What's Inside My Computer?

Teaching Theme of the Week

from Education World®

Students draw a picture of what they think a computer looks like inside, and then they explore more. (Adaptable for grades 3-12.)

Subjects: Language Arts, Educational Technology

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Objectives
Students will:

• explore the inside of a computer,
• learn the function of each part of a computer,
• learn the definitions of unfamiliar computer terms, and
• complete a worksheet of definitions of computer parts.

Keywords
technology, computer, vocabulary

Materials Needed

• computer with Internet access
• Click-N-Learn Web site Whatis.com Web site

Procedure
Invite students to draw a picture of what they think the inside of their computer looks like. Encourage them to show what they think makes the computer work.

Then have students explore the grade-level appropriate computer at Click-N-Learn. As they read, encourage students to make a list of any words or terms they do not understand. Have them to go to Whatis.com to look up the words on their lists.

Note: The part of this lesson described above might be completed with students gathered around a single classroom computer, with a projected image of the Web site as the whole class explores it together, with students working at individual computers in a lab setting, or with students working individually at a learning center computer.

Next, write a list of words on a board or chart and have students write a one-sentence definition for each word. You might use the words below, or create your own list of grade-appropriate terms:

• motherboard
• chipset
• BIOS
• operating system
• memory

Then ask each student to create his or her own personal dictionary of computer terms. The five terms you provided for the activity can be the start of that dictionary. Encourage students to add to their lists of terms and definitions throughout the year as they learn more about computers and other technology.

Assessment
Students will provide correct definitions for each of five words in the activity.

Answer Key: (Definitions from Whatis.com.)

1. A motherboard is the physical arrangement in a computer that contains the computer's basic circuitry and components.
2. A chipset is a group of microchips designed to work as a unit in performing one or more related functions.

3. BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is the program a computer's microprocessor uses to get the computer system started after it's turned on.
4. An operating system (sometimes abbreviated as "OS") is the program that manages all the other programs in a computer.
5. Memory is the name for the electronic holding place for instructions and data that a computer's microprocessor can reach quickly.

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