Cybersecurity Workbook For Grades 7-8

Why Is This Cool?

Social engineering is like learning how people trick others - but you get to be the detective who spots the tricks first. When you know the common tricks, you can protect your passwords, accounts, and even your friends.

People who use social engineering rely on emotions, urgency, or trust to get information. Fun fact: many scams work because they make you act fast - panic makes good decision-making harder! Learning to recognize these tricks helps you stay calm and safe online and in real life.

Let's Practice!

Activity: Spot the Trick (10 minutes)

Quick example:

1. Message: "URGENT: Your game account will be deleted in 10 minutes! Click here to save it." Trick to spot: Creates urgency to make you click without thinking.

Now your turn:

1. Materials: paper, pencil, and a highlighter or colored pen.

2. Step 1 - Read three short messages below and highlight the phrase that feels like a trick (use your highlighter):

a. "Hi, I'm from your school tech team. We need your password to fix your account."

b. "You won a $50 gift card! Click to claim now."

c. "Your friend sent you a private photo. Log in to view it."

3. Step 2 - For each message, write the trick type next to it (circle one): Fake authority / Urgency / Curiosity / Prize.

4. Step 3 - Decide the safe action (circle one): Reply with info / Ignore and tell a parent/teacher / Click the link / Report to platform.

5. Check your answers:

a. Trick: Fake authority. Safe action: Ignore and tell a parent/teacher.

b. Trick: Prize (scam). Safe action: Report to platform.

c. Trick: Curiosity bait. Safe action: Ignore and tell a parent/teacher.

6. Completion: You are done when all three messages are highlighted, each trick type is written, and a safe action is chosen.

Great job if you highlighted at least one tricky phrase correctly and picked the safe action each time!

Try Something New!

• Use different colors: Highlight each trick type in a different color so you can see patterns.
• Try it faster: Set a 3-minute timer and see how many trick phrases you can find without losing accuracy.
• Team up: Work with a friend and compare answers, then discuss any differences.

How Did You Do?

• Did you highlight a phrase in all three messages? Yes / No
• Did you name the trick type for each message? Yes / No
• Did you choose a safe action for each message? Yes / No
• Circle the one you did best: Highlighting / Naming tricks / Choosing safe actions

Give yourself a star if you chose the safe action for every message! ⭐