Exploring the Positive Power of Technology in K-2

At Friends, the thoughtful integration of technology begins early. With guidance from Lower School Computer Science Teacher Judith Seidel, students engage in purposeful, age-appropriate tech experiences that encourage creativity, collaboration, and reflection.

Whether designing simple programs in ScratchJr during Buddy Time Community Period with kindergarten and third-grade partners, or learning sequencing and logic through Bee-Bots and Finch robots in first and second grade Creative Computing, students explore digital tools in ways that are joyful and developmentally appropriate. Creative storytelling comes to life through stop-motion animation, inviting students to combine visual planning, hands-on creation, and digital recording.

Importantly, second grade students are also encouraged to discuss and reflect on how technology makes them feel. These conversations help cultivate mindful and balanced digital habits from an early age.

In the Lower School, creative computing happens both on and off the screen. Students not only learn how to use technology, but also begin to internalize the habits of a computational thinker—such as recognizing patterns, sequencing steps, breaking problems into parts, and experimenting with different iterations. They also reflect on how, when, and why technology evokes certain feelings.

These activities do more than build technical skills—they spark imagination, foster problem-solving, and strengthen community.