Creating meaningful computer lab lesson plans for elementary students can feel overwhelming. Between aligning to standards, keeping activities age-appropriate, and scaffolding skills across K–5, many teachers end up piecing together resources from all over the internet.

But with the right structure, your computer lab can become one of the most engaging and purposeful places in the school.

Elementary Computer Lab Lesson Plans | K–5 Technology Curriculum

What Makes a Strong Computer Lab Lesson Plan?

1. Standards Alignment

Great computer lab lessons connect to frameworks like the ISTE Standards for Students. This ensures that what you’re teaching isn’t just “busy work,” but foundational digital literacy skills students will need long term.

2. Age-Appropriate Pacing

Kindergarteners need practice with mouse skills and basic navigation, while 5th graders may be ready for research, presentations, and coding. The key is gradually building skills year over year.

3. Balance of Skills & Engagement

Students should leave each lesson with both:

  • A specific tech skill (like formatting text or practicing typing), and
  • An opportunity to use creativity or critical thinking (like designing a slide or solving a digital citizenship scenario).

Sample Elementary Computer Lab Lesson Outline

Here’s a flexible outline you can adapt to almost any grade level:

  • Warm-Up (5 minutes): Typing or Mouse Practice
    Start with a short, consistent activity to build fluency. This helps students settle in and gives them daily practice.
  • Mini-Lesson (10 minutes): Digital Citizenship or Tech Skill
    Introduce a new skill or concept. For younger grades, this could be learning how to log in or open a program. For older students, it might be evaluating websites for credibility.
  • Main Activity (20 minutes): Creative or Applied Project
    Students practice the skill by creating something. Example: a simple poster in Slides, a chart in Sheets, or a Scratch coding challenge.
  • Wrap-Up (5 minutes): Reflection or Exit Ticket
    End with a quick check for understanding—like a class discussion, a question on the board, or a digital exit ticket.

This structure keeps lessons predictable for students, but flexible enough for you to cover a wide variety of skills.

Common Struggles Teachers Face

  • Spending hours hunting down activities that may not fit standards.
  • Trying to manage 25+ students who are all at different skill levels.
  • Finding age-appropriate projects that are engaging but not overwhelming.

If this sounds familiar—you’re not alone! That’s exactly why a done-for-you computer lab curriculum can be such a lifesaver.

A Time-Saving Solution: The K–5 Technology Curriculum

If you’re tired of reinventing the wheel each week, the K–5 Technology Curriculum has you covered.

With this subscription, you’ll get:

  • A full year of ready-to-teach lesson plans for each grade level.
  • Student-facing webpages with click-and-go activities.
  • Teacher guides, rationale pages, and editable plans.
  • Coverage of essential topics: typing, digital citizenship, research, software programs, coding, creativity, and more.

Whether you’re a full-time technology teacher or a classroom teacher with mandatory lab time, this resource saves you countless hours and ensures your students are learning the skills they need.

👉 Check out the K–5 Technology Curriculum here

Final Thoughts

Elementary computer lab time is valuable—and when you walk in with a clear, purposeful lesson plan, your students will thrive. Whether you use the sample outline above or dive into a full curriculum, the key is consistency, scaffolding, and keeping lessons both skill-based and engaging.