K. checklist, and what it means to be an Upstander instead of a bystander when unkindness shows up online.
The 5 Ps of Your Digital Footprint
A messy shoe print on clean carpet doesn't just disappear — and neither does what you post online. Explore the 5 Ps of protecting your digital footprint, from choosing a safe profile to keeping your online presence positive.
Smart Screen Detectives
AI isn't a thinking brain — it's a pattern-guessing machine, and tricky buttons online are designed to fool even careful clickers. Explore how AI works, why it messes up, and how to spot sneaky ads and links so kids can browse with confidence.
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