Getting to know the computer
Students learn the parts of a computer and what each one does. They practice logging in, opening programs, and asking for help when something is stuck or frozen.
What does a student learn in
These are the years students start treating a computer as a tool they can direct, not just a screen they watch. Students learn the names of the parts, what to do when something freezes, and how to stay safe and kind online. They put steps in order to make a robot or character move, and they fix the steps when it goes wrong. By spring, students can write a short set of instructions a classmate could follow to reach a goal on screen.
- Computer parts
- Step-by-step instructions
- Online safety
- Troubleshooting
- Working with a partner
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
- 1
- 2
Staying safe online
Students talk about how people use the internet to share and send messages. They learn what to keep private, what to share, and when to tell a trusted adult.
- 3
Sorting and showing information
Students collect simple information like favorite colors or weather each day. They sort it into groups and make charts or pictures that show what they found.
- 4
Step-by-step instructions
Students write clear steps to get a job done, like brushing teeth or drawing a shape. They try the steps out, find what went wrong, and fix the order.
- 5
Making and sharing projects
Students work with partners to build small projects like a animated story or a game using blocks on screen. They share what they made and listen to ideas for making it better.
Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Kindergarten.
Concepts
Concepts
- Grades K-2
Identify, select, and apply hardware, software
Students learn what hardware and software are, choose the right tool for a task, and figure out simple fixes when something isn't working.
- Grades K-2
Explain how computer networks and the Internet enable communication…
Students learn that computers connect to each other through networks, letting people share messages, files, and information. The internet is the biggest network of all, and it has rules that help keep shared data safe.
- Grades K-2
Collect, transform, and represent data
Students gather information, sort it into a chart or picture graph, and look for patterns. Then they use what they see in the data to say something they can back up with numbers.
- Grades K-2
Design, develop, and analyze algorithms and programs to solve problems…
Students learn to break a problem into steps and put those steps in order so a computer can follow them. Think of it as writing directions precise enough that even a robot could follow them without guessing.
- Grades K-2
Investigate the social, ethical, legal
Students look at how computers and apps affect everyday life, like how they help people connect or what happens when something is shared online.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Identify, select, and apply hardware, software Grades K-2 | Students learn what hardware and software are, choose the right tool for a task, and figure out simple fixes when something isn't working. | FL-CSDF.C1.k-2 |
| Explain how computer networks and the Internet enable communication… Grades K-2 | Students learn that computers connect to each other through networks, letting people share messages, files, and information. The internet is the biggest network of all, and it has rules that help keep shared data safe. | FL-CSDF.C2.k-2 |
| Collect, transform, and represent data Grades K-2 | Students gather information, sort it into a chart or picture graph, and look for patterns. Then they use what they see in the data to say something they can back up with numbers. | FL-CSDF.C3.k-2 |
| Design, develop, and analyze algorithms and programs to solve problems… Grades K-2 | Students learn to break a problem into steps and put those steps in order so a computer can follow them. Think of it as writing directions precise enough that even a robot could follow them without guessing. | FL-CSDF.C4.k-2 |
| Investigate the social, ethical, legal Grades K-2 | Students look at how computers and apps affect everyday life, like how they help people connect or what happens when something is shared online. | FL-CSDF.C5.k-2 |
Practices
Practices
- Grades K-2
Foster an inclusive computing culture that values diverse perspectives and…
Students practice working with classmates who think and solve problems differently. The goal is to include everyone and treat each person's ideas as worth hearing.
- Grades K-2
Collaborate around computing — divide work, share ideas
Students work with others to build something on a computer, splitting up tasks and sharing ideas along the way.
- Grades K-2
Identify and define problems that can be solved with computation and decompose…
Students look at a big task, like planning a birthday party, and break it into smaller steps a computer could help handle, such as making a list or sorting names.
- Grades K-2
Use abstractions to simplify complexity, generalise solutions
Students learn to spot patterns and use simple rules to solve more than one problem at a time, instead of solving each problem from scratch.
