Keeping it Private

Hackers and scammers are everywhere. They are constantly trying to break into your personal information. Teaching young people, and especially young people with special needs, how to protect their privacy is an important independent living skill. This lesson will help students understand what information should be kept private and why.

How to Do This Lesson

1. Read “Protecting Your Money.” Have students discuss any times when they or someone they know was hacked or their personal information was stolen.

2. List the seven private facts that everyone must protect on the board or chart. Discuss each one as you go noting the additional protections listed. Provide scenarios for understanding:

   1. If someone you “met” online wants to meet you at school, should you give them your school address? Why or why not?

   2. Can you loan your credit card to your best friend?

   3. Should you let anyone else use your license?

   4. What if a stranger asks you if you live at a certain address?

   5. Should you fill out a form with all your ID to just any computer site?

3. Complete the crossword puzzle as a group or individually, as appropriate.

For More Information

And, while the lessons in this blog can stand alone, they work best when paired with the Financial Literacy course from Susan Traugh’s Transition 2 Life curriculum. This one-semester course is offered in both a special education edition and a companion text for general education students. Find it here!