Digital Matters is a free, award-winning online platform featuring free digital literacy lessons to help teach 9-11-year-olds online safety through interactive lessons and dynamic storytelling.
Digital Matters is a free platform for teachers and parents to help children aged 9-11 learn about online safety.
Engage children in critical thinking with interactive quizzes and stories featuring realistic scenarios. Each lesson includes clear links to curriculum areas across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, opportunities to involve parents in online safety and supporting documents to make teaching easier.
Interactive Learning is the first part of every online safety lesson and is taught in the classroom. Teachers can use the Digital Matters platform for this section or the offline handouts while fostering important discussions on the topic.
Once Upon Online features realistic stories that children can control, which they can do with parents at home. Children must read the stories and help characters make positive choices based on what they learned with Interactive Learning.
See our feedback from teachers, parents and students who have used the platform. All feedback is taken from the Digital Matters platform and surveys shared with users.
Digital Matters free comprehensive lesson plans across 8 online safety topics for children in upper primary school (ages 9 to 11). Explore the topics below.
Find parent and carer companion guides tailored to each lesson below. Share with parents/carers to help them continue children's learning at home.
Start by downloading a companion guide below to share with your students’ parents/carers. Then, encourage them to access Digital Matters and begin as a parent to find the Once Upon Online stories and read together with their child. Learn more about the stories here.
Help children practise skills in reading, predicting and discussions with Once Upon Online stories.
Adil must navigate a VERY interesting piece of information about his favourite streamer. Children must help him think critically about this information before sharing it.
This story focuses on misinformation and how to assess information.
Read the story
Rory feels stressed about a school research project and needs help making the right choices to help them learn. Children must help Rory complete their project in honest ways.
This story focuses on using digital tools like generative AI and word processors in appropriate ways for school.
Read Research Rescue
Emmy must learn how to create a positive and balanced relationship with her smartphone. Children must help her make good choices to guide her to a positive ending.
This story focuses on screen time and regulating your time on devices in appropriate ways.
Read A Delicate Balance
Elan has to decide between sharing her personal information and missing out on the in-game event of the year! Children must help her make safe decisions to support her safety.
This story focuses on creating strong passwords and understanding what privacy means.
Read the story
Social media starts making Antoni feel pressured to look a certain way that's not all that realistic. Children must help him find support for his mental wellbeing and self-image.
This story focuses on body image and the influence of the internet on our wellbeing.
Read Under Pressure
Voxyarn is the most popular online game at Nia’s school. But when she starts to play, she’s shocked by the hateful messages she receives. Children must help her find support.
This story focuses hate speech sometimes present in video games and the actions we can take.
Read Playing With Hate
Alex is upset by Riley's messages about his good friend Zane. Should he say something or just keep it to himself? Children must help Alex make positive choices to stop bullying.
This story focuses on bullying among friends and how to become an upstander.
Read Friendships in Danger
When Meera's friend invites someone new to their game, Meera struggles to make positive choices. Children must help her navigate healthy and unhealthy behaviours to support in-game positivity.
This story focuses on interaction between others online and how to stay safe.
Read A Friend Appears
Joseph learns how uploading content of someone else without their permission can have negative impacts. Children must help him make positive choices to support his friend and online reputation.
This story focuses on asking permission to post content and being careful about what you record.
Read the story