How it works
A computer is a machine with a tiny chip inside.
It follows instructions, which are the steps people give it. It does not think or wish.
It comes in many sizes, and it needs power to wake up.
Worked examples
Is it a computer?
- A tablet has a tiny chip and follows steps, so it is a computer.
- A spoon has no chip and no steps, so it is not a computer.
The dark tablet
- Nia taps, but the screen stays dark.
- The cable is not plugged in, and a computer needs power to wake up.
- Grandpa plugs it in, and the screen glows.
Who picks the song?
- Nia taps the song picture. That tap is her instruction.
- The tablet follows it, and music plays.
- Nia picked the song, not the tablet.
A computer hunt
- Look for things with a chip, like a tablet, a phone or a game player.
- Then look for things that are not computers, like a spoon or a ball.
- Ask each one: does it follow steps?
A taste of the worksheets
These are some of the questions on the sets. The printable sheets have more and an answer key.