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Is Your Screen a Friend?

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Lesson Plan

Friendly Screens Blueprint

Students will identify healthy (‘friendly’) and unhealthy (‘unfriendly’) screen behaviors by playing a sorting game, then reflect on one new screen-safety insight.

Building early awareness of safe screen habits and media literacy empowers 2nd graders to make smart choices with digital devices now and in the future.

Audience

2nd Grade Class

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive warm-up, slide presentation, hands-on sorting game, and reflective cool-down.

Materials

Screen Safety Show Slide Deck, Emoji Mood Check Cards, Friend or Foe Sorting Cards, and Share-a-Safety Insight Worksheet

Prep

Prep Materials and Classroom

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Emoji Mood Check

5 minutes

  • Distribute a set of Emoji Mood Check Cards to each table.
  • Ask each student to choose the emoji that shows how they feel about using screens today.
  • Invite volunteers to share why they picked that emoji and how screens can make them feel good or uneasy.

Step 2

Introduction: Screen Safety Show

5 minutes

  • Launch the Screen Safety Show Slide Deck.
  • Present 4–5 key slides defining ‘friendly’ (healthy) vs. ‘unfriendly’ (risky) screen behaviors (e.g., taking breaks, asking for help, sharing passwords).
  • Ask quick think-pair-share questions: “Which behavior do you do?” or “Why is this friendly/unfriendly?”

Step 3

Activity: Friend or Foe Sorting

15 minutes

  • Divide students into pairs and hand out a pile of Friend or Foe Sorting Cards.
  • Instruct pairs to read each card, decide if it shows a ‘Friend’ (safe) or ‘Foe’ (unsafe), and place it into the correct bin or chart.
  • Circulate, prompt discussion (“Why is this a foe?”), and offer hints.
  • After 10 minutes, review a few cards as a class, reinforcing correct categories.

Step 4

Cool-Down: Share-a-Safety Insight

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Share-a-Safety Insight Worksheet.
  • Ask students to draw or write one new thing they learned about safe screen habits.
  • Invite volunteers to hold up and explain their insight.
  • Collect worksheets for informal assessment of understanding.
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Slide Deck

Screen Safety Show

Welcome to the Screen Safety Show!
Let’s discover how our screen habits can be friendly or unfriendly.

Welcome students! Today we’re going to learn about friendly (healthy) and unfriendly (risky) screen behaviors. We’ll look at some examples and get ready for our sorting game.

Friendly Behavior: Taking Breaks

• Take a break every 20 minutes
• Stretch your arms and legs
• Look away from the screen for a minute

Explain that taking regular breaks helps prevent tired eyes and wobble-worm legs. Prompt: “When did you last stretch or rest during screen time?”

Friendly Behavior: Asking for Help

• Tell a teacher, parent, or trusted adult
• Share if something feels strange or scary
• Get help to solve problems safely

Stress that asking a grown-up is always a good choice if something on screen is confusing or scary. Prompt: “Who could you ask if you needed help?”

Friendly Behavior: Protect Your Passwords

• Choose strong, secret passwords
• Only share with a trusted adult
• Keep your account safe from strangers

Remind students that passwords are like magic keys—keep them secret. Prompt: “Why shouldn’t we share our passwords with friends?”

Unfriendly Behavior: Too Much Screen Time

• Screen time all day can make you tired
• Balance with play, reading, and rest
• Set a timer to help you stop on time

Discuss how too much screen time can make us cranky. Prompt: “What is your favorite non-screen activity?”

Unfriendly Behavior: Talking to Strangers

• Don’t chat with people you don’t know
• Never give personal info (name, address)
• Tell an adult right away

Explain that strangers online can’t always be trusted. Prompt: “What should you do if someone you don’t know messages you?”

Quick Check: Friend or Foe?

In a moment, we’ll sort behaviors into “Friend” (safe) or “Foe” (risky).
Think about what makes each behavior friendly or unfriendly!

Get students excited for the sorting game. Prompt: “Which behavior are you curious to sort first?”

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Warm Up

Emoji Mood Check

Materials: A set of Emoji Mood Check Cards (😊, 😃, 😕, 😟, 😎) placed face-up on each table.

Instructions:

  1. Ask each student to pick the emoji card that best shows how they feel about using screens today.
  2. Have everyone hold up their chosen emoji so you can see the range of feelings in the class.
  3. Invite 3–4 volunteers to share why they picked their emoji:
    • What makes screens feel friendly (😊, 😃)?
    • What makes screens feel confusing or unfriendly (😕, 😟)?
  4. Emphasize that it’s okay to have different feelings and that today we’ll learn ways to make our screen time more friendly and safe.




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Game

Friend or Foe Sorting

Materials: Friend or Foe Sorting Cards per pair; two bins or chart areas labeled Friend (safe) and Foe (risky).

Setup (2 minutes):

  • Place one “Friend” and one “Foe” bin/chart at each table.
  • Give each pair a shuffled pile of 12 sorting cards.

How to Play (10–12 minutes):

  1. Partners take turns reading one card aloud.
  2. Discuss: “Is this a friendly (safe) behavior or an unfriendly (risky) one?”
  3. Place the card in the Friend or Foe bin/chart.
  4. Continue until all cards are sorted. If you’re not sure, ask your partner or raise your hand for help.

Cards (Teacher Key):

  • I set a timer to remind me to stop screen time. (Friend)
  • I ask a trusted adult when I’m unsure about something online. (Friend)
  • I keep my passwords secret and never share them. (Friend)
  • I take a break and stretch after playing. (Friend)
  • I balance screen time with play or reading. (Friend)
  • I tell an adult if I see something scary on the screen. (Friend)
  • I use screens all day without moving or resting. (Foe)
  • I talk to people online that I don’t know. (Foe)
  • I share my password with my friends. (Foe)
  • I click on every link in an email from strangers. (Foe)
  • I post my full name and address on a public page. (Foe)
  • I ignore my body telling me to rest. (Foe)

Discussion Prompts:

  • Why did you sort this card as a Friend or a Foe?
  • What could happen if someone does a foe behavior?
  • How can we change an unfriendly behavior into a friendly one?

Teacher Tips:

  • Encourage respectful turn-taking and listening.
  • Circulate to clarify misconceptions and highlight strong reasoning.
  • Reinforce screen-safety rules when reviewing each bin.
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Cool Down

Share-a-Safety Insight Worksheet

Your Task: Draw or write one new thing you learned today about keeping your screen time friendly and safe. Explain why this habit is helpful!







Bonus: Be ready to share your insight with the class!

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Is Your Screen a Friend? • Lenny Learning