Keys on a keyboard

Kindergarten students learn five keys located on a computer keyboard: the space bar, the enter key, the shift keys, the number keys, and the letter keys. Each key is identified by the teacher and the children are asked to color the key or keys a particular color on their paper keyboard. Students are also asked to locate the letters that spell out their name on their keyboard.

A lesson plan for grade K Information Skills

By Jeanie Smith

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Related pages

• Computer alphabet: Students will use the computer to create, save, open and print a file called "ABCs." For each letter of the alphabet the student is expected to create a capital (using the shift key), a lowercase, insert a picture that begins with the corresponding letter, and press the spacebar before repeating this process for the remaining letters of the alphabet.
• Integrating computer use into a Trainable Mentally Disabled Level IV curriculum.: Students involved in the Trainable Mentally Disabled program will use computers to supplement reading and personal information skills being taught as part of the implementation of student's Individual Education Plan. This activity will also allow students to reinforce fine-motor, visual-motor and behavioral skills.
• Keys to computing the alphabet: This lesson gives the students practice in locating the alphabet on the computer keyboard, using the space bar, printing their product, and finally, using these printed letters to make words.

Related topics

• Learn more about hands-on, keyboarding skills, technology skills, and word processing.

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

• identify the space bar, the enter key, the shift keys, the number keys, and the letter keys on a keyboard.
• find the letters that spell their name on the keyboard.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

30 minutes

Materials/resources

• Five different colored crayons (enough for each child in the class to have one). The color crayons needed are red, purple, yellow, blue and green.
• Keyboard sheets

Technology resources

Computer Keyboard for teacher demonstration

Pre-activities

Students should know the parts of a computer.

Activities

1. The teacher begins the lesson by asking students to raise their hands if they have ever typed on a computer. Next, the teacher may ask those who have typed on a computer if they can identify any of the keys on the keyboard.
2. After students have shared what they know, the teacher will ask them to use their finger and point to the enter/return key on the keyboard. Next, the teacher will ask the students what the enter/return key does. The last thing the teacher does is to ask students to color the enter/return key red. (The teacher should walk around during this part to make sure students are coloring the right key.) Students are reminded to put their red crayon down when they are finished.
3. When they have completed coloring the enter/return key red, the students are asked to point to the space bar on the keyboard. Next, the teacher may ask the students what the space bar does. The last thing the teacher does is to ask students to color the space bar purple. Students are reminded to put their purple crayon down when they are finished.
4. The third key the students are asked to find is the shift key. The teacher will point out that there are two shift keys. Students are asked to point to the two keys. They are then asked to color the two shift keys green and then lay their green crayon down.
5. The teacher will next ask the students to find the number keys on the keyboard. The teacher may count from 0-9 and have students point to each number to make sure the students know where each number is. Next the teacher may ask the students what they might use the number keys for. Last, the teacher will tell the students to color the number keys blue.
6. The last part of the keyboard to be discussed is the letter keys. The teacher will ask the students what the letter keys can be used for. The last thing the teacher does is to ask students to color the letter keys yellow.
7. When they have completed their coloring, students are instructed to find the letters that spell their name on the keyboard. They should practice typing their names on their keyboard.

Assessment

The teacher should look at all students’ work while they are typing their name to determine if they colored their sheets correctly and are finding the letters to their names.

Supplemental information

Comments

I have used this lesson plan in the media center with all of my kindergarten classes. It has been very successful with my younger students. It can really walk your legs off trying to monitor all the students at each stage of the lesson but it is worth it.