That's a Computer

Core Concepts: Computing System

​Applicable CSTA K-12 CS Standards:

• 1A-CS-02 Use appropriate terminology in identifying and describing the function of common physical components of computing systems (hardware).
• 1A-DA-05 Store, copy, search, retrieve, modify, and delete information using a computing device and define the information stored as data.
• 1A- AP-09 Model the way programs store and manipulate data by using numbers or other symbols to represent information.

Lyrics:

Conversation: MM: Music = MM; Kid = K
MM: Hey Kids! I have been thinking about laptops, and tablets, and smartphones…and what they have in common. They are all computers.
Kid: Hey MM…What makes something a computer?
MM: A computer is made up of 4 main things…
#1 Input – that’s how we tell a computer something
Kid: You mean that’s how we talk to computers?
MM: That’s right.
#2 Output – that’s how a computer tells us something or shows us      something
Kid: Sort of like the computer is talking to us.
MM: Exactly.
#3 The Processor
Kid: Same thing as the CPU
MM: The same thing…  that’s how the computer thinks and puts things together
#4 is Memory – that’s how a computer stores things.
Kid: Kind of like how we remember things.
MM: You got it.
Singing…
Double verse:
Tell me how you can INPUT
… a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen too
Tell your computer what you want to do
Tell me different kinds of OUTPUT
Speakers, screens and printers too
That’s the computer talking to you
 
Refrain:
Input and Output…add in the Memory and the CPU 2X
That’s a computer for me and you
 
Double Verse:
You want to make a birthday card
You pick colors, the font…a picture or two
What puts it all together? That’s the CPU!
The computer has a Memory
For the things you like to see and do
The Memory keeps them all ready to use 
 
Refrain:
Input and Output…add in the Memory and the CPU 2x
That’s a Computer for me and you
 
Conversation:
MM: Hey kids…you want to play the Yes or No Game…
The Question is: Is That A Computer???
MM: Are you ready?
K: Ready
MM: The book on your desk?
K: No!
MM: The teacher’s smartphone?
K: Yes!
MM: A pencil and paper?
K: No!
MM: A laptop?
K: Yes!
MM: A banana….a pony
MM: A tablet
K: Yes!
MM: You’re the best!
MM: Last question…tell me four things that make a computer…
1 Input   2 Output   3 Memory   4 CPU
The gang: That’s A Computer For Me and You!

Turn up your volume and click here to download or listen to That's A Computer

 

Explore related lesson resources below