As educators, we understand that middle schoolers are at a critical age for learning how to navigate social media safely and responsibly. They are exploring online platforms, engaging with friends, and forming habits that can have a lasting impact on their digital footprint. Teaching safe social media practices in middle school is vital in today’s digital age. Everyday Speech’s interactive game, Operation Pizza, provides an engaging way to do just that.
A Fun and Educational Digital Game
Operation Pizza immerses students in a lively, pizza-making competition where teams are tasked with solving real-life social media challenges. These situations reflect the kinds of issues students might encounter in their daily lives, such as deciding whether to accept a follow request from someone they don’t know well. The game encourages students to critically think about these scenarios, and they must select the best course of action from multiple choices.
For example, one scenario might present students with the following dilemma: “You received a follow request from someone you don’t know very well. You’re unsure if you should accept.” Students are given options such as:
- Accept the request to make a new friend.
- Review their profile to see who they are.
- Block them immediately.
These decisions help students develop an awareness of the possible risks involved in their online interactions and promote responsible digital citizenship.
Engaging Teamwork with Operation Pizza
One of the most exciting elements of Operation Pizza is the teamwork involved. Students are divided into teams like Team Bologna and Team Napoli, each working together to solve digital challenges and earn points for making the best decisions. This collaborative approach not only reinforces social media safety but also promotes communication, problem-solving, and teamwork among students.
As teams progress through the game, they encounter different scenarios that delve into the do’s and don’ts of online behavior, ranging from engaging with harmful content to oversharing personal information. The game helps middle schoolers think critically about their actions online, reinforcing that their digital choices have consequences.
Why It Works
Operation Pizza successfully combines entertainment with education. The interactive nature of the game keeps students engaged, while the realistic scenarios prepare them for real-world social media situations. Rather than simply teaching rules, this game encourages students to internalize the consequences of their decisions, leading to a deeper understanding of how to navigate the online world safely.
Broader Cyber Skills Lessons
Operation Pizza is one part of a comprehensive Cyber Skills unit. The unit includes video modeling lessons, interactive activities, worksheets, and visual posters to teach students the full spectrum of safe online practices. Students learn essential skills such as protecting their privacy and recognizing inappropriate content. By the end of the unit, Everyday Speech better equips students to handle the complexities of social media.
Easy to Use for Educators
The game is incredibly easy to integrate into a classroom setting. Operation Pizza provides an adaptable and effective tool for teaching students about social media safety. The scenarios are age-appropriate and allow for discussions that extend beyond the game itself.
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Conclusion
In today’s digital age, teaching safe social media practices in middle school is key. Everyday Speech’s Operation Pizza is the perfect tool for teaching these skills in an engaging and interactive way. By encouraging teamwork and critical thinking, this game provides a hands-on approach to mastering social media safety.
For educators looking to incorporate a whole unit on Cyber Skills, Everyday Speech offers video modeling lessons, interactive activities, worksheets, and visual posters that complement Operation Pizza and provide a holistic approach to teaching safe social media practices.
Sample Video
Students learn best by watching others their same-age model the behavior! Check out a sample video modeling lesson below. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 14 days here!
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Navigating Middle School: Enhancing Social Skills Through Videos
Teaching Middle School Students to Stay Calm and Solve Problems
Promoting Mental Well-being: SEL Lessons for Middle School Students
