Code Detectives: Finding Safe and Silly Computer Messages

Materials Needed

• Large paper or a whiteboard
• Crayons or washable markers
• Paper cards with simple symbols, letters, and numbers
• Three boxes or baskets labeled: Safe, Ask an Adult, and Stop
• Optional: toy computer, tablet, or pretend keyboard
• Optional: blocks or sticky notes for making a pretend computer pathway

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the child will be able to:

• Explain that computers use special letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Sort simple computer messages into safe, ask-an-adult, or stop categories.
• Tell an adult before clicking or typing something confusing.
• Create a short, friendly pretend computer message using symbols or drawings.

Success Criteria

I can:

• Say, “Computers use codes and symbols.”
• Point to a message that looks confusing and say, “I will ask an adult.”
• Keep my private information safe.
• Make my own simple pretend computer code.

Introduction: Hook and Objectives

Hook: Show the child a card containing a silly mixture of letters, numbers, and symbols. Say:

“Look at this funny computer message! Does it look like a word, a secret code, or something we should ask an adult about?”

Explain in child-friendly language:

“Computers use letters, numbers, and special marks. These are called symbols. Some computer messages help us. Some messages are confusing. When we see something confusing, we stop and ask a trusted adult.”

Tell the child:

“Today we will learn about computer codes, practice being safe, and make our own pretend code.”

Body: Teach and Practice

1. I Do: Teacher or Adult Demonstration

Write or display three simple examples:

• HELLO
• 123
• !@#?&

Say:

• “Letters can make words.”
• “Numbers can help computers count.”
• “Symbols are special marks.”
• “Sometimes a message has many marks and is hard to understand.”

Model safe behavior:

“If I see a message I do not understand, I do not click, type, or share information. I stop and ask a trusted adult.”

Use a simple safety chant:

“Stop, look, ask!”

• Stop: Keep your hands still.
• Look: Notice what is on the screen.
• Ask: Get a trusted adult.

2. We Do: Sort the Computer Messages

Place the three labeled baskets nearby. Read one card at a time and discuss it with the child.

Suggested Cards

• Hello! — Safe
• ABC — Safe
• 123 — Safe
• What is your name? — Ask an Adult
• Tell me your home address. — Stop
• Click this strange button now! — Stop
• ??? !!! @@@ — Ask an Adult

For each card, ask:

• “What do you notice?”
• “Is it easy or hard to understand?”
• “Should we touch it, ask an adult, or stop?”

Remind the child:

“You never have to answer a computer message by yourself. A trusted adult can help.”

3. We Do: Think, Talk, and Act

Read each pretend situation. Invite the child to show the safe action with their body:

1. A friendly game says, “Choose a color.”
   Ask: “What could we do?” Practice asking an adult before using a new game.
2. A message says, “Tell me your secret password.”
   Ask: “Should we tell it?” Practice saying, “No. I will ask my trusted adult.”
3. A screen has letters and symbols that do not make sense.
   Ask: “What is our chant?” Practice: “Stop, look, ask!”

4. You Do: Make a Pretend Computer Code

Give the child paper, crayons, and symbol cards. Invite the child to choose one activity:

• Code name: Make a pretend name using shapes, numbers, and letters.
• Friendly message: Draw a message such as a heart, a smile, or the word “HI.”
• Robot pathway: Use blocks or cards to make a path. Create a code such as “move, turn, stop.”

Explain:

“This is pretend code. Do not use your real password, full name, address, or other private information.”

Ask the child to explain their code:

• “What does your code say?”
• “What does this symbol mean?”
• “Who could help if your computer showed something confusing?”

Formative Assessment

During the lesson, check understanding by asking the child to:

• Point to a letter, number, and symbol.
• Sort one new card into the correct basket.
• Show what “Stop, look, ask” means.
• Explain why private information should not be shared.

Differentiation and Support

For a Child Who Needs More Support

• Use only two categories: Safe and Ask an Adult.
• Use pictures and read all cards aloud.
• Practice one safety step at a time: first “Stop,” then “Look,” then “Ask.”
• Let the child answer by pointing, acting, or choosing between two options.

For a Child Ready for More Challenge

• Invite the child to create a three-step code for a toy robot or stuffed animal.
• Ask the child to explain why a message belongs in each basket.
• Have the child create a safe computer rule and illustrate it.
• Invite the child to invent a symbol dictionary, such as a star meaning “go” and a circle meaning “stop.”

Real-World Connection

Explain:

“Computers are in tablets, phones, games, stores, cars, and many workplaces. People use codes to help computers work. Grown-ups help children decide what is safe to click, type, or share.”

Summative Assessment: Code Detective Challenge

Show the child three final cards:

• Good morning!
• Give me your password!
• ??? 8 @ !

Ask the child to:

1. Sort each card.
2. Explain one choice.
3. Demonstrate “Stop, look, ask!”
4. Make one safe pretend code.

Meeting the objective: The child correctly identifies at least two of the three cards, demonstrates the safety chant, and creates a pretend code without using private information.

Conclusion: Closure and Recap

Ask the child:

• “What do computers use?”
• “What should we do when a message is confusing?”
• “What information should we keep private?”

Review together:

• “Computers use letters, numbers, and symbols.”
• “A confusing message is a reason to ask a trusted adult.”
• “We keep passwords, addresses, and private information safe.”
• “Our safety words are: Stop, look, ask!”

Finish with the child’s choice of a closing activity:

• Say the chant together.
• Draw a computer safety superhero.
• Teach the chant to a family member.

Optional Follow-Up

During the week, invite the child to notice letters, numbers, and symbols on safe, adult-guided screens. Ask, “What do you notice?” and practice the response, “Stop, look, ask!”