Online safety

Casey loves playing video games on his computer, especially those that allow you to link up with your friends and compete against them through the Internet. Casey has always been gaming partners with his friend Boris. Together, they are almost unbeatable whenever they compete as a team against other teams online. But one day, Casey tells Boris he has found a better gaming partner and he doesn’t want to play as Boris’ partner anymore. Boris is outraged that he has been “dumped” as a gaming partner for someone else and he begins to tell other people on the gaming network that Casey “sucks” at all video games and that no one should ever be his partner unless they want to lose really badly. Soon after these statements are posted online, Casey’s new gaming partner dumps him and no one on the network wants to be his partner. Casey feels completely hopeless and alone.

What are your thoughts?

  • What should Casey do about his situation?
  • Whom should he tell and what should they do?
  • Can this example really be called a case of cyberbullying?

Your thoughts please…

We’ve just finished reading this award-winning book, which tells the story of a refugee from Syria who joins a Year 5 class. Written from a child’s perspective, it is both humorous and poignant, which results in a very powerful text.  What do you think are some of important issues that this book raises about the refugee crisis?