AP CSP Day 4 - Internet Fundamentals

Course Information

• Course: AP Computer Science Principles
• Unit: Big Idea 2 - Computer Systems and Networks (CSN)
• Lesson: Day 4 (50 minutes)
• Learning Objective: CSN-1.D - Understand internet fundamentals

Learning Objectives

Primary Goals

Students will be able to:

1. Define what the internet is
2. Understand key internet concepts like IP addresses and DNS
3. Test and refine their understanding of internet fundamentals
4. Analyze real-world scenarios involving the internet

AP Exam Alignment

• Big Idea 2: Computer Systems and Networks (16-20% of AP Exam)
• Essential Knowledge: CSN-1.D.1, CSN-1.D.2, CSN-1.D.3
• Computational Thinking Practice: 2.A - Develop algorithms for solving problems

Lesson Structure (50 minutes)

Opening Hook (10 minutes)

1.1 Welcome & Lesson Preview (5 minutes)

Teacher Activities:

• Recap previous day's content on networking basics
• Introduce today's topic on internet fundamentals

Student Activities:

• Think about: "What are some examples of internet use in daily life?"

1.2 Internet Examples Challenge (5 minutes)

Activity: "Identify Internet Components"
Instructions:

• Groups of 4-6 students
• Identify internet components in given scenarios
• Discuss the importance of the internet

Purpose: Activate thinking about internet fundamentals

Core Content Instruction (20 minutes)

2.1 What are Internet Fundamentals? (10 minutes)

Definition (CSN-1.D.1):

Internet fundamentals include understanding how devices connect globally through standardized protocols.

Key Concepts:

• IP addresses: Unique identifiers for devices
• DNS: Domain Name System
• Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, FTP

Case Study: Accessing a website

• Process: Entering URL -> DNS lookup -> IP address -> Data transfer

2.2 Common Internet Components (5 minutes)

Examples:

• IP addresses: 192.168.1.1
• DNS: Translating domain names to IP addresses
• Protocols: HTTP for web browsing

Discussion Questions:

1. What makes good internet usage?
2. Can you think of an example where the internet is used in daily life?
3. Why are internet fundamentals important in computing?

2.3 Advanced Internet Concepts (5 minutes)

Why is it important?:

• Global connectivity: Connecting devices worldwide
• Security: Protecting data during transmission

Discussion Questions:

1. How can we ensure global connectivity?
2. Why is security important in internet usage?

Hands-On Activity (15 minutes)

3.1 Group Project: Simulate Internet Communication (15 minutes)

Activity: "Simulate a Website Access"
Instructions:

• Groups of 3-4 students
• Simulate accessing a website step-by-step
• Present the simulation to the class

Materials:

• **Simulation worksheet
• **Internet checklist

Learning Goals:

• **Understand internet fundamentals
• **Simulate website access
• **Present ideas effectively

Assessment:

• **Group participation
• **Simulation accuracy
• **Presentation clarity

Closure & Preview (5 minutes)

4.1 Key Concepts Review (2 minutes)

Today's Learning Highlights:

1. ✅ Defining what the internet is
2. ✅ Understanding key internet concepts
3. ✅ Testing understanding of internet fundamentals
4. ✅ Analyzing real-world scenarios

AP Exam Connection:

• These concepts will appear in AP exam multiple choice questions
• Understanding internet fundamentals is crucial for the Explore Performance Task

4.2 Next Class Preview (3 minutes)

Day 5 Topic: "Web Technologies"

• Learning Objective: CSN-1.E - Understand web technologies
• Activity: Exploring HTML and CSS
• Homework: Think about a recent website you visited. How did it work?