Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Information Communication Technology ICT
Lesson Topic: Know and understand characteristics of backing storage
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the purpose of backing (secondary) storage and its non‑volatile nature.
  • Compare common backing storage types (HDD, SSD, optical disc, magnetic tape, flash) using capacity, speed, cost, durability and portability.
  • Analyse a given scenario and select the most appropriate backing storage solution.
  • Evaluate trade‑offs between cost per GB and performance for different devices.
  • Explain how access method (sequential vs. random) influences suitability for specific tasks.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • Handout with storage‑type comparison table
  • Sample USB flash drive and external HDD
  • Worksheet for scenario decision‑making
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Internet access for a quick cloud‑storage demo
 Introduction:
Ask learners where their photos, videos and games are stored and note the variety of devices mentioned. Connect this to their existing knowledge of RAM as volatile memory. Explain that today they will discover how secondary storage keeps data safe and how to choose the right type. Success criteria: by the end of the lesson they can list key characteristics and justify a storage choice for a given need.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5'): Students create a quick mind‑map of personal storage devices on a sticky note.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Definition of backing storage and overview of the seven key characteristics.
  3. Guided comparison (15'): In pairs, learners use the handout table to fill a chart comparing HDD, SSD, optical disc, tape and flash on capacity, speed, cost, durability, portability and access method.
  4. Scenario activity (10'): Each group receives a real‑world use‑case (e.g., video editing, long‑term archive, portable transfer) and selects the most suitable storage, providing a brief justification.
  5. Whole‑class debrief (5'): Groups share choices; teacher highlights correct reasoning and common misconceptions.
  6. Exit ticket (5'): Individually write one characteristic that best differentiates SSDs from HDDs.
Conclusion:
Recap the seven characteristics and how they influence storage decisions. Collect exit tickets to check understanding, then assign a short homework: research a newer storage technology (e.g., NVMe, cloud‑based object storage) and write a paragraph describing its main advantage over traditional options.