A manual for a computer science teacher
1st grade, 1st quarter (4–6 lessons)
Topics : basic familiarization with computers, main parts of a computer, safety rules when working with technology.
General objective of the lessons:
Introducing students to the main parts of a computer and the rules for safe operation of equipment. Forming primary skills of interaction with a computer, developing interest in computer science.
Lesson 1: “What is a computer?”
Objective:
Introduce the concept of “computer”, familiarize with its main parts (system unit, monitor, keyboard, mouse).
Lesson plan:
- Greeting and goal setting (5 min).
- Questions for students: “What is a computer? What is it for?”
- Discussion of where children have seen computers and how they are used.
- Basic parts of a computer (15 min).
- Explanation : show the children the system unit, monitor, keyboard and mouse.
- Hands-on demonstration : Demonstration of each element of the computer and explanation of its functions.
- Activity : Invite students to the computer and ask them to touch and point out parts of the computer.
- Game “Find a part of the computer” (10 min).
- The screen or cards show different parts of the computer (monitor, mouse, keyboard). The children’s task is to guess what it is and tell what it is for.
- Reflection and summing up (5 min).
- Questions: “What did we learn about the computer? What part of the computer do you remember most?”
Homework:
Draw and label the parts of a computer (to help parents, provide a picture with labels).
Lesson 2: “Monitor and mouse: how do they work?”
Objective:
To teach the basics of using a mouse and to understand the function of a monitor.
Lesson plan:
- Review of the material from the previous lesson (5 min.).
- Questions for children: “What parts of the computer do you remember? What does the monitor do, and what does the mouse do?”
- Monitor and its functions (10 min).
- Explanation : A monitor is a screen that displays information. Discuss that you can watch videos, play games, and study on a monitor.
- Practical demonstration : demonstration of the monitor’s operation (opening a simple program or cartoon).
- Mouse: basic functions (10 min).
- Explanation : The mouse helps control the computer. Left click – selection, right click – menu.
- Activity : Explain how to hold the mouse correctly and invite children to practice (for example, close and open a window on the screen).
- Game “Hit the target” (10 min).
- Practice : A game where children use a mouse to point the cursor at a specific target on the screen and click. This can be a simple children’s program or a game to practice using a mouse.
- Reflection and summing up (5 min).
- Questions: “What did we learn today? What does a mouse do and what is a monitor for?”
Homework:
Ask children at home with their parents to open a picture or video using the mouse.
Lesson 3: “Keyboard: Letters and Numbers”
Objective:
To become familiar with the keyboard and learn the basics of typing from the keyboard.
Lesson plan:
- Review of the material from the previous lesson (5 min.).
- Questions: “What is the name of the screen? How do we select objects on the computer?”
- Keyboard and its functions (10 min).
- Explanation : The keyboard helps you enter letters, numbers, and commands. Show keys with letters and numbers.
- Demonstration in practice : show how to enter text in a simple text editor, such as Notepad.
- Keyboard practice (10 min).
- Exercise : Invite children to press the keys with letters, find the first letter of their name and write it on the screen.
- Game : Guess the letter – a letter appears on the screen and children must find it on the keyboard.
- Game “Write your name” (10 min).
- Task : children enter their name or a short word under the guidance of the teacher.
- Reflection and summing up (5 min).
- Questions: “What is the name of the device we use to write? What did you learn to do today?”
Homework:
Ask children, with the help of their parents, to find their letter on the keyboard and show how it is entered into the text.
Lesson 4: “Safety rules when working with a computer”
Objective:
To learn simple safety rules when working with a computer.
Lesson plan:
- Review of previous lessons (5 min).
- Questions: “What is the name of the part of the computer that we use to write? How does a mouse work?”
- Simple safety rules (10 min).
- Explanation : you can’t sit in front of the monitor for a long time, you need to sit up straight, not touch the wires and not spill liquid on the keyboard.
- Show examples of bad behavior (such as poor posture or spilling water) and discuss why it is dangerous.
- Game “Safety in the computer class” (10 min).
- Practice : invite children to look at pictures of correct and incorrect actions when working with a computer. The task is to find the mistakes in the picture and discuss how to correct them.
- Correct posture at the computer (5 min).
- Exercise : show how to sit correctly at the computer (back straight, feet on the floor, hands on the keyboard).
- Reflection and summing up (5 min).
- Questions: “What safety rules did you remember? Why can’t you drink near a computer?”
Homework:
Ask children to tell their parents about the safety rules they learned in class.
Lesson 5-6 (optional): “Review and consolidation of material”
Objective:
To consolidate knowledge about computer parts, the basics of working with a mouse and keyboard, and safety rules.
Lesson plan:
- Game “Guess the part of the computer” (10 min).
- Pictures of computer parts are on the screen, and the children take turns naming them and explaining what they do.
- Mouse and keyboard practice (15 min).
- Practical task: open a document, enter a few letters or a short word, close the program using the mouse.
- Game “Safety in Action” (10 min).
- Children act out safe computer situations and then discuss what to do in those situations.
- Reflection and summing up (5 min).
- Questions: “What did we learn in these lessons? How to use a computer correctly?”
Conclusion
This manual is designed for 4-6 lessons, which will help 1st grade students get acquainted with the main parts of the computer and master basic skills of working with a mouse and keyboard. It is important to pay attention to compliance with safety rules so that children understand from the very beginning of their training how to work with technology correctly and safely.