💻 TechnologyGrade 5Lesson 2
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Device Care & Troubleshooting

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Take care of devices to keep them safe and working well
  • 2Tell the difference between hardware and software issues
  • 3Match common device problems to the right first fix step
  • 4Follow a calm troubleshooting routine before asking for help
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Mini Lesson

Devices last longer and work better when you treat them carefully and know what to do when something goes wrong. Good troubleshooters stay calm, look closely, and try simple fixes before calling for help.

Daily Device Care

  1. Carry devices with two hands and close lids gently.
  2. Keep food and drinks far from screens and keyboards.
  3. Clean screens with a soft, dry cloth — never spray water on them.
  4. Store devices in a cool, dry place and charge them before they hit zero.
  5. Log out and shut down properly so files save and updates can run.

Hardware vs Software

A problem is either with the physical machine (hardware) or with the programs running on it (software). Naming the type of problem helps you pick the right first fix.

  • Hardware = parts you can touch: screen, keyboard, charger, battery, speaker.
  • Software = code that runs on the device: apps, the operating system, websites, files.
  • A cracked screen is hardware. An app that keeps crashing is software.
  • A dead battery is hardware. A frozen browser tab is software.

The Four-Step Troubleshooting Routine

  1. Restart — turn the device off and on again before anything else.
  2. Check connections — cables, Wi-Fi, power, volume, and brightness.
  3. Update — make sure the app and the operating system are up to date.
  4. Ask for help — describe what you tried so an adult can take it from there.
Hardware vs SoftwareHardware vs SoftwareHARDWARE• Cracked screen• Dead battery• Loose charger• Stuck key• No sound from speakerSOFTWARE• App keeps crashing• Browser tab frozen• Update needed• Wrong password• File will not open
Troubleshooting RoutineTroubleshooting Routine1RESTARTTurn off,turn back on2CONNECTCheck cablesand Wi-Fi3UPDATEApp andsystem updates4ASKTell an adultwhat you triedStay calm. Most problems have a simple fix.Save your work before you restart anything.Write down the steps you already tried.Never open the device — let an adult handle hardware.
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Tip: a restart fixes more problems than any other step. Try it first, every time.

Vocabulary
hardware
The physical parts of a device you can touch.
software
The programs and code that run on a device.
troubleshooting
A calm, step-by-step way to find and fix a problem.
restart
Turning a device off and back on so it starts fresh.
update
A new version of an app or system that fixes bugs.
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