105: from valves to chips: the generations of computing (ks3)
Explore the 5 generations of computing, from vacuum tubes to AI.
Time Travellers: The Evolution of the Machine
The Scenario
The Science Museum is opening a new exhibit titled "From Giants to Gems: The Story of Computing." They need a digital guide that explains the five generations of computers to visitors, showing how technology shrunk in size but grew in power.
The Persona
You are The HistorianI have no idea what this means. You research the past to explain the present. You are interested in the 'who', 'when', and 'how' of technological change. You look for patterns in history to understand how we arrived at the technology we use today.
The Science Museum is opening a new exhibit titled "From Giants to Gems: The Story of Computing." They need a digital guide that explains the five generations of computers to visitors, showing how technology shrunk in size but grew in power.
You are The HistorianI have no idea what this means. You research the past to explain the present. You are interested in the 'who', 'when', and 'how' of technological change. You look for patterns in history to understand how we arrived at the technology we use today.
1
Open your software
Open presentation software (like PowerPoint or Google Slides) or a timeline creation tool.
Create a title slide: "The 5 Generations of Computing" with your name.
2
Research the Generations
You need to find information on the Five Generations of Computers.
For each generation, you must find:
The timeframe (e.g., 1940-1956).
The key technology (e.g., Vacuum Tubes).
One example computer (e.g., ENIAC, IBM 360).
A description of the size and reliability (e.g., "Filled a whole room and got very hot").
3
Build the Exhibit
Create one slide/section for each of the five generations.
Generation 1: Vacuum Tubes (The Giants).
Generation 2: Transistors (The Game Changer).
Generation 3: Integrated Circuits (The Chip).
Generation 4: Microprocessors (The Personal Computer).
Generation 5: Artificial Intelligence (The Future).
Include an image for each generation to show the size difference.
4
The Historian's Analysis
Add a final summary slide titled "The Trend".
Answer this question: As we moved from Generation 1 to Generation 5, what happened to the size, cost, and speed of computers?
Outcome
A 6-7 slide presentation or digital timeline.
Correct identification of the key technology for all 5 generations.
Images included for every generation.
A summary explaining the trend of computers becoming smaller, faster, and cheaper.
Last modified: December 15th, 2025
