Chapter 3: Playing and Learning Together

Playing and Learning Together 🤝

We Share, We Care, We Play Fair!

At school, we use tablets and computers to read, draw, count, and play learning games. We use them together. That means sharing, following rules, and caring about each other.

In this chapter, we will learn how to share devices, why our technology rules keep us safe, how to respect other people’s work, and how to take good breaks from screens.

Many classrooms do not have a tablet for every kid. So we share! Sharing can be hard when a game is fun. But sharing is a big part of being a digital citizen.

Here is how good digital citizens share:

Take turns. Use a timer so everyone gets the same time.
Wait patiently. Watch and cheer while your partner plays.
Help, don’t grab. Point and give tips. Do not take the device.
Use kind words. “Your turn!” and “Thanks for sharing!”

When we all get a fair turn, everyone learns more and has more fun. We show respect for our classmates when we share.

Good Ways and Not-Good Ways to Use Devices

Devices are tools for learning and playing. Here are good ways to use them:

Reading a story app
Practicing math with a learning game
Drawing a picture in a drawing app
Talking to Grandma on a video call with a grown-up

Here are not-good ways to use them:

Grabbing a tablet from a friend
Taking a picture of someone who said no
Going to apps or websites the teacher did not say yes to
Playing a game when it is time to listen

Our Technology Rules 📜

Your classroom has rules, like “walk in the hall” and “raise your hand.” Technology has rules too.

Many schools have a list of technology rules. It is called an Acceptable Use Policy. That is a big name! Acceptable means okay. Use means how we use devices. Policy means rules. So it means “the rules for using devices in an okay way.”

Students and their families often read the rules and agree to follow them. The rules are there to protect you. Here are some rules many schools have:

Use only school-approved apps. The teacher picks safe apps for you.
Keep your password secret.
Use kind words in messages and comments.
Tell a grown-up if you see something that is not okay.
Take care of devices: carry them with two hands, keep food and drinks away, and use gentle taps.

school-approved means your school or teacher has checked an app or website and said it is safe. If an app or website is not school-approved, do not use it. And never type your private information into one.

Rules at school and at home count online too. If you break a rule online, there are real-life results, like losing a turn or hurting a friend.

Respecting Other People’s Work 🎨

People make amazing things. Drawings. Stories. Songs. Videos. Every one of those things belongs to the person who made it.

There is a special word for this. copyright means the person who makes something is the owner of it. When you draw a picture, you own it! When an author writes a book, they own the words.

So what should we do?

Do not copy someone’s work and say you made it.
Ask first if you want to use someone’s picture or idea.
Give credit.

credit means saying who made something. You can say, “Ava drew this,” or “Ben’s idea helped me.” Giving credit is honest. It also makes the person feel proud!

When you finish your own work, sign your name on it. That shows it is yours.

Screen Time and Green Time ⏰

Tablets and games are fun. But our bodies and brains need lots of other things too. They need running, playing, sleeping, reading, and talking with family.

screen time is the time we spend looking at a tablet, a phone, a computer, a game, or a TV. Some screen time is good. Too much screen time can make us tired, grumpy, or sore.

We want balance. Balance means a healthy mix, like a seesaw that is even on both sides.

Here are ways to keep balance:

Use a timer. When it rings, the screen goes off.
Get green time. Play outside, ride a bike, or jump rope.
No screens at bedtime. Your brain needs to rest.
Notice your body. Tired eyes? Grumpy feelings? Time for a break.
Make a plan with a grown-up for how much screen time is right.

Being smart online also means knowing when to go offline.

Being a Good Digital Citizen 🌟

You have learned so much! A good digital citizen is kind, safe, and smart online. Here is what that looks like:

Kind: I use kind words. I am an upstander.
Safe: I keep private things private. I stop, think, and tell a grown-up.
Smart: I share fairly. I follow the rules. I give credit. I keep balance.

Every time you make a good choice online, you leave a good digital footprint. And you help make the internet a happier place for everyone. We share, we care, and we play fair!

Chapter 3 Activity: Our Tech Team Rules 📋

With a grown-up:

Practice sharing. Set a timer for two minutes. Take turns with a toy or a device. Cheer for your partner!
Carry it right. Practice carrying a book like a tablet: two hands, walking feet.
Make a rule poster. Draw three technology rules for your home or class.
Sign your art. Draw a picture and write your name on it. Tell a grown-up: “I made this. I own it.”
Plan your balance. Draw one screen-time thing and three green-time things you love to do.

Key Concepts Checklist

I take turns and share devices fairly
I can name a good way and a not-good way to use a device
I know an Acceptable Use Policy is our school’s technology rules
I know the rules are there to keep me safe
I use only school-approved apps at school
I know copyright means the person who made something owns it
I give credit when I use someone’s idea
I keep a balance of screen time and green time