Health Lesson on Cyber Safety and Healthy Dating Relationships—Reading, Discussion, and Writing

Objectives: Students will:
• Identify the risks of posting photos on Facebook or sending photos to someone privately.
• Discuss what makes up a healthy relationship.
• Discuss what boys find attractive in girls and vice versa.
• Discuss stereotyping.

Before the lesson: Write these words and phrases from the story on the board. They are meant to soften students’ possible resistance to reading the story.

Coney Island
Bikini
Bodies on Facebook
Sexy photos
Guys drooling
Real relationship

Read the story yourself.

Activity #1: Reading and discussion
Introduce the lesson: Say something like: “We are going to read a story written by Kiara Ventura, a teenager who posted a picture of a family outing on her Facebook page. Her experience made her think about what she values in dating relationships and how boys focus too much or even exclusively on girls’ appearances rather than their personalities.”

Then point to the list on the board and say something like, “There are some hints of what’s in the story.”

Then say, “Let’s read the first part of the story, up to where it says, “Unexpected Attention.” NOTE You can have them read the section silently or ask for volunteers to read parts of it aloud.

When the reading is done, ask the group to vote on whether she should have posted the picture. Ask for reasons from both sides. This should take about ten minutes.

Ask them to read the rest of the story.

Discussion: Here are some discussion prompts.

• Why did Kiara decide to post the picture? Why did she hesitate?
• Who is Jason and what part does he play in the story?
• Why was she disturbed by the attention she received?
• What are some of the possible bad things that can happen if you post a picture on the Internet or share a photo with someone directly?
• What opinion does she have about boys’ interest in girls?
• Kiara uses the phrase, “real relationship” when writing about the bonds between males and females. What does mean by this? How do people treat each other in a real relationship? Are there “unreal” relationships?
• Do boys and girl have different ideas about how people should treat each other in relationships?
• Do you think Kiara is fair to boys? Does she stereotype them when she writes, “I wondered if there were any boys who would talk to a girl because they are interested in who she is, and not just in what she looks like in a bikini.” Does she think all guys are jerks and if so, is she right?

Activity #2: Writing
After the reading and discussion, ask them to write a letter to Kiara about the article. There are two possible themes for the letters. They can write to her about posting the picture OR they can write to Kiara about her attitudes toward boys.

If you have time, show them one possible organization of the letter assignment:

a) A statement of opinion: “Dear Kiara: I agree/disagree with your posting of your picture.” Or they can be more forceful, “I think you were crazy to do what you did.”

b) Two reasons for their opinion. Ideally, the letter should mention a negative or positive Facebook experience they’ve had—or personal experiences related to the “boys are jerks” theme.

Tell them you are going to collect the letters and send them to the magazine for possible publication in the next issue.