Chapter 2: Hardware and Software — What's the Difference?
Hardware and Software 🧩
Section titled “Hardware and Software 🧩”Two Kinds of Computer Things
Section titled “Two Kinds of Computer Things”A computer is made of two kinds of things.
One kind you can touch. One kind you cannot.
In Chapter 1, you learned about the parts you can see and touch. Now let’s give them a name!
hardware hardware: The parts of a computer you can touch. is all the parts you can touch. A mouse is hardware. A keyboard is hardware. The screen is hardware, too!
What Is Software?
Section titled “What Is Software?”But a computer needs more than parts. It needs to know what to do.
software software: The programs and apps that tell the hardware what to do. is the part you cannot touch. Software tells the hardware what to do.
A program program: A set of steps that tells a computer how to do a job. is a kind of software. A drawing tool is a program. A math game is a program, too.
A game or a tool on a tablet is often called an app app: A program you tap or click to open, like a game or a drawing tool. . Apps are software!
Like Your Body and Your Thoughts
Section titled “Like Your Body and Your Thoughts”Here is an easy way to think about it.
Hardware is like your body. Your hands and feet are parts you can touch.
Software is like your thoughts. Your thoughts tell your body what to do. “Wave hello!” your brain says. Then your hand waves.
Software does the same thing. It tells the hardware, “Show this game!” Then the screen shows the game.
Your body and your thoughts work together. Hardware and software work together, too!
Everyday Examples
Section titled “Everyday Examples”Let’s look at some things you know.
A keyboard is hardware. You press the keys with your fingers.
A drawing app is software. It tells the screen to make a red line when you draw.
The speaker is hardware. A song is software that tells the speaker to play.
See? They always work as a team.
Mika had two big boxes. One box said Touch It and one box said Tell It.
“Let’s play a sorting game!” said Mika.
Mika picked up a mouse. “I can touch this. It is hardware!” She put it in the Touch It box.
Next, Mika opened a bright green game on the tablet. “I cannot hold this game. It is software. It tells the tablet what to do!” She pointed to the Tell It box.
Then Mika held up the keyboard. “Touch It!” she cheered. She held up a drawing app. “Tell It!”
Soon both boxes were full. “Hardware I can touch,” Mika said. “Software tells it what to do. Now I know the difference!”
Let’s Sort! 🗂️
Section titled “Let’s Sort! 🗂️”Let’s make two piles. One pile is hardware. One pile is software.
Is it hardware or software? Say it out loud!
- A mouse 🖱️
- A drawing app 🎨
- A keyboard ⌨️
- A math game 🔢
- The screen 🖥️
- A song that plays 🎵
Here is a hint. Can you touch it? That is hardware! Does it tell the hardware what to do? That is software!
Think About It! 🤔
Section titled “Think About It! 🤔”- What is one piece of hardware you can touch right now?
- What is one app or game you like? Is it hardware or software?
- How are hardware and software like your body and your thoughts?
Great work! Next, in Chapter 3, we will learn about fixing simple problems. See you there! 👋