Home›Lesson Plans›Computer Science›Computing Systems · Grade 3

Keyboard & Typing

Third graders get to know the keyboard’s special keys — spacebar, Enter, Shift, Backspace, and the arrow keys — and practice using them. They explore each key, then type with good habits.

Grade 3Keyboard & Typing45 minutes1 class periodCSTA / ISTEExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
Start the Lesson
Assign or share this lesson
Share to Google Classroom Share to Microsoft Teams

Copy link works with Canvas, Schoology, Moodle and any other LMS — paste it in as a resource or assignment.

Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Find the special keys.
  • ✓Use Shift for capitals.
  • ✓Use Backspace to fix.
  • ✓Type with good habits.
Essential Question

What do the special keys on a keyboard do?

0
Lesson Phases
0
Vocabulary Terms
0
Standards Aligned
0
Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

The Keyboard Explorer

Project this and tap each. Have students explore the special keys.

⌨️ Explore the special keys — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · Use → Modify → Create (a coding progression with Unplugged practice)

45 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — So Many Keys

5 min

Which key makes a CAPITAL letter?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Point to the keyboard.
  • Ask about a key.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Guess.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Keyboard

10 min

Students use keys.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Keyboard Explorer.
  • Tap each key.
  • Try each one.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Say.
  • Try it.
3

Modify — Try the Keys

12 min

Students modify.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Type a word with a capital (Shift).
  • Fix a letter with Backspace.
  • Add a space.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Type.
  • Fix.
  • Space.
4

Create — Type It

12 min

Students create.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Type your name with a capital.
  • Type a short sentence.
  • Use Enter for a new line.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Type.
  • Type.
  • Enter.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a special key.
  • Say what Shift does.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and the ISTE Standards for Students.

CSTA
1B-CS-01

Describe how hardware and software work together.

CSTA
1B-CS-02

Model how a computing device works.

CSTA
1B-CS-03

Determine the cause of a simple problem.

ISTE
1 Empowered Learner

Use tools to support learning.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Key-name picture cards.
  • Point and name keys.
  • Practice on a paper keyboard.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with spacebar & Backspace.
  • One key at a time.
  • Use a large keyboard.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Learn home-row keys.
  • Type faster accurately.
  • Use Shift for symbols.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • ⌨️Keyboards
  • 💻The Keyboard Explorer
  • 🖨️Paper keyboards
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

keyboardthe keys you type onspacebaradds a spaceEnterstarts a new line / goShiftmakes capitals & symbolsBackspacedeletes the last letterarrow keysmove the cursorcursorthe blinking spot where you typekeyone button on the keyboard
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Which key makes a capital letter?
Shift (hold it while typing).
QUESTION 2
Which key deletes the last letter?
Backspace.
QUESTION 3
What do the arrow keys do?
Move the cursor up, down, left, right.

Reflect: keyboard & typing.

Have students type their name with a capital letter. A printable keyboard worksheet is in the Computer Science library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 CS Keyboard and Typing (Grade 3)Flip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 CS Keyboard and Typing (Grade 3)Quiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ CS Keyboard and Typing (Grade 3)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: arrow keys, Backspace, cursor, Enter, key, keyboard, Shift, spacebar
  1. makes capitals & symbols
  2. the keys you type on
  3. the blinking spot where you type
  4. move the cursor
  5. starts a new line / go
  6. deletes the last letter
  7. adds a space
  8. one button on the keyboard

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Which key makes a capital letter?
  2. Which key deletes the last letter?
  3. What do the arrow keys do?
Answer key — Part A: 1) Shift · 2) keyboard · 3) cursor · 4) arrow keys · 5) Enter · 6) Backspace · 7) spacebar · 8) key
Part B: 1) Shift (hold it while typing). 2) Backspace. 3) Move the cursor up, down, left, right.