K–2 · Noticing, Sorting, Teaching

Computers and Programs

Unit 3 reveals that a computer is a machine that follows a program — a list of steps we write. Across five 20–30 minute lessons, students program Kai step by step, discover that order matters, find the “bug” when a program goes wrong, and learn to fix and test it: a playful first taste of coding and debugging.

📘 5 lessons · 20–30 min lessons📄 5 printable activities + certificate

The 5 lessons

  1. 1

    What Is a Computer?

    20–30 min

    Children learn a computer is a machine that follows a program, and that Kai is a kind of computer waiting for their steps.

    Vocabulary: computer · program · step · Kai

  2. 2

    What Is a Program?

    20–30 min

    Students discover a program is a list of steps a computer follows, and that they are the programmers who write it for Kai.

    Vocabulary: program · step · order · Kai

  3. 3

    Programs Run in Order

    20–30 min

    Kids learn the order of steps matters — the same steps in a different order give a different result.

    Vocabulary: order · sequence · program · Kai

  4. 4

    When Programs Go Wrong

    20–30 min

    Students find out programs can have mistakes called bugs, and become detectives who spot the broken step.

    Vocabulary: mistake · bug · program · Kai

  5. 5

    Fix and Test the Program

    20–30 min

    Children practice the three steps of debugging — find, fix, and test — and learn that mistakes help us improve.

    Vocabulary: find · fix · test · debug · Kai

Get the full K–2 Teacher Pack

Every lesson includes ready-to-teach plans — warm-ups, mini-lessons, activities, assessments, and printables. No prep required.

View school & teacher pricing →← Back to curriculum map