USING GAMING TO HELP ARIZONA CHILDREN IN GRADES K-12 PROTECT THEMSELVES ONLINE
PCA4Kids
CYBER SECURITY TRAINING FOR ARIZONA KIDS
Phoenix Cyber Academy (PCA) is proud to offer the PCA4Kids program, which includes in classroom (your school) cyber security training specifically designed for Arizona students in kindergarten to grade 12. PCA uses games designed by the University of Texas, San Antonio (UTSA) Center for Infrastructure Assurance & Security (CIAS) to educate and engage children in a fun gaming format. UTSA CIAS is committed to creating a culture of cybersecurity through a comprehensive K-12 Cybersecurity Program and we are leveraging their Cyber Threat Guardian game for children in grades kindergarten – grade 2, Cyber Threat Protector game for children in grades 3 – 5, and Cyber Threat Defender for grades 6 – 12.
Arizona educators who would like us to visit their classroom should contact us for details.
Click the flyer image below to download detailed program information.
KINDERGARTEN – GRADE 2: CYBER THREAT GUARDIAN
The Cyber Threat Guardian card game is a fun and engaging card game for students in grades K-2. Players learn about cyber safety, defending themselves from cyber attacks and begin to build their technical/cyber vocabulary.
In Classroom Curriculum:
- Instructor Introduction: 1 minute
- Cyber Security Discussion: 4 minutes
Q1: When I say “cyber security” what comes to your mind?
We need to be safe online just like we are in real life.
Q2: Have you ever heard someone say “stranger danger?”
Stranger danger also applies to the online world. - Game Play: 20 minutes
We use unique game play specific to grade level. - Wrap Up: 5 Minutes

GRADE 3 – 5: CYBER THREAT PROTECTOR
The Cyber Threat Protector card game, targeting players in grades 3-5, introduces the concepts and strategies needed to defend against cyber threats and build a safe network.
The goal is to build your network as quickly as possible so you can gain more points than your opponent. While building the network, you need to also defend it against your opponent’s attempts to disrupt your systems while they build their network. For every attack there is a defense. For every defense there is an attack to get around it. Find out which player will emerge victories when playing Cyber Threat Protector!
In Classroom Curriculum:
- Instructor Introduction: 1 minute
- Cyber Security Discussion: 4 minutes
Q1: When I say “cyber security” what comes to your mind?
Q2: What types of dangers are lurking online?
Q3: Have any of you had a scary online experience? - Game Play: 20-30 minutes
We use unique game play specific to grade level. - Wrap Up: 5 Minutes

GRADE 6-12: CYBER THREAT DEFENDER
Since April 2016, Cyber Threat Defender (CTD) has been teaching students worldwide about essential cybersecurity information and defense strategies. Created as a multi-player, collectible card game, CTD is designed to be fun and easy-to-play for ages 11 and up.
With an average game lasting 20 minutes, players will learn basic cybersecurity terminology, reinforce understandings of a network infrastructure, learn about the relationships between cyber-attacks and defense counter measures, real-world challenges, facts and historical information connected to this STEM field, and much more.
For a player to successfully defeat their opponent, they must develop and implement a strategy for expanding and protecting their network. Because CTD is designed to be fun first, players will learn basic and complex cybersecurity concepts and strategies through repetitive play.
