CS: What Is a Computer? Hardware and Software Worksheet

Question 1

A computer is a machine that follows instructions to help people do tasks. Name one task a computer can help you do at school.

Accepted Answer

A computer can help you type a story, read a book online, solve math problems, or watch a lesson video.

Question 2

Circle the items that are hardware: keyboard, drawing app, mouse, monitor.

Accepted Answer

The hardware items are the keyboard, mouse, and monitor because they are physical parts you can touch.

Question 3

Software is a set of instructions or programs that tells a computer what to do. Is a math game on a tablet hardware or software? Explain.

Accepted Answer

A math game on a tablet is software because it is a program that tells the tablet what to show and how to respond.

Question 4

Write H for hardware or S for software next to each item: printer, web browser, speakers, word processor.

Accepted Answer

Printer is hardware, web browser is software, speakers are hardware, and word processor is software.

Question 5

Look at a computer with a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and tower. Choose two parts and tell what each one does.

Accepted Answer

The keyboard lets you type letters and numbers. The monitor shows pictures, words, and videos from the computer.

Question 6

Mia clicks on an icon to open a painting program. What hardware does she use to click, and what software does she open?

Accepted Answer

Mia uses a mouse or touchpad as the hardware to click. She opens a painting program, which is software.

Question 7

A computer needs input, processing, and output. If you type your name on a keyboard and it appears on the screen, what is the input and what is the output?

Accepted Answer

The input is typing your name on the keyboard. The output is seeing your name appear on the screen.

Question 8

Which item is most likely software: headphones, tablet case, video app, power cord? Explain your choice.

Accepted Answer

The video app is software because it is a program that runs on a device. The other items are physical objects.

Question 9

Draw or describe one piece of computer hardware you have used. Tell what it helps you do.

Accepted Answer

An example answer is: I have used a keyboard. It helps me type words, numbers, and messages into a computer.

Question 10

A student says, "The screen is software because it shows apps." Is the student correct? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The student is not correct. The screen is hardware because it is a physical part you can touch, even though it shows software.

Question 11

Put these steps in order from 1 to 3: The computer follows the program instructions. You click the game icon. The game appears on the screen.

Accepted Answer

First, you click the game icon. Second, the computer follows the program instructions. Third, the game appears on the screen.

Question 12

Name one device that is a computer or has a computer inside it.

Accepted Answer

A laptop, tablet, smartphone, smartwatch, game console, or robot toy can be a computer or have a computer inside it.

Question 13

A printer makes a paper copy of a picture from the computer. Is the printer input hardware or output hardware? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The printer is output hardware because it gives information from the computer to the user as a paper copy.

Question 14

Choose the better word to complete the sentence: A computer can follow blank to do a job. Choices: snacks, instructions, pillows.

Accepted Answer

A computer can follow instructions to do a job. Instructions tell the computer what steps to take.

Question 15

Explain how hardware and software work together when you watch a video on a tablet.

Accepted Answer

The tablet screen and speakers are hardware that show the video and play the sound. The video app is software that tells the tablet how to play the video.

CS: What Is a Computer? Hardware and Software

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