Want to create a "discovery/what is it" box for the computer room at school (infant school so ages 4-7y) ....any suggestions of what I could include?

[Hulababy]

To fit in with the new computing curriculum I would like to have a range of "things" for children to hold, touch, look at, etc.

Any suggestions of what I could/should include?

Floppy disk

ICT based or general? Feely bags of items?

Oh yes - found one of those in the garage the other day too - will go put in in the box.

The y1s enjoyed looking at the Raspberry Pi today. Just the board, nothing plugged in etc. Haven't told them what it is. They've had a look, seen what its like - and have gone away trying to decide what it is and what it might be used for.

Yes, computing themed - for KS1 computing lessons (and some EYFS)

And possible even stuff them can take apart....hmmm

Thanks fr suggestions so far

Mouse, cd, different cables so they can compare the plugs, processor out of an old computer, hardrive, RAM?

Excellent - thanks.

Will have to go and have a chat with DG's IT dept at his work; they must have plenty of old stuff laying around.

How about some things that you wouldn't think of as a computer, but actually are? Watch, calculator, old dead phone, some sort of electronic toy. Link to message of how computers are everywhere...

Old fashioned stuff but would be v hard to find - punched card, valve even?!

Great ideas - thanks.

DH teacher computers to his whole school.
One thing that he does is to take a computer apart with them. Looking at a motherboard through a magnifying glass can be fascinating. Crack open an old hard drive too. Most people don't realise that hard drives (aside from solid state) are actual disks.

I second showing them a floppy disc too. If nothing else so they understand the save icon on Word.

My aim is to take a tower apart and show them Inside the computer.

And yes to the word icon:)

One of the 'old' Palm Pilots or personal organisers?

The magazines that you used to get for the first home computers that had rows of code to programme - goodness knows where you'd get one but I remember it for a ZX Spectrum?

Cassette tape that held games and programmes (load "")?

ZX81 or ZX Spectrum?

A joystick? Do they still exist?

The magazines that you used to get for the first home computers that had rows of code to programme - goodness knows where you'd get one but I remember it for a ZX Spectrum?

Sinclair User or Your Sinclair Magazine.
You can buy them on eBay.
Or you could get the entire back catalogue from the cupboard in my spare room.

I used to love those magazines. Would sit with my magazine and my Vic 20 entering all the code :)