← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Ask, Check, Think

Before you act online: Ask a trusted adult, Check that the sender or site is real, and Think about what could happen if you click or share.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Staying Safe Online — Module 21, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Digital Footprints — Module 51, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Cyber Security Threats and Vulnerabilities — Module 71

Understanding Ask, Check, Think in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: Think means pausing to picture the results of clicking or sharing before you do it. A personal boundary is a rule you set yourself, and Ask, Check, Think helps you stick to it. Ask a trusted adult first. Too-good-to-be-true offers are often tricks to steal your information. Check means making sure the sender or site is really who they say they are before you act. Odd addresses and spelling mistakes are warning signs. Never send your password, and ask an adult for help. Your address is personal data. Setting your own boundary and asking an adult keeps you safe. Tricks are often made to look friendly, so make Ask, Check, Think a habit every time.

Common mistakes: When a pop-up offers a prize, the first step is to stop and ask a trusted adult. Clicking to claim the prize skips Ask, Check and Think. The last step is to think before you click. Clicking before you think is risky. It should be think(before_you_click).

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 137–153) and word search (Modules 137–225).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning

Duo

You get a message from a stranger saying you won a free game console. What is the safest first step?

Ask a trusted adult before you click anythingClick the link quickly so you do not miss out

Matches

A message says 'You won a prize! Click now!' so I click it straight away.

↓

The student skipped Ask and Check. Prize messages are often fake, so they should ask a trusted adult and check the sender first.

Applying

Meanings

Term

Ask, Check, Think

Meaning

Before you act online: Ask a trusted adult, Check that the sender or site is real, and Think about what could happen if you click or share.

Practice

IF message is unexpected THEN

Testing

Gaps

trustedadult

Check Answer

Spots

1pop_up: 'You won a prize!'

2click it to claim the prize

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Quick Questions

1. You get a message from a stranger saying you won a free game console. What is the safest first step?

A. Ask a trusted adult before you click anything ✓

B. Click the link quickly so you do not miss out

Ask a trusted adult first. Too-good-to-be-true offers are often tricks to steal your information.

2. Which one is the CHECK step in Ask, Check, Think?

A. Checking that the sender or website is real ✓

B. Sharing the message with all your friends

Check means making sure the sender or site is really who they say they are before you act.

3. An email says it is from your school but the address looks odd and has spelling mistakes. What should you do?

A. Reply with your password to be safe

B. Check the sender and ask a trusted adult ✓

Odd addresses and spelling mistakes are warning signs. Never send your password, and ask an adult for help.

4. Which one is the THINK step?

A. Clicking first and seeing what happens

B. Thinking about what could happen if you click or share ✓

Think means pausing to picture the possible results before you click or share.

5. A game chat asks for your home address so they can send a prize. Which is the better choice?

A. Do not share it and tell a trusted adult ✓

B. Share it because prizes are exciting

Your address is personal data. Setting your own boundary and asking an adult keeps you safe.

Match the Pairs

Ask → Talk to a trusted adult before you click, share or sign up for something online.

Check → Make sure the sender, website or link is real before you trust it.

Think about what could happen before you click a link or share something → Think: Could this hurt me or someone else?

Setting your own safety boundary: you decide not to share your passphrase, even if a friend asks → Ask, Check, Think: my rule is NO sharing passphrases

A message says 'You won a prize! Click now!' so I click it straight away. → The student skipped Ask and Check. Prize messages are often fake, so they should ask a trusted adult and check the sender first.

A stranger asks for my photo. I do not Think, I just send it because they seem friendly. → The student did not Think about what could happen. A photo can be shared or misused, and they should ask a trusted adult first.

Key Term

Ask, Check, Think

Before you act online: Ask a trusted adult, Check that the sender or site is real, and Think about what could happen if you click or share.

Fill in the Blanks

1. IF link is unexpected THEN ASK trusted_adult ENDIF

Hint: Type the first step in the routine: the command for getting help from a trusted adult.

2. CHECK the sender or site is real

Hint: Type the word for the person or account that sent you a message.

3. THINK before you click or share

Hint: Type the action you do on a link before thinking about what could happen.

4. IF I feel unsure THEN STOP and ask first ENDIF

Hint: Type the command that pauses you so you do not act when you feel unsure.

5. ASK, CHECK, THINK, then act

Hint: Type the third step, where you consider what could happen before you act.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A pop_up: 'You won a prize!'

B click it to claim the prize

C check the site is real

D think about what could happen

Line B — When a pop-up offers a prize, the first step is to stop and ask a trusted adult. Clicking to claim the prize skips Ask, Check and Think.

Question 2

A msg = 'Click to win a phone!'

B ask(trusted_adult)

C check(sender_is_real)

D click(before_you_think)

Line D — The last step is to think before you click. Clicking before you think is risky. It should be think(before_you_click).

Question 3

A STEP 1: Ask a stranger online

B STEP 2: Check it is real

C STEP 3: Think of the risks

Line A — Ask means asking a trusted adult, such as a parent, carer or teacher. A stranger online is not a trusted adult.

Question 4

A IF link looks strange:

B ask a trusted adult

C skip checking, just click

D think before you click

Line C — The Check step means looking closely at the site address to see if it is real. You should not skip it. It should be: check the site address.

Question 5

A FOR each new app or site:

B ask later, after signing up

C check it is real

D think about the risks

Line B — You Ask before you act. Asking after you have signed up is too late. It should be: ask a trusted adult first.

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