Lesson Plan - What Do Apps Know About You?

Watch a Video: Digital Decisions: Pause Before You Post
Ask: Which situation in the video do you think is the hardest one to handle? Why?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know. 

• policies
• anonymous

Set a Purpose for Reading
Point out the “As You Read” question. Have students think about why some apps might collect data on users. 

1. Why does the author mention a company called Pixalate? 
The author mentions Pixalate because the company did a study that found that many apps track kids’ online activity.
^{R.8 Author’s Purpose}

2. Summarize the central ideas in the section “Data for Sale!” 
The section “Data for Sale!” explains why many apps and websites collect information about users. One reason is to give users a more personal online experience; another is to make money by selling information about users to advertisers.
^{R.2 Main Idea}

3. What are two things kids can do to protect their privacy online?
Sample response: Kids can protect their privacy by only downloading apps that their parents approve and by never lying about their age.
^{R.1 Text Evidence}

FEATURED SKILL: Informative Writing
Use the Skill Builder “App Awareness” to have students write a public service announcement about apps and privacy.  
^{W.2 Informative Writing}