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Computers & Digital Literacy · Grade 1

Parts of a Computing System

Learners discover that a computing system is hardware (the parts you can touch) working with software (the instructions that tell the hardware what to do). They meet two hidden parts, the processor and storage, and then find tiny computers inside everyday things such as microwaves, traffic lights and toys.

  • 3 lessons
  • About 35 minutes
  • Computing systems check: 7 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, match pairs and sort into groups
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What learners will discover

  • Tell hardware (parts you can touch) from software (apps and programs: instructions you cannot touch).
  • Say what common parts do, including two inside the case: the processor follows instructions and storage keeps saved work and apps.
  • Find computers inside everyday things and say what they control.

Lessons

  1. Hardware and software 4 steps2 practiceabout 12 min
  2. Parts inside and out 4 steps2 practiceabout 12 min
  3. Computers everywhere 4 steps2 practiceabout 11 min
  4. Computing systems check 7 questions at the end

Keep exploring

More 1st grade computer skills

Guide for grown-ups