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The final steps of a computer session, including saving work and shutting down.
Imagine if someone woke you up by splashing water on your face instead of gently saying 'good morning.' That is what it feels like for a computer when we pull the plug without saying goodbye!
Before we turn off the computer, we have to make sure our work is safe. Imagine you are building a tall tower of blocks. If you leave them in the middle of the floor, someone might trip and knock them down! On a computer, we Save our work. Saving is like putting your blocks into a special box with your name on it. If we don't save, the computer might 'forget' what we did once it goes to sleep. Always look for the Save icon, which often looks like a little square floppy disk, or ask a teacher to help you click 'File' then 'Save' before you finish.
Quick Check
What happens to your work if you don't save it before the computer turns off?
Answer
The computer might forget it, and your work could be lost.
Computers are very busy. Even when you aren't typing, they are moving files and thinking. To turn them off safely, we use the Shut Down command. This tells the computer to finish its chores and close its eyes slowly. On most computers, you click the Start button (it looks like a window or a circle) and then click the power symbol to find 'Shut Down.' This is much better than pulling the plug! Pulling the plug is like stopping a car by hitting a wall—it can break the computer's 'brain' or its parts.
Follow these steps to say goodbye to your computer: 1. Use your mouse to click the Start or Menu button in the corner. 2. Look for the word Power or a circle with a line through the top. 3. Click the word Shut Down and wait for the screen to go black.
Quick Check
Why is pulling the power cord out of the wall bad for the computer?
Answer
It stops the computer too fast and can break its parts or 'brain.'
The last part of a safe shutdown isn't on the screen—it's on your desk! A good computer scientist always leaves their area ready for the next person. This means your workspace should be clean. We call this 'leaving no trace.' If everyone leaves a mess, the computer lab becomes a hard place to work. By cleaning up, you show respect for the tools we use to learn.
Before you leave your chair, check these things: 1. Is the Keyboard straight and flat on the desk? 2. Is the Mouse sitting right next to the keyboard? 3. Is your Chair pushed in under the desk so no one trips?
Imagine your friend is about to pull the plug because they are in a hurry. 1. Tell them: 'Wait! We need to use the menu!' 2. Help them find the Shut Down button. 3. Remind them to check if their drawing was Saved first. 4. High-five for keeping the computers safe!
Which button do you click to turn the computer off correctly?
It is okay to leave your chair pulled out and your trash on the desk.
If you have drawing on the screen and you want to keep it for tomorrow, what must you do first?
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to remember the steps of the Clean Desk Checklist without looking at this guide!
Practice Activity
Next time you use a computer, see if you can find the 'Shut Down' button all by yourself before the teacher asks you to.