Lesson Plan
Date of Lesson: 2017
Name of Lesson: Hardware & Binary Code - Computer Dissection - Identify Components
Time Allotted: 30 Minutes
Subject: Technology Grade Levels: 5th Grade
Central Focus: How do hardware and software work together to make a computer work?
Objectives: After completing the lesson, all students will be able to name and locate various computer components within the computer case
ISTE Standards: 1d. Students understand the fundamental concepts of technology operations, demonstrate the ability to choose, use and troubleshoot current technologies and are able to transfer their knowledge to explore emerging technologies.
Academic Vocabulary & Definitions:
CASE: The outer shell of the computer that protects the interior components of the computer
HARD DRIVE: a high-capacity, self-contained storage device containing a read-write mechanism plus one or more hard disks, inside a sealed unit.
OPTICAL DRIVE: a disk drive that uses laser light or electromagnetic waves within or near the visible light spectrum as part of the process of reading or writing data to or from optical discs. Some drives can only read from certain discs, but recent drives can both read and record, also called burners or writers. Compact discs, DVDs, and Blu-ray discs are common types of optical media which can be read and recorded by such drives
HEAT SINK: A heat sink is an electronic device that incorporates either a fan or a peltier device to keep a hot component such as a processor cool.
CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT: A central processing unit (CPU) is the electronic circuitry within a computer that carries out the instructions of a computer program by performing the basic arithmetic, logical, control and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructions. The computer industry has used the term "central processing unit" at least since the early 1960s.[1] Traditionally, the term "CPU" refers to a processor, more specifically to its processing unit and control unit (CU), distinguishing these core elements of a computer from external components such as main memory and I/O circuitry
CASE FAN: A computer fan is any fan inside, or attached to, a computercase used for active cooling, and may refer to fans that draw cooler air into the case from the outside, expel warm air from inside, or move air across a heat sink to cool a particular component.
MOTHER BOARD: A motherboard is the main printed circuit board (PCB) in a computer. The motherboard is a computer’s central communications backbone connectivity point, through which all components and external peripherals connect.
RAM: RAM (random access memory) is the place in a computing device where the operating system (OS), application programs and data in current use are kept so they can be quickly reached by the device's processor. RAM is much faster to read from and write to than other kinds of storage in a computer, such as a hard disk drive (HDD), solid-state drive (SSD) or optical drive. Data remains in RAM as long as the computer is running. When the computer is turned off, RAM loses its data. When the computer is turned on again, the OS and other files are once again loaded into RAM, usually from an HDD or SSD.
POWER SUPPLY: The power supply unit is the piece of hardware that's used to convert the power provided from the outlet into usable power for the many parts inside the computer case. It converts the alternating current (AC) into a continuous form of power that the computer components need in order to run normally, called direct current (DC). It also regulates overheating by controlling voltage, which may change automatically or manually depending on the power supply.
Materials Needed (Teacher & Student): Computer Image Printouts, Old Computers, Post it notes, flashlights, screw drivers, tubs, Computer Dissection Handout, photo of computer insides to project onto the board, pencils, clip boards
Warm Up: (5 Minutes)
Review the Parts of the computer on the board at the front of the room
Give each student a labeled printout showing internal computer components
Ask students to label each part on their paper
Go over answers on board
Introduce Dissection Observation Activity (5 minutes)
Briefly go over the Computer Guts Observation Sheet
Discuss steps to take
Take cover off of computer case
Identify key components of the computer and label with post it notes
Record observations about the inside of the computer on the Computer Guts Observation Sheet
Computer Dissection Observation Activity (15 minutes)
Pass out materials and assign groups
Students should work with group, and should use the Computer Image Printouts as a guide
Students should take case off of computer case - teacher will help as necessary
Students will label the parts listed on the Computer Image Printout using post it notes
Once all parts are labeled, students will begin making observations on the Computer Guts Observation Sheet
Students should continue to create observations and answer the reflection questions on the Computer Guts Observation sheet
If time remains, students will rotate through and look at other groups’ labels
Wrap-Up (5 minutes)
Explain to students that we will begin taking some parts out of the computers next week
Students will need to put the case back together and stack the computers up near Mrs. Pollard’s desk. Students will need to return the clipboards to the bin and turn their Computer Guts Observation page and Computer Image Printouts to Mrs. Pollard
Assessment: The Computer Image Printouts as well as in class participation during the introductory activity will serve as a pre-test to evaluate student knowledge. Students did watch video tutorials last week introducing the internal components of a computer, so they should have some knowledge of the various parts of the computer. Teacher will walk around and observe student participation and performance on the tasks being presented. Teacher will check labels inside the computer throughout class to monitor student understanding.