CS: What Is a Computer? Hardware and Software
Learn how computers use parts and programs to do tasks
CS: What Is a Computer? Hardware and Software
Learn how computers use parts and programs to do tasks
CS - Grade 2-3
- 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.
Think about something you have used a computer or tablet to do in class.
A computer can help you type a story, read a book online, solve math problems, or watch a lesson video. - 2
Circle the items that are hardware: keyboard, drawing app, mouse, monitor.
The hardware items are the keyboard, mouse, and monitor because they are physical parts you can touch. - 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.
Ask yourself if you can hold the game in your hand or if it runs on the device.
A math game on a tablet is software because it is a program that tells the tablet what to show and how to respond. - 4
Write H for hardware or S for software next to each item: printer, web browser, speakers, word processor.
Printer is hardware, web browser is software, speakers are hardware, and word processor is software. - 5
Look at a computer with a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and tower. Choose two parts and tell what each one does.
The keyboard lets you type letters and numbers. The monitor shows pictures, words, and videos from the computer. - 6
Mia clicks on an icon to open a painting program. What hardware does she use to click, and what software does she open?
One part is something she touches, and one part is the program that starts.
Mia uses a mouse or touchpad as the hardware to click. She opens a painting program, which is software. - 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?
The input is typing your name on the keyboard. The output is seeing your name appear on the screen. - 8
Which item is most likely software: headphones, tablet case, video app, power cord? Explain your choice.
Software is not a part you plug in or wear.
The video app is software because it is a program that runs on a device. The other items are physical objects. - 9
Draw or describe one piece of computer hardware you have used. Tell what it helps you do.
An example answer is: I have used a keyboard. It helps me type words, numbers, and messages into a computer. - 10
A student says, "The screen is software because it shows apps." Is the student correct? Explain.
Think about whether the screen is an object or a program.
The student is not correct. The screen is hardware because it is a physical part you can touch, even though it shows software. - 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.
First, you click the game icon. Second, the computer follows the program instructions. Third, the game appears on the screen. - 12
Name one device that is a computer or has a computer inside it.
A laptop, tablet, smartphone, smartwatch, game console, or robot toy can be a computer or have a computer inside it. - 13
A printer makes a paper copy of a picture from the computer. Is the printer input hardware or output hardware? Explain.
Output is what comes out of the computer for people to see, hear, or use.
The printer is output hardware because it gives information from the computer to the user as a paper copy. - 14
Choose the better word to complete the sentence: A computer can follow blank to do a job. Choices: snacks, instructions, pillows.
A computer can follow instructions to do a job. Instructions tell the computer what steps to take. - 15
Explain how hardware and software work together when you watch a video on a tablet.
Use one example of a physical part and one example of a program.
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.