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Icons & Symbols

First graders learn that computers use little picture buttons — icons — like the play button, home button, and trash can, and that each icon does a certain job.

Grade 1Computing Systems30 minutes1 class periodUse → Modify → CreateExplicit teaching4 StandardsCSTA
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain an icon.
  • ✓Match icons to what they do.
  • ✓Recognize common icons.
  • ✓Use a device.
Essential Question

Computers use little pictures called icons — like a play button or a trash can — and each one does something! What do the icons mean?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Match It · Interactive

Match the Icon to What It Does

Project this and match each icon to what it does — tap an icon, then tap what it does.

🔍 Match each icon to what it doesTry it
Icon
What It Does
Now tap what it does!
The Lesson · Use → Modify → Create (a coding progression with Unplugged practice)

30 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Little Picture Buttons

4 min

Computers use little pictures called icons — what do they mean?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a play button.
  • Ask what it does.
  • Get ready.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Guess.
  • Get ready.
2

Unplugged — Unplug It

8 min

Children practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Point to icons on a screen.
  • Say what each does.
  • Feel the idea.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Point.
  • Say it.
  • Feel it.
3

Use — Match Icons

9 min

Children use.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send children to Match the Icon.
  • Match each one.
  • Explain them.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Explain.
  • Check.
4

Modify — Find More

6 min

Children modify.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Find an icon on a device.
  • Say what it does.
  • Explain it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Find it.
  • Say it.
  • Explain.
5

Create — Create

3 min

Children conclude.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name an icon.
  • Say what it does.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards and ISTE Standards for Students.

CSTA
1A-CS-02

Use icons on a device.

CSTA
1A-CS-03

Describe how icons work.

CSTA
1A-AP-09

Connect symbols to actions.

ISTE
1

Empowered Learner.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Icon picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “The ___ icon ___.”
  • Use a real screen.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with play and trash.
  • Use big icons.
  • Match one pair.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Find more icons.
  • Draw an icon.
  • Use a real app.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🔍Icon cards
  • 💻Match the Icon to What It Does
  • 📱A tablet (for show)
  • 🖍️Crayons
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

icona little picture buttonsymbola picture that means somethingplaystarts a videohomegoes to the startsearchto look for somethingspeakerchanges the sounddeleteto removebuttona spot you tap
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What does the play button do?
Starts a video or song.
QUESTION 2
What does the trash can icon do?
Deletes something.
QUESTION 3
What is an icon?
A little picture button that does a job.

Create: find an icon.

Have children find an icon on a device (with a grown-up) and say what it does. A printable icons sheet is in the Computer Science library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Icons & SymbolsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
0

Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Icons & SymbolsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
0%

Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Icons & SymbolsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: button, delete, home, icon, play, search, speaker, symbol
  1. to remove
  2. goes to the start
  3. a picture that means something
  4. to look for something
  5. changes the sound
  6. starts a video
  7. a spot you tap
  8. a little picture button

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does the play button do?
  2. What does the trash can icon do?
  3. What is an icon?
Answer key — Part A: 1) delete · 2) home · 3) symbol · 4) search · 5) speaker · 6) play · 7) button · 8) icon
Part B: 1) Starts a video or song. 2) Deletes something. 3) A little picture button that does a job.