Spot the scam (grades 6-8)

What's inside

• Lesson plan: objectives, 5-part sequence with teacher scripts, discussion questions, exit ticket, differentiation (PDF + Word)
• Worksheet 1: Scam, Probably fine or Check first?
• Worksheet 2: Scam-spotter crossword
• Teacher answer key for every worksheet, card and the exit ticket
• 10 cut-apart scenario cards
• 8-slide outline with speaker notes (PDF + editable PowerPoint)
• Family take-home sheet in English and Spanish (PDF + Word)

Learners will be able to

• Name four common scam hooks in game chat, DMs and texts: free currency, 'verify your account' threats, fake giveaways and requests for a one-time code
• Find at least three red flags in a mock message, such as a countdown, a lookalike link or a request for a password or code
• Sort messages into Scam, Probably fine or Check first and explain the reasoning
• Describe the report, block and tell-an-adult routine, and how to check a message by going to the app or a known contact directly

Standards alignment

• ISTE Standards for Students 1.2.d
• ISTE Standards for Students 1.3.b
• CSTA PK-12 Computer Science Standards (2026) MS-SYS-SE-33
• CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards (2017) 2-NI-05

More pages

Files

Supports these rubric areas

• Awareness & Training
• Identity Management, Authentication, and Access Control
• NIST CSF PR.AT
• NIST CSF PR.AA

Part of

• Start here: classroom teachers
• Middle and high school (6-12) classroom kit
• Grades 6-8

Related materials

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Private by design

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• DOCX, PDF, PPTX

Flash-n-Flush one-pager · Students

Free skins are the bait. You're the catch.

September student edition for students in grades 6-12. Game chat scams look like a friendly trade, a giveaway or a 'mod' who needs to check your account.

• 90-second read
• Grades 6-12
• English · Español
• PDF

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• 14-minute course
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Sources

• FTC — What's a verification code and why would someone ask me for it?
• FTC — How To Recognize and Avoid Phishing Scams
• CISA Secure Our World — Recognize and Report Phishing
• FTC — Avoiding and Reporting Gift Card Scams
• CFPB — Consumer advisory: Video games are targeting your children to get into your wallet
• NCMEC NetSmartz — Gaming
• ISTE Standards for Students
• CSTA — 2026 PK-12 Computer Science Standards