Computer Components - Kids Speak

[itguy22]

Does anybody have any documents that contain explanation of internal computer parts in 'kids speak'

 

We have exploded a PC and have all the components on view in one of our ICT Suites but would like some child friendly explanations? I don't want to make it sound too geeky and I'm no teacher!

 

RAM/CPU/CPU FAN/Heat Sink ect ect

 

Cheers all!

[Duranis]

I'm doing this for a Year 4 class next term. I'm going to label things up with the actual name and a simple explanation of what they do.

For example:

CPU - This is the brain of the computer that does all the calculations.

RAM - This is the computers short term memory were it stores things it is working on at the moment.

Harddrive - This is the computers long term memory were it stores information it wants to keep.

Motherboard - This is what connects all the parts together.

PSU - This is what powers the computer.

Heatsinks/Fans - When the computer is working hard parts of it can get very hot. Heatsinks and Fans help keep it cool.

etc, etc.

 

I'm also not a teacher but I AFAIK the bit of the curriculum this covers is basically the children just need to know what the main components are called and their basic function. Depending on what year group you are doing it for you will be surprised how easy they pick it up.

[bald_pig]

CPU = The brain

RAM = Remembers things

Heat sink = Takes the heat from the CPU

Fan = Takes the heat from the heat sink

[korifugi]

CPU = The thinky bit, does hard sums

RAM = The notey bit, a whiteboard for the day's lesson.

Fan = The whirly bit, stops the thinky bit getting too hot.

HDD = The writey bit, just like your exercise book.

GPU = The looky bit, tells the screen what to show.

Sound Card = The noisy bit, makes amusing sounds and plays music.

PSU = The sparky bit, where power comes in. DO NOT TOUCH.

Motherboard = The connecty bit, joins everything together.

[Miscbrah]

CPU = The thinky bit, does hard sums

RAM = The notey bit, a whiteboard for the day's lesson.

Fan = The whirly bit, stops the thinky bit getting too hot.

HDD = The writey bit, just like your exercise book.

GPU = The looky bit, tells the screen what to show.

Sound Card = The noisy bit, makes amusing sounds and plays music.

PSU = The sparky bit, where power comes in. DO NOT TOUCH.

Motherboard = The connecty bit, joins everything together.

 

I quite like this one! I would have added something about the motherboard sorting out the other bits talking maybe. Not the entire truth ofc but we're talking "the organise teamwork-ey bit" here.

 

I'd also add:

 

HDD = Has Windows on it. The useful bit. or HDD = Has Linux on it. The smashy bit that goes down the toilet.

 

Lel.

[rad]

Someone on here did a corridoor display with the inside of a computer, I would like to see the picture again but cant find it.

[computer_expert]

RAM - desk space

HDD - Filing cabinets/drawers

[LeMarchand]

I like the "office" analogy:

 

Case = the office. Can be fancy, can be plain.

Fans = aircon, keep the worker(s) cool as they work really hard. Some fans cool particular things.

CPU = worker's brain, cleverer worker can do more stuff.

Mobo = worker's body, connects him to his work area

Network card = phone to talk to others.

GPU = assistant who's great at drawing.

RAM = desktop, bigger desktop (RAM capacity) = can put more stuff out to work on (but only if worker is clever enough to work on all of it)

HDD = filing cabinet where information is stored

OS = language worker speaks

PSU = heart, powers worker

 

etc

[pete]

continuing the office analogy....

 

CPU cache = what the person can hold in their hands

[sonofsanta]

...and end user = David Brent? Technically in charge but bloody useless and annoying and no-one can work out how to get rid of them?

 

Explaining the difference between RAM & HDD: tell the kids a 6 digit number, then get them to recite it back to you. That's RAM and memory retrieval.

 

Now tell them four 6 digit numbers and get them to tell you what the second one was - can't do it, cos they ran out of RAM to store it all, they can only remember the last one (any smart bottoms who do remember it can be explained away as having more RAM).

 

Then tell them the numbers again, but let them write it down. Then when you ask, they can read it back; that's a hard drive. Bit slower but remembers it without any risk of data corruption, except for physical damage. And if they go home tonight, go to sleep and come back tomorrow, they couldn't tell you what the number was from their memory, because RAM is volatile; but they can still read it from the paper HDD, because magnetic storage persists.

[itguy22]

Guys, these are perfect!! I knew this would be the right place to post the question!!

[Oaktech]

I like the "office" analogy:

 

Case = the office. Can be fancy, can be plain.

Fans = aircon, keep the worker(s) cool as they work really hard. Some fans cool particular things.

CPU = worker's brain, cleverer worker can do more stuff.

Mobo = worker's body, connects him to his work area

Network card = phone to talk to others.

GPU = assistant who's great at drawing.

RAM = desktop, bigger desktop (RAM capacity) = can put more stuff out to work on (but only if worker is clever enough to work on all of it)

HDD = filing cabinet where information is stored

OS = language worker speaks

PSU = heart, powers worker

 

etc

 

How far are we going to take this person analogy...

 

USB - all the tools the worker uses

Southbridge - the workers fingers connects the tools to the worker

Northbridge - the spinal column, central connection point for all the other bits?