KS3 Cyber Security: Year 9 Computing Unit (6 Lessons)

Threats and defences in the language of exam mark schemes, ending with how encryption works.

6 complete 55-minute lessons for Year 9, ready to teach.

The lessons

1. Why systems are attacked.
2. Malware: viruses, worms, trojans and ransomware.
3. Phishing, pharming and social engineering.
4. Defences: firewalls, strong passwords and 2FA.
5. Encryption: from the Caesar cipher to symmetric and asymmetric keys.
6. Case study: investigate a real breach (assessed).

What is included for every lesson

• A PowerPoint deck of 26 to 33 slides with speaker notes on every slide and click animations for reveals
• A 55-minute lesson plan with timings
• A printable worksheet
• An answer sheet

How it is taught

• A Do Now at the start of every lesson, to bring back earlier learning
• Hinge questions to check understanding before pupils move on
• Worked examples (I do, we do, you do), then pupil practice
• Unplugged games and mini-whiteboard activities. Each lesson mixes unplugged activities with hands-on work.
• Real photos and clear diagrams, with the photo credit on each deck
• A short exit ticket and a summary slide

Lesson 6 is an assessed breach case study.

Slides are editable PowerPoint (.pptx). Each lesson plan fills a full 55-minute lesson, minute by minute.

British English throughout. Part of a complete KS3 Computer Science course for Years 7 to 9.