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Learning about the monitor where we see pictures and the computer case that holds the 'brain'.
Did you know that a computer is like a person? It has a 'face' to show you things and a 'brain' to do all its thinking!
The monitor is the part of the computer that looks like a television. We also call it the screen. It is the 'face' of the computer. When you play a game, watch a video, or draw a picture, the monitor is where you look to see the action. Without the monitor, the computer wouldn't be able to show us anything! It uses tiny lights to create all the colors and shapes you see. There are or more screens attached to many computers.
Imagine you are in a room with a TV and a computer. 1. Look for the flat glass or plastic surface. 2. If you see a movie playing on it, you have found the monitor!
Quick Check
If you want to see a picture of a puppy on the computer, which part do you look at?
Answer
The monitor (or screen).
The computer case is the sturdy box that sits near the monitor. Sometimes people call it a tower. While the monitor shows us pictures, the case is where the real work happens! Inside this box are the 'brains' of the computer. These parts are very delicate, so the case acts like a suit of armor to keep them safe. It holds the parts that remember your games and follow your instructions.
Look under or next to a desk. 1. Find the large rectangular box. 2. Look for the 'Power' button on the front. 3. This box is the computer case that protects the computer's brain.
Quick Check
True or False: The computer case is just an empty box to hold the monitor up.
Answer
False. It holds the important parts that do the thinking!
The monitor and the case are a team. The case does the thinking, and then it sends a signal through a wire to the monitor. The monitor then shows you what the case is thinking about. It is like your brain telling your mouth to speak! One part does the work, and the other part shows the result. Most computers have case and monitor working together.
Look at a laptop computer. 1. The top part with the glass is the monitor. 2. The bottom part under the keys is actually the computer case! 3. On a laptop, the 'brain' and the 'screen' are connected in one folding piece.
Which part of the computer looks like a TV?
Where are the 'thinking' parts of the computer kept?
The computer case acts like armor to protect the computer's brain.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to remember: Which part is the 'face' and which part is the 'brain'?
Practice Activity
Go to a computer and point to the monitor. Then, follow the wires to find the computer case!