Length: 8 Class Days (90 minutes each)
 
This turnkey unit gives your students the tools to act as ethical, responsible, and professional digital creators. Designed for school-run media, marketing, and business programs, it combines real-world case studies, interactive projects, and reflective discussions that challenge students to apply ethical principles across every aspect of their work, from social media posts to financial transactions.
 
Students will explore how ethical decision-making builds trust, accountability, and respect within their classroom business and school community. Every activity connects directly to real-world skills in communication, professionalism, leadership, and digital citizenship.
What’s Included
Editable Presentations & Guided Notes
Social Media & Digital Responsibility
Content Creation & Accuracy
Fairness, Finance & Representation
Each topic includes student-guided notes and corresponding answer keys to simplify grading and class discussion.
Project-Based Learning Activities
Build a Social Media Style Guide Project – Students design an official class “rulebook” for professional posting, tone, privacy, and inclusivity standards.
Class Accuracy Pledge Project – Students create and sign a classwide commitment to honesty, accuracy, and professionalism in all media and marketing tasks.
Professional Conduct Role-Play Project – Students act out real-world ethical dilemmas in media, finance, and communication to build accountability and teamwork.
Assessments
Comprehensive Ethics Test (Vocabulary, True/False, and Short Answer)
Answer Key Included
Quizlet Review 
Teacher Instruction Guides
Step-by-step instructions, project rubrics, and pacing notes for every lesson and activity make this unit easy to teach and ready to launch immediately. Each project includes:
Detailed teacher directions
Scoring rubrics
Group discussion prompts
Reflection and extension ideas
Classroom Materials
Bellwork and Closure Questions for every day
Discussion prompts and role-play scenarios
Pre-made PowerPoints, student handouts, and editable templates
Students Will Learn To:
Demonstrate professional communication and ethical decision-making
Develop guidelines for digital tone, branding, and representation
Evaluate fairness, inclusivity, and financial transparency in media and business operations
Handle real-world dilemmas through ethical problem-solving and teamwork
Take ownership of their work by upholding accuracy, consent, and accountability standards
Unit Objectives
By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
Explain why ethics are essential in school-run media, marketing, and business operations.
Apply digital responsibility by creating and following a Class Social Media Style Guide.
Demonstrate accountability and accuracy by contributing to a Class Accuracy Pledge.
Solve real-world ethical dilemmas through participation in a Professional Conduct Role-Play Project.
Evaluate fairness and representation in media coverage and apply strategies for inclusivity.
Build a set of shared Best Practices for managing mistakes and maintaining professionalism.
Demonstrate mastery of unit concepts through an Ethics Test covering vocabulary, scenarios, and ethical applications.
Unit Standards
ISTE Standards (for Students)
Digital Citizen (ISTE 2)
Demonstrate safe, legal, and ethical behavior when using digital tools.
Respect privacy, obtain consent, and avoid sharing misinformation.
Manage digital identity and represent the school community responsibly.
Knowledge Constructor (ISTE 3)
Evaluate the credibility, accuracy, and fairness of online content.
Analyze representation in media and apply strategies for inclusivity.
Avoid plagiarism and apply fact-checking before publishing.
Creative Communicator (ISTE 6)
Develop guidelines for consistent, professional, and ethical communication.
Use clear tone, visuals, and respectful language in digital content.
Share ideas in ways that are responsible and inclusive.
Global Collaborator (ISTE 7)
Work in teams to establish shared ethical guidelines and best practices.
Value diverse perspectives when making decisions about fairness, professionalism, and representation.
Collaboratively create resources that promote responsibility and accountability.
Innovative Designer (ISTE 4)
Design ethical solutions to real-world dilemmas in media and business operations.
Apply problem-solving and design thinking to prevent mistakes and promote professionalism.
 
NBEA Standards Alignment
Marketing Standards
Apply ethical principles in social media, advertising, and school marketing.
Evaluate how marketing decisions impact consumer trust, fairness, and inclusivity.
Demonstrate responsibility for accurate, professional, and respectful content.
Entrepreneurship Standards
Exhibit professionalism, accountability, and ethical behavior in school-run business operations.
Recognize the impact of ethical and unethical decisions on the school and broader community.
Practice financial transparency and fairness in operations.
Information Technology Standards
Demonstrate digital citizenship by respecting intellectual property, privacy, and consent.
Use technology to create accurate, inclusive, and professional communication.
Apply ethical standards when producing and sharing digital media.
Career Development Standards
Demonstrate professionalism by meeting deadlines, respecting peers, and taking ownership of mistakes.
Apply interpersonal and leadership skills in teamwork and collaborative decision-making.
Show accountability and responsibility in professional conduct and ethical dilemmas.
Why Teachers Love This Unit
Fully editable and classroom-ready — no prep required
Includes teacher guides, keys, rubrics, and extensions
Engaging, collaborative, and relevant for today’s digital learners
Perfect blend of ethics, business professionalism, and digital responsibility
Reinforces the expectations your students will face in real workplace environments
 
This unit is ideal for any Business, Marketing, Media, or Entrepreneurship class that manages school-run projects, social media, or student enterprises.
 
Help your students become ethical communicators and professional leaders — add the Ethics & Professionalism Unit to your classroom today.