Hardware and Software With Pebble Go (Part 1)

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Grade(s)

3

Overview

This activity will introduce students to computer hardware and software. Students will explore the similarities and differences between the two. The video shown in this activity will provide the "hook" for the associated during activity.

This learning activity was created as a result of the ALEX - Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) Resource Development Summit.

Phase

Before/Engage
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 3

DLCS18.3.19

Describe the differences between hardware and software.

UP:DLCS18.3.19

Vocabulary

  • hardware
  • software

Knowledge

Students know:
  • hardware is the physical device.
  • software is the code installed on the device that makes it work.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • determine the differences between hardware and software.
  • describe the differences between hardware and software.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • hardware and software are different components that make a computing device function.
  • hardware is the physical device.
  • software is the code installed on the device that makes it function.

Learning Objectives

I can describe computer hardware and software as well as the similarities and differences between them.

Activity Details

  1. The teacher will ask students to turn and talk with a partner about what they know about computer hardware and software. Allow a few students to share their answers.
  2. The teacher will say, “We are going to learn even more about computer hardware and software today."
  3. The teacher will explain the lesson's objective and discuss unfamiliar words (describe, similarities, differences). Lesson objective: I can describe computer hardware and software as well as the similarities and differences between them.
  4. The teacher will say, “We are going to watch a quick video to learn about computer hardware and software."
  5. The teacher will play the video "Camp Coding Camp: Hardware and Software."
  6. After watching the video students will show their learning by identifying items as either hardware or software using a vote with your feet strategy. (See assessment strategies for an explanation of this strategy.)

Assessment Strategies

The students will use a “Vote With Their Feet” formative assessment strategy to demonstrate their level of understanding about the differences and similarities between computer hardware and software.

  1. Divide the room into 2 sections - (1) Computer Hardware and (2) Computer Software
  2. Section One: Computer Software
  3. Section Two: Computer Hardware
  4. The teacher will instruct students to walk to the section that best describes these terms: screen, keyboard, power cords, apps, microphone, speakers, coding, video game, and Google Slides (mix these up in any order that you want).

Acceleration

Pair these students with struggling students to allow them the opportunity to explain the activity and function as peer helpers.

Intervention

Pair these students with another student to work in partners rather than independently. These students could also be pulled into a small group to go over the information again with the teacher.

Background / Preparation

  • The teacher will need to be familiar with navigating to Epic! and playing a video found there.
  • Teachers will need to create a free account for Epic!
  • The teacher will need to understand how to implement the "Vote With Your Feet" assessment strategy (see the assessment section for an explanation of this strategy).
  • The students need no background/preparation.

Total Duration

16 to 30 Minutes

Materials and Resources

  • Internet-capable devices for both the teacher and students
  • Projector and whiteboard to display the activity
  • Camp Coding Camp - Hardware and Software video
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