Free digital literacy lessons
Resources for teachers & parents
Digital Matters is a free, award-winning online platform featuring free digital literacy lessons.
See how it can help teach 9-11-year-olds online safety through interactive lessons and dynamic storytelling.
On this page
- What is Digital Matters?
- User reviews
- Guidance for teachers
- How parents can use it
- View all digital stories
What is Digital Matters?
Digital Matters is a free platform for teachers and parents to help children aged 9-11 learn about online safety.
Engage children in critical thinking with interactive quizzes and stories featuring realistic scenarios. Each lesson includes clear links to curriculum areas across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, opportunities to involve parents in online safety and supporting documents to make teaching the topics easier.
Interactive Learning
Interactive Learning is the first part of every online safety lesson and is taught in the classroom. Teachers can use the Digital Matters platform for this section or the offline handouts while fostering important discussions on the topic.
Each Interactive Learning section includes a series of quizzes which complement the lesson plan and slides available in the downloadable lesson pack.
Once Upon Online
Once Upon Online features realistic stories that children can control, which they can do at school or with their parents at home. Children must read the stories’ ‘chapters’ and help the characters make positive choices based on what they have learned through Interactive Learning.
Each story has multiple endings, which means you can encourage children to do the story multiple times with different choices. Discussing potential outcomes and other choices can help them apply their learning to real life.
What our users say
See our feedback from teachers, parents and students who have used the platform. All feedback is taken from the Digital Matters platform and surveys shared with users.
Free lesson plans for teachers
Explore Digital Matters’ free comprehensive lesson plans across online safety topics for children in upper primary school (ages 9 to 11).
Learn more or register to access materials for the below lessons.
This lesson addresses the issue of nude image-sharing among young people. Research shows that children aged 11-13 do engage in this behaviour, so addressing it early is vital.
While the lesson doesn’t address nudes specifically, it does address the behaviour and pressures young people can feel among peers and in relationships.
This lesson addresses the issue of spreading misinformation without fact-checking. It looks at the difference between fact, opinion and belief while giving children the tools to fact-check new information.
This lesson explores screen time and how overuse can negatively impact our mood and wellbeing. It helps children understand the meaning of balance, which can combat feelings of ‘too much screen time’, which around 4 in 10 children report experiencing.
This lesson explores the meaning of personal information, giving children concrete examples to help them understand what it means to keep personal information private. Children learn password basics and actions to take if their personal information is compromised.
This lesson addresses the issue of sharing photos and videos of other people without their consent. Children learn the reasons behind asking for consent along with how sharing without consent can negatively impact others.
This lesson addresses online hate and bullying in the form of banter or jokes. Children learn how ‘jokes’ can actually be harmful along with what actions they can take to counter hate against themselves or others they see online.
This lesson addresses online bullying that can happen among friends. It explores what bullying behaviour looks like along with the different types of online bullying children might come across in their favourite spaces. Children learn the actions they can take to support themselves and others.
This lesson addresses the impacts that social media spaces can have on users’ views of themselves. It explores the role that influencers play and how it can negatively impact our wellbeing when we compare our life with others’. Children learn actions they can take to reduce online pressures and find support for their self-image.
This lesson explores healthy and unhealthy behaviours within online spaces and how to navigate them. Children learn about risky interactions and what they can do to get support for themselves.
This lesson explores the use of tools like AI chatbots and the issues around relying on them too much for schoolwork and research. Children learn about appropriate ways to use these tools and alternatives for getting the right information when they need it.
Supporting parents and carers at home
After teaching a Digital Matters lesson, it’s a good idea to continue the learning at home. You can do this by splitting the lesson up. For example, by teaching Interactive Learning at school and assigning Once Upon Online for homework. Or, use the included Take Home activities.
Find parent and carer companion guides tailored to each lesson. Share the page or individual guides with parents/carers (available through the ‘I am a parent’ route on Digital Matters) to help them continue children’s learning at home.
Free digital stories
Help children practise skills in reading, predicting and discussions with Once Upon Online stories. Choose a theme to explore available stories.
Playing With Hate
Voxyarn is the most popular online game at Nia’s school. But when she starts to play, she’s shocked by the hateful messages she receives. Children must help her find support.
Friendships in Danger
Alex is upset by Riley's messages about his good friend Zane. Should he say something or just keep it to himself? Children must help Alex make positive choices to stop bullying.
A 'Friend' Appears
When Meera's friend invites someone new to their game, Meera struggles to make positive choices. Children must help her navigate healthy and unhealthy behaviours to support in-game positivity.
The Secret Identity of HarleeGamez
Adil must navigate a VERY interesting piece of information about his favourite streamer. Children must help him think critically about this information before sharing it.
A Photo Too Far
Kitty faces pressures to share an image of her Dragoncry Con outfit and must make positive choices to help control who can see it. The character was designed by a Year 6 student in our 2025 competition.
The Trouble With Sharing
Elan has to decide between sharing her personal information and missing out on the in-game event of the year! Children must help her make safe decisions to support her safety.
Under Pressure
Social media starts making Antoni feel pressured to look a certain way that's not all that realistic. Children must help him find support for his mental wellbeing and self-image by making positive choices.
Sharing Gone Wrong
Joseph learns how uploading content of someone else without their permission can have negative impacts. Children must help him make positive choices to support his friend and online reputation.
Research Rescue
Rory feels stressed about a school research project and needs help making the right choices to help them learn. Children must help Rory complete their project in honest ways.
A Delicate Balance
Emmy must learn how to create a positive and balanced relationship with her smartphone. Children must help her make good choices to guide her to a positive ending.