Lesson 3: Password Security 101

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Explain the importance of password length and complexity.
2. Apply the "passphrase" method to create a strong, memorable password.
3. Create a password that meets all four criteria set for the "Password Zappers" challenge.

Materials

• Projector/Whiteboard
• Index cards or small slips of paper for students to write passwords (optional, can be done digitally)
• Timer
• A small, fun prize for the winner(s) (optional)

Lesson Structure (Workshop Model)

1. Introduction and Hook (3 minutes)

Phase	Activity	Time
Hook	"The 5-Second Hack"	3 mins
Teacher/Student Actions Teacher: Ask students: "If a computer tried to guess your current password, how long would it take?" Show a visual (or simply state) that a weak 8-character password might be guessed in seconds, but a long one can take millions of years. Introducing the game: Password Zappers! The goal is to create a password so strong, it zaps any hacker attempts.

2. Mini-Lesson (5 minutes)

Phase	Activity	Time
Instruction	The Four Rules & The Passphrase Method	5 mins
Teacher/Student Actions Teacher: Introduce the four competition rules/criteria, posting them clearly: 1. Must be at least 12 characters. 2. Must include a number and symbol. 3. Cannot use their name or birthday. 4. Challenge: It must be a sentence they can remember! Model: Show the weak example ("Fluffy123") and explain how it fails. Show a strong example ("MyDogFluffyLoves2EatPizza!") and explain how it meets all criteria (Length 29, includes 2 and !, uses a memorable sentence).

3. Active Engagement / Independent Practice (7 minutes)

Phase	Activity	Time
Application	Password Zappers Challenge	7 mins
Teacher/Student Actions Teacher: Give students a prompt (e.g., "Think about your favorite color, favorite animal, and the current year."). Task: Students secretly write down their new, strong passphrase based on the rules and the prompt. Teacher: Circulate, checking for adherence to the four rules and providing quick, quiet feedback (e.g., "Need a symbol!" or "Great length!").

4. Share and Close (5 minutes)

Phase	Activity	Time
Synthesis	Judging & Final Rule	5 mins
Teacher/Student Actions Share: Collect the passwords (students only share the passphrase structure, not the specific symbols/numbers if they are too personal). Read a few examples aloud and have the class "judge" if it meets the four criteria. OR you could read the password out loud and see if the class can guess the user who made it. Close: Emphasize the final, most important rule: NEVER use this exact password for a real account. (The point was to learn the method, not the password). Exit Ticket Prompt: What is the one major difference between a "password" and a "passphrase"? (Collect responses.)