## Step 6 - Writing

#### Internet safety for children

You are going to write about Internet safety for children.

- Read the text (on your own).
- Ask your teacher how many exercises you have to do (on your own).
- Do the exercises (on your own).
- Form groups of three or four pupils.
- Read and discuss your work.
- Help each other and correct mistakes.
- Hand in the final work to your teacher.

Read the text.

The increasing popularity of social networking sites and mobile phone texting have presented society with problems in how to protect children online. More and more youngsters are becoming victims of Internet predators and bullies. Parents are finding it more difficult to ensure their kids are safe online. Gone are the days when Mum and Dad could keep an eye on their child’s surfing with parental controls on the family computer. Today’s new mobile and networked world poses new and dangerous threats to online kids. Two recent initiatives aim to teach children about cyber-safety. Internet safety will soon be taught in UAE schools, while in Indiana, USA, parents will attend an Internet Social Networking conference. The UAE has launched a nationwide programme aimed at educating students on how to use the Internet safely and avoid suspicious websites. Spokesman Jay Bavisi said: “Advances in instant communication media, including the likes of Twitter, Facebook, and other instant messaging services, drive the very fabric of our modern society. Parents, siblings, teachers and children alike will need to understand the dangers the connected world presents.” The Indiana conference will explore topics like cyber-bullying, sexting and online child exploitation. Local attorney Steven DeBrota said: “The number one way to keep a kid safe is for them to be skeptical. If they do not believe automatically what people tell them, they will be safer.” Source: www.breakingnewsenglish.com

#### Excercise 1 - Internet Safety

- Make a poster about Internet safety.
- List the things children and parents must do to stay safe online.
- Make a vocabulary list.

#### Exercise 2 - Cyber bullying

- Write a magazine article about cyber-bullying.
- Include imaginary interviews with a cyber-bully and one of his/her victims.

#### Exercise 3 - Letter

- Write a letter to the leader of your country.
- Ask him/her three questions about Internet safety.
- Give him/her three opinions on the laws he/she should pass to make sure kids are protected online.

Use the items of the 'Gereedschapskist activerende werkvormen' to help you with your poster, article or letter:​

####  | #### Poster maken Op een informatieve poster kun je laten zien wat de belangrijkste delen van de lesstof zijn. Ook kun je weergeven hoe bepaalde delen zich tot elkaar verhouden. | ####

####  | #### Artikel schrijven Een artikel is een goede manier om informatie te presenteren of een gebeurtenis te beschrijven. | ####

####  | #### Brief schrijven Een brief is een goede manier om aan iemand te laten weten wat je van een bepaald onderwerp vindt of iemand te vragen om in actie te komen rond een bepaald onderwerp. | ####