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Hardware & Software

Seventh graders learn the difference between hardware (the physical parts you can touch, like the keyboard and CPU) and software (the programs and instructions that run on it, like a browser or game). Both work together. They match items to their type, then classify more.

Grade 7Hardware & Software50 minutes1 class periodCSTA / ISTEExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define hardware.
  • ✓Define software.
  • ✓Tell them apart.
  • ✓See how they work together.
Essential Question

What’s the difference between the parts you touch and the programs that run?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match: Hardware or Software?

Project this and match each item to hardware or software — tap the item, then tap its type.

🖥️ Match each item — hardware or software?Try it
Item
Hardware or software?
Now tap the type!
The Lesson · Explicit teaching

50 minutes, five moves

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

1

Hook — Touch vs Run

5 min

Can you touch a video game? Can you touch a keyboard?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pose the question.
  • Share ideas.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Hardware & Software

12 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Match: Hardware or Software?
  • Match each one.
  • Note hardware is physical.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Say.
  • Note it.
3

Modify — Classify

13 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • List things on a computer.
  • Label each hardware/software.
  • Explain one choice.

🎒 Student Actions

  • List.
  • Label.
  • Explain.
4

Create — Create

15 min

Students apply.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Sort 5 more items.
  • Explain how they work together.
  • Give a real example.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Sort.
  • Explain.
  • Example.
5

Reflect — Reflect

5 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What is hardware?
  • What is software?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • 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
2-CS-01

Describe hardware and software roles.

CSTA
2-CS-02

Explain how components work together.

CSTA
2-CS-03

Troubleshoot computing systems.

ISTE
4

Understand computing systems.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Item/type cards.
  • Frame: "a keyboard is ___."
  • Point to real parts.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Match 3 items.
  • Use real objects.
  • Use pictures.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Classify inside parts.
  • Explain the OS role.
  • Diagram a computer.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🖥️Item cards
  • 💻Match: Hardware or Software?
  • 📋Classify worksheet
  • 📓Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

hardwarephysical computer partssoftwareprograms and instructionsCPUthe processor, or ‘brain’input devicee.g. keyboard, mouseoutput devicee.g. monitor, speakerprogramsoftware that does a taskoperating systemsoftware that runs the computercomponenta part of a system
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
What is hardware?
The physical parts of a computer you can touch.
QUESTION 2
What is software?
The programs and instructions that run on hardware.
QUESTION 3
Is a web browser hardware or software?
Software — it’s a program, not a physical part.

Reflect: hardware & software.

Have students classify five more items as hardware or software. A printable classify worksheet is in the CS 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.

🃏 Hardware & SoftwareFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

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

📝 Hardware & SoftwareQuiz
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.

🖨️ Hardware & SoftwarePrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: component, CPU, hardware, input device, operating system, output device, program, software
  1. software that runs the computer
  2. a part of a system
  3. e.g. monitor, speaker
  4. the processor, or ‘brain’
  5. e.g. keyboard, mouse
  6. physical computer parts
  7. software that does a task
  8. programs and instructions

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What is hardware?
  2. What is software?
  3. Is a web browser hardware or software?
Answer key — Part A: 1) operating system · 2) component · 3) output device · 4) CPU · 5) input device · 6) hardware · 7) program · 8) software
Part B: 1) The physical parts of a computer you can touch. 2) The programs and instructions that run on hardware. 3) Software — it’s a program, not a physical part.