Lesson Plan

• Describe the key characteristics of ROM and RAM, including volatility, writeability, speed, and capacity.
• Compare and contrast ROM and RAM to explain their different roles in a computer system.
• Identify common types of ROM and RAM and give real‑world examples.
• Explain why RAM is faster than ROM and how each memory type supports the boot process and program execution.

• Projector and screen
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed handout with ROM/RAM comparison table
• Computer with internet access for demo
• Flash drive containing a sample BIOS image
• Worksheet for quick quiz and exit ticket

Imagine turning on a computer and it instantly knows how to start up. Students should already know that computers need memory to store data. Today we will explore the two main types of memory—ROM and RAM—and discover how they differ. By the end of the lesson you will be able to list their main features and explain their distinct roles.

1. Do‑now (5') – Quick quiz on memory types displayed on the board.
2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Definition and characteristics of ROM with slides.
3. Pair activity (10') – Match ROM examples (e.g., BIOS, EEPROM) to their descriptions.
4. Mini‑lecture (10') – Definition and characteristics of RAM.
5. Group Venn diagram (10') – Compare ROM and RAM features.
6. Whole‑class review (5') – Discuss key takeaways and answer questions.
7. Exit ticket (5') – Write one difference and one example of each memory type.

We recap that ROM stores permanent instructions while RAM provides fast, temporary workspace for the CPU. Students hand in their exit tickets as a retrieval check. For homework, complete the worksheet on memory hierarchy and write a short paragraph on how SSDs relate to ROM.