History of Computers Lesson 14: ARPANET to the Web (packets, email, the internet, the World Wide Web) - printable lesson, ages 11-14

A ready-to-teach lesson that follows our free video, step by step.

Watch a part. Pause. Talk. Try it. Then press play again.

The story: the first computers joined in a network in 1969, messages cut into packets, the at sign and email, separate networks joined into an internet, and the World Wide Web that began at CERN.

What you get (13-page printable PDF):

- A one-page guide for the grown-up, with the exact times to pause the video

- Key words, and a "think first" question

- Four pupil pages, one for each part of the video: what we just heard, two questions to talk about, and something to try

- Two worksheets: a packets game with paper strips, "over half" sums, a gateways model with counters, a paper web of linked pages, a matching task, and a cut-out timeline. Nothing in the lesson needs a computer or the internet.

- The story in four pictures, and an 8-question quiz

- All the answers, teaching notes, and the sources for every fact

For ages 11 to 14 (works from 9 with help). About 45 minutes. You need a pencil, a rubber, scissors, plain paper and 12 counters.

Every drawing and every word is our own. The free video is at kitson-workshop.pages.dev/#history

Want to try one first? Lesson 1 (the abacus) is free: payhip.com/b/nmZIE

Pay once, use it for ever: one purchase covers one teacher or one family. Use it as often as you like with your own classes, and print as many copies as your own pupils need. Please do not resell it or pass the file on.

For educational purposes only. Not affiliated with any organisation named in the lesson.