Technology at Home and School

Active learning helps Year 1 students connect abstract ideas about technology use to their daily lives. When they move, discuss, and create, they build personal understanding of how to balance screen time with other important activities.

• Year 1
• Computing
• 3 activities
• 15 min–20 min

Learning Objectives

1. Compare the functions of at least three technologies used at home with three technologies used at school.
2. Explain the primary purpose of two distinct technologies found in a school setting.
3. Identify at least two pieces of technology that are used in both home and school environments.
4. Classify technologies based on their primary use at home or at school.

Formal Debate

⏱ 20 min·Whole Class

Formal Debate: Screen Time vs. Green Time

The class is split into two groups. One group lists all the great things about using a tablet (learning, games), and the other lists all the great things about playing outside (exercise, fresh air). They then discuss how to have a 'balanced day'.

Prepare & details

Can you name some technology you use at home and some technology you use at school?

Facilitation Tip: During the debate, provide sentence starters on cards to support students in forming complete thoughts about screen time and green time.

Setup: Two teams facing each other, audience seating for the rest

Materials: Debate proposition card, Research brief for each side, Judging rubric for audience, Timer

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Role Play

⏱ 15 min·Pairs

Role Play: The Polite Gamer

Students act out a scene where a parent says '5 minutes left'. They practice 'saving' their game and turning off the screen without a fuss, discussing why it's important to listen to our bodies when they are tired.

Prepare & details

What do you think would happen if our school had no computers for a whole week?

Facilitation Tip: For the role play, model the polite phrases first so students have a clear example of how to speak respectfully during gameplay.

Setup: Open space or rearranged desks for scenario staging

Materials: Character cards with backstory and goals, Scenario briefing sheet

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Social Awareness
• Self-Awareness

Gallery Walk

⏱ 20 min·Whole Class

Gallery Walk: My Favorite Non-Tech Activity

Students draw a picture of something they love doing that doesn't use any electricity (e.g., swimming, reading, playing tag). They display their drawings and walk around to find a new 'no-tech' activity to try this weekend.

Prepare & details

Which pieces of technology do you use both at home and at school?

Facilitation Tip: Set a timer for the Gallery Walk so students move purposefully and spend time observing each poster carefully.

Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter

Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Teaching This Topic

Teachers should use concrete examples that connect to students' lives rather than abstract rules. Avoid framing technology as inherently good or bad. Instead, guide students to notice how different activities contribute to their well-being, just as they learn about food groups in health lessons.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students using clear language to explain the benefits of technology and the importance of balance. They should show awareness of different activities by naming examples from their own experiences.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Screen Time vs. Green Time, watch for students who say technology is always bad for health.

What to Teach Instead

Use the debate to redirect their thinking by asking them to compare a favorite screen activity with a non-screen activity and describe how each one makes them feel.

Common Misconception

During Gallery Walk: My Favorite Non-Tech Activity, watch for students who think learning only happens on screens.

What to Teach Instead

Guide them to point to examples on their posters that show skills learned without technology, such as drawing, building, or playing outside.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

After Screen Time vs. Green Time, gather students to discuss how they would balance a day that includes both a favorite screen activity and a favorite non-screen activity.

Quick Check

During Polite Gamer, listen for students to use phrases like 'please,' 'thank you,' and 'my turn' while role-playing their game scenarios.

Exit Ticket

After My Favorite Non-Tech Activity, collect sticky notes to check if students can identify one purpose for a piece of technology at home and one purpose for a piece of technology at school.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students to create a new rule for screen time at home and share it with their family.
• For students who struggle, provide picture cards of common activities to help them sort screen and non-screen examples.
• Allow students to add a second poster to the Gallery Walk showing a technology-free activity they would like to try.

Key Vocabulary

technology	Tools and machines that help people do tasks. This can include computers, tablets, phones, and smart boards.
purpose	The reason why something is used or made. For example, the purpose of a pencil is to write.
compare	To look at two or more things to see how they are the same and how they are different.
contrast	To look at two or more things to see how they are different.