What Computers Do

👩‍🏫 Teacher’s Guide

Objective
Students will explain that computers take input, follow instructions, and produce output, using simple examples.

Teaching Notes

Model the input-process-output idea with a simple game: clap (input), think (process), say a word (output).
Use kid-friendly terms: input = what we tell it, output = what it shows us.
Show how clicking an icon opens an app as an example of instructions.
Emphasize that computers do not “think like people”; they follow steps.

🧒 Student Worksheet

Concept and Helping Material

Computers do three big jobs: they take input (what we type, click, or touch), they follow instructions (steps), and they give output (pictures, sounds, or words).

Computer Vocabulary and Definition

— Information we give to a computer, like typing or tapping.
— What a computer gives back, like a picture or sound.
— A step that tells the computer what to do.
— A program you can open to do something, like draw or write.
— When the computer works on the input to make output.

Computer QA

What is input?
What is output?
Give one example of input.
Give one example of output.
What is an instruction?
What is an app?
If you tap a play button, is that input or output?
When music plays from speakers, is that input or output?
True or False: Computers follow instructions.
True or False: Computers can read your mind.
If you speak to a voice assistant, what is that?
If the computer prints a page, what is that?
What does “process” mean?
What happens first: input or output?
What device can give input by clicking?
What device can give output by showing light?
If you press a key and a letter appears, what is the letter?
If you press a key, what is the pressing?
Why do computers need instructions?
Who writes many instructions for apps?

Computer Prtactices

Input–Output sort: Write ‘input’ or ‘output’ for these: tap, speaker sound, typing, screen picture, printing.
Act it out: One student is the ‘computer’ and follows 3 simple instructions from a partner.
Draw arrows: Input → Process → Output for “press key → computer works → letter appears.”
Open a drawing app and make a shape using two different inputs (tap and drag).

Reflection

What is one input you used today?
What output did you see or hear?