Screening and Class Discussion
GRADE LEVEL 4-5
Introduction
Themes & Ideas
Technology
Social Media
Smartphones
School Rules
Online Identities
What Students Will Uncover
Students will reflect on their use of technology, becoming aware of its positive and negative impacts on their lives. They will also learn strategies for making well-balanced choices regarding social media and games.
Lesson Overview
For screening in class, the “classroom” version of the film is 25 minutes long and can be accompanied by using the “Grade 4-5 Screening and Class Discussion Guide” to help frame the film and run pre and post viewing discussion and activities with the class.
There are then 4 individual lessons, each addressing specific themes. These can be run (in any order) as a follow-on to screening the film, or separately, without the need to watch the full film as they contain clips from the film to illustrate the points being made.
Lesson Materials: Note Taking Sheet and Pre and Post Viewing Survey
The lesson plan below or if you prefer to print it out: Download PDF (English)
Lesson Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Identify both the positive and negative impacts of computers and phones on their lives
- Reflect on their use of technology
- Develop awareness of the importance of balance around screen time and other parts of life.
- Practice identifying and expressing feelings
- Understand why sleep is important and how to safeguard it
- Learn why strong connections with people are important
- Compare their experiences with those of the subjects in the film, utilizing empathy and understanding.
Vocabulary
Background
This section is intended for the educator, providing them with information about the film, its themes and topics, as well as tips for how to lead students in an impactful discussion.
About The Film
Runtime: 25 minutes (Classroom Version)
Are you watching kids become too accustomed to using technology at too young an age?
Physician and filmmaker Delaney Ruston saw that with her kids and learned that the average kid spends many hours a day looking at screens. She wondered about the impact of all this screen time and the friction occurring in homes and schools around negotiating screen time.
In Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition, Dr. Ruston takes a deeply personal approach as she explores the vulnerable corners of family life, including her own, to explore struggles over social media, video games, academics, and internet addiction.
Through insights from authors, psychologists, and brain scientists, Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition reveals how tech time impacts kids’ development and offers solutions for empowering kids to navigate the digital world and find balance.
The Film in Context
The Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition film is about how the digital age impacts elementary school-aged children's physical and mental well-being, learning, and relationships. The film aims to help families minimize the negative impacts of technology, find creative ways to utilize technology, and help each other find the balance between their online and in-person lives. It covers brain development, how school districts use tech, video game overuse and balance, social media, and creative ways to use and manage our devices.
The film includes stories from parents, students, and teachers and showcases the work of researchers who study the impacts of technology on the brain and social life. It combines personal stories with scientific data to give viewers a well-rounded impression of our digital age and evidence-based solutions to tech-related issues.
Lesson
Lesson Introduction
Before The Movie
Materials: Note Taking Sheet and Pre and Post Viewing Survey
SAY: We will watch a movie called Screenagers: Elementary School Age Edition. What do you think a film called “Screenagers” is about, just from its name? Raise your hand if you use an iPhone or iPad. If any, what games, apps, and websites do you use?
Today, we will consider how devices, such as phones, computers, and smartwatches, can be great tools for staying in touch and organized, and can even be used as a treat for things like games. We’ll also think about those same devices (phones, computers, and smartwatches), how we actually use them, and whether we use them too much.
Vocabulary: Digital Citizenship
SAY: Digital Citizenship means using technology and the internet responsibly. It's about being safe, kind, and following rules online, just like we do in our classroom community.
DO: Journal reflection OR Thumbs up/Thumbs down
Journaling: If your classroom has journals, students can record reflections on these prompts privately. Write the statements on the board (or project them), and ask students to reflect in their journals. Alternatively, students can consider these statements without written responses.
OR
SAY: Let's do a round of Thumbs up/Thumbs down to check in on our Digital Citizen behavior. For each example I give, thumbs up if the statement is true for you, thumbs down if the statement is false for you:
- Are there any devices or apps that you are restricted from using?
- Do you ever click on links that you don’t know?
- Do you have a set time limit on devices?
- Do you play video games?
- Do you know someone who gets upset when they don’t have their phone or smartwatch?
- Has anyone you don’t know tried to join a game you were playing?
- If yes, did you tell a trusted adult?
- Has anyone you don’t know messaged you in an app or a game?
- If yes, did you tell a trusted adult?
- Do you talk with family members who are far away using video chat?
- Do you go on your device when you are in bed for sleep time?
SAY: Now, we will complete a short survey about some screen-related activities. After the film, we will review the survey and take it again.
SAY: Students, you will want to take notes while watching, using the note-taking sheet.
Pay attention for:
- Information and quotes from expert speakers in the film
- Personal stories and insights from the subjects of the film
- Interesting facts and statistics presented
Lesson Activities
Post Screening Discussion:
ASK:
- What did you notice or what stood out to you from the film?
- After watching the film, do you think you will set rules for the time you spend:
- Playing video games?
- Playing in an app like Minecraft or Roblox?
- Watching shows?
- Watching YouTube?
- What rules do you have for using a phone or tablet?
- Where in the film did you see your screen time habits?
- If you plan to change any technology habits, do you have any ideas for ways to go about that?
If the students completed the survey before the screening, have them return to this and fill in any updated ratings following the screening and discussions.
Invite students to tell the class if they changed any of their ratings and why.
Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3
Activity 4
Activity 5
Lesson Conclusion
Further Reading
For Educators
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For Students
Frameworks
Standards met: AASL, CASEL aligned (See document: Standards SA)
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