Copyright & Creative Commons Learning Module

🎯 Copyright & Creative Commons

Learn how to respect and share creative work responsibly

What is copyright and why does it exist?

📖 Background

People create all kinds of things like pictures, songs, and videos. These creations are protected by something called copyright. But sometimes, people want to share their work. They use Creative Commons to say, “You can use this, just give me credit!”

🧠 What You’ll Learn

  • ✔ What copyright means
  • ✔ How Creative Commons helps people share work
  • ✔ Why giving credit is important
What are the key terms for understanding copyright and sharing creative work?

📚 Vocabulary

Copyright – a rule that protects someone’s work

Creative Commons – a license that lets others use work

Credit – saying who made it

Plagiarism – copying without giving credit

License – permission to use something

💡 Important to Remember!

Just because you find something online doesn’t mean you can use it freely. Always look for permission or a Creative Commons license, and give credit to the creator!

How can you tell if you have permission to use someone’s creative work?

🧩 Practice Activity

Not everything you find online is free to use! Let’s practice identifying what you can and can’t use.

Can you use it? Click the items that are OK to reuse:

💡 Correct Answers: Only options 1 and 3 are OK! Creative Commons content and content you have explicit permission to use are safe. Random website images and TV show clips are protected by copyright.
Why is it important to give credit when using someone else’s creative work?

💬 Think & Reflect

Imagine you spent hours creating something amazing. How would you feel if someone else used it without saying you made it?

Write your thoughts:

Why do you think it’s important to give credit when you use someone else’s work?

✅ Quick Check

You must always give _______ when using someone else’s work.

How can you be a responsible digital citizen when using and sharing creative work?

🎉 You Did It!

You’ve learned how to respect other people’s work and how to share things the right way. Keep being honest and creative online!

🌟 Key Takeaways

  • ✔ Copyright protects creative work from being copied without permission
  • ✔ Creative Commons licenses allow creators to share their work with specific permissions
  • ✔ Always give credit to the original creator when using their work
  • ✔ Not everything you find online is free to use—check for permissions first
  • ✔ Plagiarism (copying without credit) is wrong and disrespectful

🚀 Be a Respectful Creator!

When you create your own work, you can choose how to share it. And when you use others’ work, always ask permission and give credit. This creates a community where everyone’s creativity is valued and respected!

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© Copyright Brittany Washburn

Strand: Digital Citizenship
Standard: 1.2 Digital Citizen
I Can Statement:
✔️ I can respect others’ work by only using or sharing content when I have permission and give credit.