New
New
Year 3

Transferring information between devices

I can explain how digital devices can be connected.

New
New
Year 3

Transferring information between devices

I can explain how digital devices can be connected.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Computer networks are made up of a number of parts.
  2. Data can be passed between devices.
  3. Networks have switches, servers and wireless access points.

Keywords

  • Server - a networked computer that manages, stores and provides data such as files to other computers

  • Wireless access point - a network device that allows wireless computing devices to connect to a wired network

  • Network - a group of interconnected computing devices

Common misconception

Data travels in one large piece across the network.

Data is split into smaller packets, which travel separately and are reassembled at the destination.


To help you plan your year 3 computing lesson on: Transferring information between devices, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

You might want to show pupils the wireless access point or network switch in the classroom to help them understand how devices connect.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a connection?
Correct answer: a link between two or more things
a device that stores data
a tool for creating charts
a program for writing code
Q2.
What is a network?
a single device
a type of computer
Correct answer: a group of interconnected devices
a tool for drawing diagrams
Q3.
What does a network switch do?
stores data
Correct answer: manages the flow of data packets
deletes files
Q4.
What is one purpose of a network?
Correct answer: to connect devices
to delete data
to create charts
to write code
Q5.
How do messages travel in a network?
directly to the destination
using only one device
without any connections
Correct answer: through multiple connections
Q6.
Arrange the steps of how a message travels in a network:
1 - A device sends a message.
2 - The message passes through multiple connections.
3 - The message reaches the network switch.
4 - The switch sends the message to the destination device.

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
What does a server do in a network?
deletes files
creates charts
Correct answer: manages and provides data
sends messages directly
Q2.
What is a wireless access point?
Correct answer: a device that connects wireless devices to a wired network
a tool for deleting data
a program for creating charts
a type of server
Q3.
How does data travel across a network?
in one large piece
Correct answer: in smaller packets
without any breaks
directly to the destination device
Q4.
Why are data packets used in a network?
to make data easier to store
to delete unnecessary files
to create new devices
Correct answer: to split data for efficient travel
Q5.
What happens to data packets when they reach their destination?
They are deleted.
Correct answer: They are reassembled into the original data.
They are split further.
They are sent to another network.
Q6.
Match the following examples with their purposes:
Correct Answer:a computer storing files for others,server

server

Correct Answer:a device connecting laptops to a network,wireless access point

wireless access point

Correct Answer:a group of connected devices,network

network