Technologies K–10 · Kindergarten
My data or not: sorting information cards
Digital Technologies (NSW Science and Technology K–6, 2017; a partial fit, see the NSW note); Digital Technologies: Processes and production skills, Privacy and security (ACARA v9)
The idea
Some information belongs to a child, such as their name, photo, birthday and home address, and is only shared online with a trusted adult's agreement, while other information, such as today's weather, is not about them.
What you need
- 12 picture cards: a photo of a child's face, a name written on a label, a birthday cake, a house with a street number, a voice recording symbol, a school uniform, today's weather, the class pet, a book cover, a tree, a favourite colour, a drawing of a dog
- 2 hoops labelled 'about me' and 'not about me'
- 1 tablet showing a drawing app that asks for a name (teacher device)
How to do it
- Look at each card and say what it shows.
- Place it in 'about me' if it tells someone who you are, where you live or what you look like.
- Talk about the cards that are hard to place, such as the school uniform and the favourite colour.
- The teacher opens the drawing app. When it asks for a name, the class says what to do: ask a trusted adult first.
- Each child draws one piece of their own information that they keep for trusted adults only.
What you should see
The photo, name, birthday, house and voice recording go in 'about me'; the weather, class pet, book cover, tree and drawing of a dog go in 'not about me'. The uniform is placed in 'about me' after discussion because it shows which school a child attends; the favourite colour is information about the child that is low risk. The learner knows it worked when they can point to three cards that stay private and say 'ask a trusted adult' when a device asks for them.
What changes
This activity lists no variables to change, measure and keep the same.
Common misconceptions
Each of these ideas is wrong, and the activity is a chance to test it.
- Only passwords are private (a photo or a birthday also identifies a child).
- Information on a tablet stays inside the tablet (many apps send it to other computers).
- A favourite colour is secret (some information about a child is low risk; the name, face and address are not).
Safety card
Hazards
- Children may share real personal details aloud
Controls
- Use picture cards only; no child writes their own address or birthday on the cards
Note
No chemicals or heat. Follow the eSafety Commissioner early years program guidance.
Curriculum references
The NSW syllabus outcomes and Australian Curriculum v9 codes this activity supports. They are references, not a verified or complete curriculum alignment.
- Science and Technology K–6 Syllabus (2017), NESA. The syllabus taught in 2026; the 2024 syllabus replaces it from 2027. Code read from the official syllabus document (DOCX) on 2026-09-22. Partial fit: the Early Stage 1 Digital Technologies content has no point on personal information; the nearest is the skills point on exploring how people safely use information systems (ACTDIP005).STe-7DI-T
- Australian Curriculum v9AC9TDIFP01
Sources
The pages the author read to write this activity.
- www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/nesa/curriculum/science/science-and-technology-k-6-2017
- curriculum.nsw.edu.au/learning-areas/science/science-and-technology-k-6-2024/outcomes
- www.esafety.gov.au/educators/early-years-program
- www.digitaltechnologieshub.edu.au/plan-and-prepare/scope-and-sequence-f-10/foundation/using-digital-systems-safely