Computers are all around us — not just laptops and tablets, but inside washing machines, traffic lights and robot vacuum cleaners. Year 1 coders name the parts of a computer and learn to use them carefully.
What your child will learn
- Name common computers and devices
- Name the parts of a computer: screen, keyboard, mouse, speakers
- Know that computers follow programs
- Look after computers and use them sensibly
Computers everywhere
A computer is any machine that follows a program. Some have screens and keyboards; others are hidden inside everyday things, quietly following instructions — a microwave counting down or a traffic light changing colour.
Inputs, like a keyboard or microphone, put information in. Outputs, like a screen or speaker, give information out.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Where do we see words and pictures on a computer?
- The screen
- The mouse
- The keyboard
- The plug
Show answer
Answer: The screen. The screen shows us what the computer is doing.
2. What do we use to type letters into a computer?
⌨️- A keyboard
- A mouse
- A speaker
- A screen
Show answer
Answer: A keyboard. Each key on a keyboard types a letter, number or symbol.
3. What do we use to hear sounds from a computer?
🎧- Speakers or headphones
- A keyboard
- A screen
- A mouse
Show answer
Answer: Speakers or headphones. Speakers and headphones play sounds.
Tips for grown-ups
- Hunt for hidden computers at home: the oven timer, the TV remote, the washing machine.
- Name the parts of a computer together and what each one does.