Sixth graders learn what people really mean by the cloud, remote computers you reach over the internet to store files and run apps, and weigh what you gain and give up by using it.
Students will be able to…
You save a photo to the cloud and open it on another device minutes later. The file is not in the sky, so where did it go, and what do you trade for that convenience?
Project this and open each card to explore what the cloud is, where your files live, and the trade-offs of using it.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
You save a photo to the cloud and open it on another device minutes later. The file is not floating in the sky. So where did it actually go?
Students explore how cloud computing works.
Students sort where data lives.
Students weigh pros and cons.
Students reflect on cloud computing.
Aligned to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and ISTE Standards for Students.
Describe how internal and external parts of computing devices connect to shared services over a network.
Model how information is broken down, sent, reassembled, and accessed across networks.
Represent data stored locally and in the cloud, and explain the trade-offs.
Empowered Learner: understand how to store, access, and manage data and work with technology.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students list two benefits and two drawbacks of the cloud and say when local storage is the better choice, so the trade-offs are clear. A printable cloud-computing worksheet is in the Computer Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
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.