Unit Overview		Name: Maria Vasiliu
Curricular Area: Life Skills and Infotech Topic or Theme: Computers Literacy Grade Level:  8 Big Ideas:   Students will get the awareness about :what are the main components of a computer system, how computers work, the main application programs, the importance of using the Internet efficiently—all in order to offer them the basic skills needed in student life or to lead them on a technical path in the future	Resources:	Checking for Prior Knowledge:
	Computer lab My blog Handouts and worksheets Internet, PPT	Students should be familiar with: Windows, MS Word, typing
		General adaptations: use visual and graphic representations where necessary highlight important concepts/words write with different colors in worksheets or transparencies breaking lesson into smaller segments providing on-going coaching and feed-back use bigger font

Lesson #	Topic	Objectives/Learning Outcomes	Activities	Materials:	Assessment/Criteria
1.	Introduction to Life Skills	Students will understand : why they are studying about computers and why computers play a vital role in their life how to use the lab and the network	warm-up: KWL Course Content Computer Lab Expectations Print Discipline Logging on Organizing storage space Computers Ethics	the computer lab	Create a student-teacher contract in which the student agrees to not engage in the inappropriate use of computers or other technology and signs it. Have it witnessed by their parents.
2.	External hardware	Students will understand : What are the main parts a computer system contains Very briefly how a computer operates What are the main devices in the External Hardware	labeling worksheet Part 1: Shortly: How computers work Computers inside and outside: Outer Hardware: The basics, Input and Output devices Part 2: 1.Hands-on activity: Design your own computer 2. Interview a colleague asking if he /she has a computer at home, what kind, what major applications has. Closure: Ready, Reset, Recall; Homework: “On Wall Activity” to be presented next day : their computer system components-completed at home ( they can cut pieces from magazines to help a better presentation=poster)	the computer lab, paper, pencils, crayons, markers, colored pencils disassembled computers	Criteria: how students recognize the main parts of the computer: how they work in group Pair assessment for introduction , for Hands-on activity and for closure The students will give marks from 0 to 5 for their colleagues’ presentations. Criteria developed
3	Understanding data: Bits and Bites	Students will understand : the connection between the on and off signals and the digits 0 and 1. how the decimal numbers can be transformed in binary numbers multiples of Bytes	Warm-up: transformations from binary in decimal and the reverse op. Part 1: Bits and Bytes- Teacher’s notes Bits and Bytes –visual exercise Part 2: Explain the warm-up The alphabet in binary code-exercise Hands-on activity Closure: Byte Math Worksheet	the computer lab	how students understand the connection between digits and electrical signals and therefore the basis of computers’ functioning how students can use Math for transforming from one system to another How students use Math to transform bytes into multiples of Bytes Pair assessment for introduction , for Hands-on activity and for closure
4	Internal Hardware	Students will be able to identify and name the main internal components of a computer after they see them.	warm-up: Hardware on the inside: What am I? Part 1: Show them old computers and their components Part 2: Hardware on the inside- Teacher’s notes PPT: Choosing a computer Closure: Matching Exercises	the computer lab, old disassembled computers	· how students prove a good understanding of the main components inside a computer system –in the closure activity Pair assessment for introduction , and for closure
5	Storage	Students will understand how external memories are working	warm-up: Think-Ink/ Pair-Share about computers’ storage Part 1: Teacher’s notes –on the projector: External memories Part 2: Storage-Do you remember? Matching and Questions Vocabulary worksheet Interactive test	the computer lab, hard drives disassembled	how students understand the external memories ( the basics—how they function) a computer system –the matching and questions-activity Self assessment for interactive test Pair assessment for introduction , and for closure
6	Programs	Students will understand what kind of software equips an ordinary PC they will be able to differentiate an application program from SO or other types of software	warm-up: Programs Matching worksheet Part 1: Teacher’s notes –on the projector: What is a program What kinds of programs Program Development-what does it mean Testing Part 2: Interview activity Vocabulary worksheet The interactive test- Enrichment: Matching and Questions	the computer lab	how students understand the main differences between the programs that make the computer system work and the application programs Interview activity Pair assessment for introduction , and for closure Self assessment for the interactive test
6’	Programs: Operating Systems and Quiz	Students will understand : what is the role of So and what kind of So are more common good command of the basics about hardware and software as studied in previous lessons	warm-up: Files and Folders-File address worksheet Part 1: Teacher’s notes –on the projector: SO PPT-overview-what it was done up to now about hardware and software Part 2: The quiz-about hardware and software as it was grasped from previous lessons Vocabulary worksheet The interactive test-	the computer lab	how students understand So and answer the Quiz questions Pair assessment for introduction , and for closure Self assessment for the interactive test
7	The Internet and how to search it effectively	Students will understand : what is are hyperlinks, URL and how to search the Internet effectively	warm-up: Venn Diagram Part 1: Teacher’s notes –on the projector: About hyperlinks , URL and how to search the internet effectively Part 2: Students will search the internet respecting the criteria given Closure: Demonstrate an awareness of the impact of IT tools on Society	the computer lab and the Internet	how students search effectively the Internet Closure Pair assessment for introduction , and for closure
7’	The Internet and how to evaluate the websites	Students will be able to evaluate the websites , find out who is behind They will know the Ethics of Information Use and respect it	warm-up: Jigsaw activity : The Ethics of Information Use (home groups of 4 and expert groups of 7) Evaluating websites using the criteria given PPT-Social Issues in Computing---The Ethics Closure: Demonstrate an awareness of the impact of IT tools on Society	the computer lab and the Internet	how students evaluate websites using the criteria given Pair assessment for introduction , and for closure
8	Malware	Students will get an awareness about the malicious software	warm-up: Questions of the day (pair and share) PPT –about Malware PPT –about spam Part2: Interview activity Students will conduct an interview asking what problems did their colleagues encountered connected by Malware	the computer lab and the Internet	how students work in groups taking the interview and their awareness about viruses, spyware, cookies, spam, etc. Pair assessment for introduction
9	The Review and Assignment 1 (5%)	Students will synthesize what they learned in a concept map	warm-up: Abbreviations Give them “ computer terms “ to study in class Concept Map about computers: Assignment 1(5%)	the computer lab and the Internet	how students work in groups, create the concept-map and present it Pair assessment –detailed criteria developed