- Grades K-2
Create computational artifacts — programs, simulations, models — by applying…
Students write simple programs or build basic digital projects, then test and improve them in steps. The work is about trying, fixing, and trying again, not getting it right on the first attempt.
- Grades K-2
Systematically test computational artifacts and refine them based on evidence…
Students try out a program or app they built, look for what goes wrong, and fix it. Testing and fixing is part of the work, not a sign something went wrong.
- Grades K-2
Communicate clearly with appropriate vocabulary, visualizations
Students describe how a program, app, or digital tool works using words and pictures that make sense to someone else. They explain what the tool does and show examples to back up what they say.
| Standard | Definition | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Foster an inclusive computing culture that values diverse perspectives and… Grades K-2 | Students practice working with classmates who think and solve problems differently. The goal is to include everyone and treat each person's ideas as worth hearing. | FL-CSDF.P1.k-2 |
| Collaborate around computing — divide work, share ideas Grades K-2 | Students work with others to build something on a computer, splitting up tasks and sharing ideas along the way. | FL-CSDF.P2.k-2 |
| Identify and define problems that can be solved with computation and decompose… Grades K-2 | Students look at a big task, like planning a birthday party, and break it into smaller steps a computer could help handle, such as making a list or sorting names. | FL-CSDF.P3.k-2 |
| Use abstractions to simplify complexity, generalise solutions Grades K-2 | Students learn to spot patterns and use simple rules to solve more than one problem at a time, instead of solving each problem from scratch. | FL-CSDF.P4.k-2 |
| Create computational artifacts — programs, simulations, models — by applying… Grades K-2 | Students write simple programs or build basic digital projects, then test and improve them in steps. The work is about trying, fixing, and trying again, not getting it right on the first attempt. | FL-CSDF.P5.k-2 |
| Systematically test computational artifacts and refine them based on evidence… Grades K-2 | Students try out a program or app they built, look for what goes wrong, and fix it. Testing and fixing is part of the work, not a sign something went wrong. | FL-CSDF.P6.k-2 |
| Communicate clearly with appropriate vocabulary, visualizations Grades K-2 | Students describe how a program, app, or digital tool works using words and pictures that make sense to someone else. They explain what the tool does and show examples to back up what they say. | FL-CSDF.P7.k-2 |
Common Questions
What should students know about computers by the end of these grades?
Students should name the parts of a computer like the screen, keyboard, and mouse, and know what to try when something goes wrong, like checking the power or asking for help. They should also write simple step-by-step instructions a computer or person could follow.
How can students practice coding at home without a screen?
Give step-by-step directions for everyday tasks, like making a sandwich or walking to the mailbox. Have students write the steps in order, then follow them exactly. When a step is missing or out of order, that is the same kind of bug young coders learn to fix.
What does internet safety look like at this age?
Students learn that some information, like full names, addresses, and passwords, stays private. They practice asking a trusted adult before clicking, sharing, or downloading. At home, sit nearby during screen time and talk through choices out loud.
How should the year be sequenced across the five concept areas?
Start with hardware and basic troubleshooting so students can log in and recover from small problems on their own. Build into simple algorithms and short coding tasks by mid-year, then layer in data sorting and digital citizenship in the final stretch.
Does a student need a computer at home to keep up?
No. Sorting buttons by color, putting story pictures in order, and giving a sibling step-by-step directions all build the same thinking. A library visit once a week for screen practice is plenty at this age.
Which skills usually need the most reteaching?
Logging in, saving work, and writing instructions in the right order. Young students often skip a step or assume the computer knows what they mean. Build short routines around these tasks and revisit them every few weeks.
How do students collect and use data at this age?
Students count things they care about, like favorite snacks or weather days, and put the results in a simple chart or picture graph. Then they say what the chart shows in one sentence. That is the start of using evidence to make a claim.
How do I know a student is ready for the next grade band?
A ready student can log in, open a program, save a file, and ask for help with the right words. They can write a short set of steps that another person can follow, spot a missing step, and fix it. They also know what to share online and what to keep private.