S1-S3 Cyber Security Resources
Resources for Employers and Educators
Discover Cyber Security Resources for S1-S3 Students
Helping young learners understand how to stay safe online is an essential part of early digital learning. The activities in this section are designed for S1-S3 educators and employers to introduce core cyber security and digital safety concepts in an engaging, age-appropriate way.

These resources support classroom learning, group sessions, and employer-led engagement activities. Most can be delivered in short sessions and use interactive or game-based approaches to build confidence and awareness.
Featured Resources
National Crime Agency - Exploring Cyber Crime
Cybercrime is one of the fastest rising crimes in the UK, and is particularly common among young people. These lessons will help pupils explore the reasons why young people may engage in criminal activity online, and educate them about the risks of cybercrime and its impact on both individuals and the wider community.
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Resource type: Lesson Plans
Time to deliver: 2 x 40 mins
National Crime Agency - Exploring Cybercrime for ASN pupils
ASN pupils are often a target for manipulation, coercion and exploitation online, and might be persuaded to carry out illegal activities without fully understanding the consequences.  Designed for students aged 12-16 with moderate learning difficulties, additional learning needs and/or autism, these fully-accessible lessons will help raise awareness of the risks associated with cybercrime.
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Resource type: Lesson plans x 2 + 4 activities
Time to deliver: 2 x 40 mins
Daydream Believers - Living in a Digital World
Experience an interactive journey into the world of cyber security. This resource shines a light on some of the most important topics for how to stay safe inside the digital world and gives practical suggestions that help improve cyber resilience. Designed and developed in collaboration with Education Scotland.
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Resource type: Lesson plan x 3
Time to deliver: 8 hours
National Cyber Security Centre Resources​
These resources are accessible when signed up as a Cyberfirst school. View their programme here.

CyberFirst Trailblazers (S1)
Resources:  3 x activities + practitioner guide.
Time: 3 x 60 mins

Cyberfirst Adventurers (S2)
Resources:  3 x activities + practitioner guide.
Time: 3 x 60 mins

Cyberfirst Investigators (S2/S3)
Resources:  4 x activities + practitioner guide.
Time: 4 x 60 mins
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Cyberfirst Defenders (S3)
​Time to deliver: 5 School Days

Lesson Starters (5 - 15 mins)

Classroom Clash - Cyber attack
Protect the computer system from cyber-attacks by selecting the correct antivirus software and deflecting the viruses as they enter the network.

Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 5 - 10 mins
Cybergames UK
CybergamesUK.com from The Cyber Trust is a platform designed to help test and develop cyber security skills through a variety of interactive games and activities. A few of our currently featured games are below – all our many other games and activities are available here. 
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Resource type: Games
Time to deliver: 5 -10 mins
Digital Forensics - Photo detective with the command line
Photographs contain hidden information called metadata, including camera details and GPS location data. Using the GPS coordinates from 10 images, you will plot the locations on a map to uncover where the cyber criminals are hiding.

Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 15 mins
Network Security - Ring of Firewalls
By adjusting the settings in the Firewall we can block unwanted access into our computer. It works as a protective barrier to prevent all unwanted connections in, out, and through our computer.
Our company is under attack. We have intelligence that someone is trying to send a virus into our computer. It’s your job to help us protect ourselves.
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Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 15 mins
Cryptography - Encrypting Files
Cryptography Encryption is a great tool to protect your information. Once a file has been encrypted it’s almost impossible for anyone to be able to know the contents of the file. The file is protected with an encryption key. The only way to read the file is to decrypt it by using the key.

Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 15 mins

Lesson Plans (30 - 60 mins)

Incident Response - Defend the Hospital
Your challenge is to defend Glenmargaret Hospital from a simulated Denial of Service attack. You will face waves of cyber threats, and only by working together will you be able to stop them. While the attack is not real, it reflects the kind of pressure organisations face when protecting their systems from cyber criminals. Can you keep the hospital’s computer systems running and defeat the attackers?

​Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 30 mins
Open Source Intel - Investigate Broughty Ferries
You will investigate suspicious activity at a ferry company to uncover a potential conspiracy to import counterfeit trainers. Using Open Source Intelligence - legal, up-to-date techniques for gathering publicly available information - you will dig into the inner workings of Broughty Ferries and determine whether they are involved in illegal activity.

Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 30 mins
Digital Forensics - How to spot a data leak
Step into the shoes of a digital forensics consultancy who have been employed to find the source of a serious leak at Tobermory Telecoms. Was it a sophisticated cyber attack, a rogue insider, or just a mistake? You’ll learn about and use digital forensics techniques to analyse the evidence.
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​Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 30 mins
Security Operations - Defend Stirling Castle
Use cyber security skills to defend one of Scotland’s most important historical sites – Stirling Castle.
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Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 30 mins
Cryptography - Hide Secret Messages with Steganography
Use digital skills to catch The Artful Hacker, an art thief and cyber criminal
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Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 30 mins
Digital Forensices - Every picture tells a story
Digital photographs contain hidden information. In this interactive lesson, you’ll become a digital detective and track down the hideout of a cyber criminal gang. You’ll use Python code to extract evidence hidden inside photographs.

Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 30 mins
Pen Testing - How to steal a pizza
Play the role of a cyber security consultant and help a business test their website’s security.Your client is Auld Lang Slice, a pizza restaurant in Prestwick. They’re about to launch a new website and they’ve asked you to perform a penetration test to spot security issues. 
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Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 30 mins
Incident Response - Defend the Fire Service
Can you defend the fire service network from a cyber attack? You’ll be faced with waves of cyber attacks and only by working together will you be able to stop the attackers. The attack is simulated, but it will give you an insight into the way companies have to protect themselves from cyber attacks. Make backups of critical files and computer systems using a command line tool.
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Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 30 mins
Ethical Hacking - How to Rob a Bank
Ethical Hacking: How to Rob a Bank High quality cyber security activity suitable for  high school age students. Cyber Skills Live activities are tried-and-tested and are great for  industry volunteers to use remotely with a class.  
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Resource type: Lesson Plans
Time to deliver: 40 mins
Threat Intelligence - Making better decisions with Threat Intelligence
In Making Better Decisions with Threat Intelligence pupils act as cyber security decision makers protecting a pharmaceutical company. This introduces some of the basics of threat intelligence.
They have to prioritise their resources and staff to protect the company from cyber attack.

Resource type: Lesson plan
Time to deliver: 45 mins
Digital Forensics - How to Solve a Murder
High quality cyber security activity suitable for  high school age students. Cyber Skills Live activities are tried-and-tested and are great for  industry volunteers to use remotely with a class.  In How To Solve A Murder pupils solve the case of a murder in Bishopbriggs by sifting  through the evidence. This introduces some of the basics of digital forensics.

Resource type: Lesson plan
Time to deliver: 45 mins
Code in Python - Cracking One Million Passwords
Code in Python. The video streaming website Catflix has been attacked by a gang of cyber criminals. The gang have stolen the login details for 1 million customers and published them online. Your task is to use Python code to “crack” this massive collection of passwords.
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Resource type: Game
Time to deliver: 45 mins
Unmasking Data Disasters
When collecting data about people, researchers don’t want to accidentally cause harm,
​ or risk sharing too much information.  They try to reduce the amount of personal data in their data sets. By minimising personal data, they minimise the dangers.  But if it’s not done properly, can this be undone? Is there a data disaster waiting to happen?
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Resource type: Interactive Online Lesson + Live video recording
Time to deliver: 60 mins
South East Cyber Crime Unit Cyber Choices
The South East Regional Organised Crime Unit’s Cyber Choices team have developed a lesson plan which aims to teach the Computer Misuse Act and highlight career opportunities in Cyber Security. .
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Resource type: Lesson Plan and online games
Time to deliver: 60 mins
Cyber First/City of London Police/Lloyd's Cyber Detectives
Cyber detectives will support pupils to develop essential skills — to stay safe online, protect their personal information, report concerns and access help. In addition to lesson plans and teacher guidance, the Cyber Detectives pack also includes information and guidance for parents/carers, so they can stay informed around how online fraud could affect their child.
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Resource type: Lesson plans
Time to deliver: 2 x 40 mins
Digilearn Scotland (Education Scotland) SQA level 4 units in Cyber Security Fundamentals and Internet Safety. 
Education Scotland have collaborated with Girvan Academy in South Ayrshire to produce a set of resources that combine the SQA level 4 units in Cyber Security Fundamentals and Internet Safety.  These resources reinforce our belief that every learner should have the knowledge and skills to use the internet and online services safely, allowing them to spot potential risks and recover from any potential harm, they face while using online services. 

Resource type: Lesson plans and assessment booklet
Time to deliver: 3 x 40 mins
Case Studies & News
Explore our blog and case studies to discover how students across Scotland are building their cyber security skills, gaining confidence, and engaging with real-world industry insight. From classroom sessions to hands-on activities, these stories highlight the difference that employer involvement can make.​
More from DYW
Read the latest DYW news and find opportunities to develop through employer events and training sessions. Discover how you can bring a subject to life through DYW's national programmes, or visit the Digital Resource Hub to explore platforms that can support in connecting with young people in education.
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