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Practicing the skills of clicking buttons and moving items around the digital desktop.
Imagine your computer screen is a magical playground! What if you could use a magic wand to pick up stars, open secret doors, and move your toys around just by pointing?
When you use a computer, your mouse or trackpad is like your finger. A single click is when you press the left button down once and let go quickly. It sounds like a tiny click! We use a single click to select something. Selecting is like pointing at a toy you want to play with. When you click an icon, it might change color or get a box around it. This tells the computer, 'Hey! I am looking at this one!' Remember, you only need to press the button time for this magic trick.
Let's practice selecting a star icon on your screen. 1. Move your mouse until the arrow (the cursor) is right on top of the star. 2. Press the left button down time. 3. Lift your finger up quickly. 4. Look! The star is now highlighted!
Quick Check
How many times do you press the button to 'select' or point at an item?
Answer
You press the button time.
Sometimes, we want to see what is inside a folder. To do this, we use a double-click. This is like knocking on a door! You have to click the button times very, very fast. If you go too slow, the computer thinks you are just doing two single clicks. Think of the rhythm like saying 'Knock-knock!' quickly. This magic move opens programs, games, or folders so you can see what is hidden inside them.
Imagine there is a folder that looks like a treasure chest. 1. Put your arrow on the treasure chest. 2. Click the left button times fast: click-click! 3. If the folder opens into a new window, you did it! If not, try clicking even faster.
Quick Check
If you want to open a folder, do you click slowly or fast?
Answer
You click fast (double-click).
What if you want to move a picture from the left side of the screen to the right? We use drag and drop. This is a three-step move. First, you click and hold the button down (don't let go!). Second, you move your mouse to 'drag' the item across the screen. Third, you let go of the button to 'drop' it. It is like picking up a crayon, moving your hand, and putting it back down in a new spot. This helps us keep our digital desktop clean and organized!
Let's move a 'Messy Sock' icon into a 'Laundry Basket' folder. 1. Point at the 'Messy Sock'. 2. Press the button and keep your finger holding it down. 3. Move the mouse until the sock is right on top of the 'Laundry Basket'. 4. Lift your finger off the button to drop the sock inside!
Which move is like 'pointing' at a toy?
What happens if you click times very fast on a folder?
To drag an item, you must keep the button pressed down while you move the mouse.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to remember the 'Knock-knock' rule. How many clicks does it take to open a folder?
Practice Activity
Try to move icons on your desktop into a straight line using the drag and drop move.