Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Computer Science
Lesson Topic: Describe the purpose and operation of HTTP and HTTPS
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the purpose of HTTP and HTTPS.
  • Explain the HTTP request‑response cycle and its components.
  • Outline the TLS handshake steps that secure HTTPS connections.
  • Compare HTTP and HTTPS in terms of port usage, encryption, integrity, and authentication.
  • Evaluate appropriate situations for using HTTP versus HTTPS.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Slide deck with HTTP/HTTPS diagrams
  • Sample HTTP request/response text files
  • TLS handshake visual aid (digital or printed)
  • Student worksheets with comparison tables
  • Laptops or tablets with a web browser
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick poll: how many students have noticed the padlock icon in their browser’s address bar. Review that web browsers rely on protocols to retrieve web pages, linking this to prior knowledge of client‑server models. State the success criteria: by the end of the lesson students will be able to describe how HTTP works, how HTTPS adds security, and when each should be used.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5') – Students examine a raw HTTP request on the board and identify its parts.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Explain the HTTP request‑response model, status codes, and port 80.
  3. Guided demo (12') – Live capture of an HTTP transaction using browser developer tools.
  4. Interactive activity (15') – In pairs, map the TLS handshake steps onto a diagram and discuss the purpose of each step.
  5. Comparison task (10') – Complete a worksheet contrasting HTTP and HTTPS features (port, encryption, integrity, authentication).
  6. Quick check (5') – Exit ticket: write one advantage of HTTPS over HTTP and an example where HTTPS is essential.
Conclusion:
Recap the key differences between HTTP and HTTPS, emphasizing the role of TLS in securing data. Collect exit tickets to gauge understanding and clarify any lingering misconceptions. Assign homework: students research a recent news story involving an insecure HTTP site and write a brief reflection on the risks.