Input and Output Devices
Computer Science Fundamentals Grades 9–12 4-day lesson 30 deliverables This computer science lesson teaches how devices get information into a computer and back out, and how to pick the right one. Students sort devices into input, output or both, and they use a key guide to work out the keys and mouse moves for everyday computer skills.
● Instant download · Lifetime access · Editable & print-ready
Print + digitalPDF, PowerPoint, Word & Google
Answer keysA key for every page
Built-in assessmentExit tickets + lesson quiz
45-minute daysEvery day planned and timed
A short browser game practices this lesson with new examples. Students play on a computer or tablet, with no account and nothing to install. Use it with the lesson or instead of the paper activity.
Play itWhat does this lesson cover?
Students use devices all day, but many think every device is either input or output, and that only a person can give a computer input. This lesson shows them devices that do both jobs, like a touchscreen, and devices that give input on their own, like sensors and GPS. It also covers the keyboard, mouse and settings skills that everyday computer work needs.
The activity on Day 3 has an online version that uses Tech Shop, our online game, in the Hook It Up level. It practices picking the device that fits each customer's need, then plugging it in as input, output or both. Every online version comes with a paper version, so no internet is needed. Our game is free, with no accounts or sign-ins.
Pick the Device
Students pick the device that fits four customers' needs and explain why, on paper or in the Tech Shop game.
Everything that's included
00 Start Here
- READ FIRST: every file in the lesson and when you use it
- Teacher guide and pacing: the plan for each day, what to print and how to grade
- Skills map: which standards each day teaches
01 Present
- One editable PowerPoint deck for all four days, 36 slides, with speaker notes
- Slide script: the speaker notes, printed
- Bell ringers: a short warm-up for each day
02 Student Handouts
- Guided notes for all four days, in PDF and editable Word, with the word bank on the page
- Vocab slip: the lesson's words and what they mean, on one page
03 Labs
- Peripheral Practice: use the key guide to write how they'd do eight keyboard, mouse and settings skills, and what shows each one worked
04 Activities
- In, Out or Both? Sort nine devices into input, output or both, and say why
- Pick the Device: pick the device that fits four customers' needs and explain why, on paper or in the Tech Shop game
- Device Plan: plan the devices for a school club on paper
05 Assessment
- Exit tickets, one per day: quick questions that show who needs more help
- Lesson quiz: 10 multiple-choice questions and 2 written answers about all four days
06 Answer Keys
- 6 answer key files: a key for each day (its bell ringer, notes and exit ticket) and the activity and lab keys, plus the quiz key
Digital: Google Forms™ + Google Slides™
- 5 Google Forms™ of the exit tickets and the quiz, ready to copy into your Drive
- The multiple choice grades itself, and you grade the written answers
- A Google Slides™ copy of the deck, with the same slides and speaker notes, for Google Classroom™
Online: Tech Shop
- Tech Shop, Hook It Up level: the online version of the Day 3 activity
- Every online version has a paper version, so no internet is needed
- Free to play, with no accounts or sign-ins
Why teachers love this lesson
Every device choice needs a reasonStudents pick devices for customers and a podcast club, and they explain each pick. Their reasons show you what they understand about each device's job.
The skills lab covers everyday computer workStudents write the keys or mouse moves for each skill and what shows that it worked.
Print and digitalEvery page is a print-ready PDF, and the Google Forms™ and Google Slides™ let you teach the same lesson in Google Classroom™.
Real online activitiesStudents can use Tech Shop on a computer or tablet, and every online version has a paper version that works with no internet.
A key for every pageEvery day has its own answer key, and every written question has a sample answer and what to look for.
Every day fits a 45-minute classEach day's plan is timed activity by activity against real reading and writing speeds.
What Teachers Say
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Leave a reviewQuestions teachers ask
How do I get the files after I buy?
Instant download right after checkout: PowerPoint and Word files you can edit, print-ready PDFs, and links that copy the Google Forms™ and Google Slides™ into your Drive.
Can I buy the whole unit or course instead?
Yes. This lesson is part of the Unit 1 bundle and the complete Computer Science Fundamentals course. Both cost less than buying the lessons one at a time.
Is this AP Computer Science?
No. It is a full-year, non-AP intro course for grades 9 to 12. For AP, see AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A.
What formats are the files in?
Every page is a print-ready PDF. The slides are an editable PowerPoint and the guided notes an editable Word file. The exit tickets and the quiz also come as Google Forms™, and the deck as Google Slides™.
Which standards does it cover?
Written for Florida's Advanced Information Technology course (9007610). The skills map in the lesson shows which standards each day teaches.