3. What is a Computer?: Lesson Plan

Learner: Grades 4, 5, 6

Task 4: Introducing Operating Systems

Summary:

Introduce the concept of operating systems.

Detailed Explanation:

•  Tell class that computers have operating systems which allow them to do the things they do each day. Humans have a kind of “operating system”.

•  Discuss the human operating system

•  The human operating system starts when we wake up in the morning •  All of our senses are activated •  We open our eyes and look around for our glasses •  When our eyes are open and our glasses are on, our operating system is working. We can see, recognize and touch the things around us.

•  Discuss the computer operating system

•  The computer operating system starts when we push the “Power” button •  The computer feels around to find its environment

•  A small amount of the operating system is stored in the computer's permanent memory (Read Only Memory [ROM]) – just enough information so that the computer can find the hard drive or floppy drive

•  When it finds the drive, it locates the latest version of the operating systems and loads it into temporary memory (Random Access Memory [RAM]). Some of the things that the Microsoft Windows operating system typically displays are the clock and access to programs available on that computer.

•  The computer uses this information all the time it is running

•  When the computer is turned off, the information disappears and must be reloaded the next time the computer is turned on (the operating system must be reloaded, as must any programs you were working on)