Chapter 4: Communicating and Creating

Communicating and Creating ✍️

Making and Sharing on a Screen

Devices don’t just show us things — we can make things with them and talk to people, too! Watching is fun. But making is even better. Let’s have some fun creating.

Typing ⌨️

We can use a keyboard to type letters and words. A keyboard has some special keys that help:

The letter keys type letters. They are not in ABC order, but you will learn where they are!
The long space bar at the bottom makes a space between words.
The backspace or delete key erases the last letter. Mistakes are easy to fix!
The enter key starts a new line, or says “go.”
The shift key makes a BIG letter when you hold it and press a letter.

On a tablet, there is no keyboard you can feel. Instead, a keyboard pops up on the screen when you tap a place to type. You tap the letters with your finger.

Typing is slow at first. That’s okay! Every time you type, your fingers learn a little more.

Drawing and Making 🎨

We can use drawing apps to make art with our finger or a special pen. You can pick colors, make lines thick or thin, and add shapes. Making things on a device is just like making things on paper — but on a screen!

Here is the best button in any drawing app: undo. It looks like a curly arrow. If you make a mistake, tap undo and the mistake goes away. On paper you would need an eraser. On a screen, undo fixes it in one tap!

You can make more than drawings:

Take a photo with the camera. The photo is saved in the photo app.
Record your voice with the microphone. You can tell a story and play it back!
Make a little video by pressing record and pointing the camera.

A photo is a picture the device keeps. Sharing means sending it to someone else, so they can see it on their device. That can be fun, like sending Grandma a picture of your drawing.

But once a picture is shared, it is hard to get back. So smart tech helpers follow these rules:

Ask a grown-up before you share anything.
Ask a friend before you take their picture. They get to say yes or no.
Never share a photo that shows where you live or go to school.

Talking on a Screen 🎥

There are a few ways to talk to people on a screen:

A video call lets us see and talk to someone far away, like a grandparent!
A message is words or a picture you send. The other person reads it on their device.
A voice message is your voice, recorded and sent.

On a video call we can:

Turn our camera on so they see us. Remember, they can see everything the camera sees — so hold it still and point it at you!
Use mute to turn our sound off, and turn it back on to talk. Mute is handy when a dog is barking.
Tap the red end button when it’s time to say goodbye.

Who do we talk to on a screen? People we know in real life, like family and friends, and only with a grown-up nearby. If someone we don’t know sends a message, we don’t answer. We show a grown-up.

Being a Good Helper 🤝

When we make something, a grown-up can help us save it so we can show it to others later. And when we talk on a screen, we use kind words and a friendly voice, just like in person.

When a device is shared, we take turns. When our turn is over, we hand it over gently and say, “Your turn!”

Chapter 4 Activity: Make Something! 🔍

With a grown-up:

Type your name, or a word you like. Try the space bar and backspace.
Make a little drawing on a screen or on paper. Try the undo button!
Record yourself telling a short story, and play it back.
Practice waving and saying “Hello!” like on a video call. Then practice tapping mute and end.
Talk about who you are allowed to message or call.

Key Concepts Checklist

I can type letters with a keyboard and use the space bar and backspace
I can draw or make something on a screen
I know the undo button fixes a mistake
I know I can take a photo, record my voice, or make a video
I ask a grown-up before sharing a picture, and ask a friend before taking theirs
I know a video call lets me see and talk to people far away
I know how to use the camera, mute, and end on a call
I only message and call people I know, with a grown-up nearby
I use kind words when I talk on a screen, and I take turns