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Tap and Press

Kindergartners learn how we tell a tablet or computer what to do — by tapping and pressing buttons — and that each button does a certain thing.

KindergartenComputing Systems25 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…

  • ✓Tap and press.
  • ✓Know buttons do things.
  • ✓Match buttons to what they do.
  • ✓Use a device.
Essential Question

How do you tell a tablet what to do? You tap and press! Each button does something special. What happens when you tap?

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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 Button to What It Does

Project this and match each button to what it does — tap a button, then tap what it does.

👆 Match each button to what it doesTry it
Button
What Happens
Now tap what it does!
The Lesson · Use → Modify → Create (a coding progression with Unplugged practice)

25 minutes, five moves

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

1

Hook — Tap to Tell

3 min

You tell a tablet what to do by tapping — how?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Tap a pretend button.
  • Ask what happens.
  • Get ready.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Look.
  • Guess.
  • Get ready.
2

Unplugged — Unplug It

7 min

Children practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Press pretend buttons.
  • Say what each does.
  • Feel the idea.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Press.
  • Say it.
  • Feel it.
3

Use — Match Buttons

7 min

Children use.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

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

🎒 Student Actions

  • Match.
  • Explain.
  • Check.
4

Modify — Try It

5 min

Children modify.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Tap a play button.
  • Tap an arrow.
  • Say what happened.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap it.
  • Tap it.
  • Say it.
5

Create — Create

3 min

Children conclude.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a button.
  • 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 a device by tapping.

CSTA
1A-CS-03

Describe how buttons work.

CSTA
1A-AP-09

Model actions and results.

ISTE
1

Empowered Learner.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Button picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “Tap ___ and ___.”
  • Use a real screen.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with play and stop.
  • Use big buttons.
  • Match one pair.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Find more buttons.
  • Explain an icon.
  • Use a real app.
Materials

What to gather

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

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

tapto touch a screenpressto push a buttonbuttona spot you tapplaystarts a videostopends itarrowgoes to the next pagescreenthe flat glass particona little picture button
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 happens when you tap the play button?
The video starts.
QUESTION 2
What happens when you tap the stop button?
It stops.
QUESTION 3
How do you tell a tablet what to do?
Tap and press the buttons.

Create: tap it.

Have children tap a play and stop button on a device (with a grown-up) and say what happens. A printable tap 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.

🃏 Tap and PressFlip
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.

📝 Tap and PressQuiz
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.

🖨️ Tap and PressPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: arrow, button, icon, play, press, screen, stop, tap
  1. a little picture button
  2. ends it
  3. a spot you tap
  4. the flat glass part
  5. goes to the next page
  6. starts a video
  7. to touch a screen
  8. to push a button

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What happens when you tap the play button?
  2. What happens when you tap the stop button?
  3. How do you tell a tablet what to do?
Answer key — Part A: 1) icon · 2) stop · 3) button · 4) screen · 5) arrow · 6) play · 7) tap · 8) press
Part B: 1) The video starts. 2) It stops. 3) Tap and press the buttons.