Name: ____________________ Date: ____________________

Station 1: The Brain of the Computer (CPU)

The CPU is a small chip that does big work!

What is a CPU?
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit.
It is the most important part of a computer. It follows instructions and tells all the
other parts what to do.

The Brain Analogy

Think of the CPU as the brain of the computer.
Your brain tells your legs to walk.
The CPU tells the printer to print.
Your brain solves math problems. Just like you, a computer needs a
brain to think!
The CPU does math to run your games!

🧠 Group Discussion Task

Talk with your team about these questions:
1. What would happen to a human if they didn't have a brain?
2. What would happen to a computer if the CPU was missing?
3. Could you play a game or watch a video without the 'brain' chip?

Directions: Once you have finished your discussion, open your Hardware Lab Report
and write down one thing the CPU does for the computer.
 Name: ____________________ Date: ____________________
Station 2: The Computer's Memory
Computers have two different ways to remember things. One is for things we are using
right now, and the other is for things we want to keep for later.

🧠 RAM (Short-Term) 📁 Storage (Long-Term)

The Desk Space The Filing Cabinet
RAM is like the top of your desk. When you Storage is like a filing cabinet. This is
are working on a project, you put your where the computer keeps things safe for
tools on the desk so you can reach them a long time, even when the power is
fast. turned off.
When you turn the computer off, the 'desk' It takes a little longer to find things here,
is cleared! but they never disappear!

RAM is like your desk space. Storage is like a filing cabinet.

💡 Remember!
RAM = Working right now (Fast!)
Storage = Saved for later (Safe!)

How Computers Remember

Computer Memory

RAM (Desk) Storage (Cabinet)

A game you are A website you are Music playing right A photo from last A saved homework A movie you
playing looking at now year file downloaded
🚀 Your Task
Look at the list below with your group. Decide if each item uses RAM (Desk) or
Storage (Cabinet).
1. A photo you saved from your birthday party.
2. A Roblox game you are playing right this second.
3. A YouTube video you are currently watching.
4. An app that is closed and saved on the computer.
Talk about it: What would happen to your game if the RAM (the desk) was too small
to hold it?
 Name: ____________________ Date: ____________________
Station 3: Input vs. Output Devices
Computers need to talk to us, and we need to talk to them! We use special parts called
Input and Output devices to do this.

📥 Input 📤 Output
Sending info IN Sending info OUT
You use these to tell the computer what The computer uses these to show or tell
to do. you things.

Monitor & Printer

Mouse & Keyboard

💡 Quick Tip
Think of a door. Input is like walking into a room. Output is like walking out of a
room!
 Where do they go?
Input (IN) Output (OUT)

Look at the mystery items below and decide which side of the circle they belong on!

Item A: Item B: Item C: Item D:

Microphone Speakers Webcam Headphones

🚀 Your Task:
1. Look at the 4 mystery items above (A, B, C, and D).
2. Talk with your group: Is the device sending information IN to the computer or OUT
to you?
3. On your Lab Report, check the correct box for each item.
 Name: ____________________ Date: ____________________
Station 4: The Power & Connections
🔌 The Power Supply
Every computer needs energy to work! The Power
Supply is like the computer's battery or heart. It
takes electricity from the wall and sends it to all
the other parts so they can turn on.

🗺️ The Motherboard
Think of the Motherboard as a big city map. It is a large green board inside the
computer. All the other parts (like the CPU and RAM) plug into it. It has tiny 'roads'
called circuits that let the parts talk to each other!

How Power Travels:

Look at the flow map below to see how electricity moves through the computer to help
you see pictures on your screen.
The Path of Power

Wall Outlet Power Cord Power Supply Motherboard Monitor

Electricity travels through these parts in order.

🚀 Your Station Task

1. Look at the diagram of the computer case at this station.
2. Use your finger to trace the path from the Power Cord to the Motherboard.
3. Find where the Monitor plugs in.
4. On your Lab Report, label the spot where the power enters the computer!

⚠️ Remember: Never touch the power cords or cables without a teacher's help! We
stay safe while we learn about hardware.
 Name: ____________________ Date: ____________________
Name: ____________________________________
Hardware Lab Report 🖱️
Follow the directions at each station. Use this sheet to record what you learn about how
computers work!

Station 1: The Brain (CPU)

The CPU is like the brain of the computer. Write down one thing the CPU does:

Station 2: Long-Term Storage

Storage is like a filing cabinet for things we keep for later. Draw a picture of
something you would save in long-term storage (like a photo or a movie):
Station 3: Input vs. Output

Look at the mystery items. 📥 Input 📤 Output

Check the box to show if it is
Input (IN) or Output (OUT).

Item A: Microphone

Item B: Speakers

Item C: Webcam

Item D: Headphones

Station 4: Power & Connections

Look at the computer case. Draw an arrow to show where the power cord plugs in.
Then, write the name of the part that acts like a "city map" to connect everything.

Draw an arrow to the power port!

The "City Map" part is the:

💡 Quick Check
Remember: RAM is like your desk space (short-term), and Storage is like your filing
cabinet (long-term)!
 Name: ____________________ Date: ____________________
Computer Parts: Labeling
Look at the picture of the desktop computer. Use the Word Bank to write the correct
name in each blank box.

📝 Word Bank
Monitor • Keyboard • Mouse • Tower

Label the parts of this computer system.

Computer Parts: Matching

Draw a line from the computer part to the job it does! ✏️
Computer Part What is its job?

🖥️ Monitor It shows us pictures, videos, and text on the screen.

⌨️ Keyboard It has letters and numbers so we can type information IN.

 🖱️ Mouse It lets us point, click, and move things on the screen.

🏗️ Tower It holds the 'brain' (CPU) and all the important parts.

Bonus Question: Which part above is an Output device because it sends information
OUT to your eyes?
 Name: ____________________ Date: ____________________
Exit Ticket: Hardware Check
Great job exploring the computer stations today! Answer these three quick questions to
show what you learned.

1. Which one is an 'Input' device? Circle the correct picture.

A. Computer Mouse
B. Speaker

2. What part is the 'brain' of the computer?

3. Draw one part of a computer you learned about today!

Remember!
The Tower holds the 'brain' (CPU) and all the other important parts that make the
computer work!