Primary & Secondary Storage in a Computer
Understanding How Computers store data
- Teacher: Jevaughn Foster 2501011378
- Grade 8
- Information Technology
Start
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to explain the difference between primary and secondary storage by describing atleast three characteristics (speed, volatility, function) in a written or oral response with at least 80% accuracy
By the end of the lesson students should be able to correctly classify at least three examples of storage devices in the right category during a interactive activity with atleast 85% accuracy
By the end of the lesson students should be able to analyze a real life scenario example and state which type of storage is being used during a disscussion with 90% accuracy
Back
Next
Lets Talk about it
Where does your data go when you turn off your computer or phone?
How do you think the person in the video felt when they lost their work?
Have you ever lost unsaved work, where and how did you store it?
Back
Next
Back
Next
Primary VS Secondary Storage
To enable captions Select the CC option within the player
Back
Next
While watching the video take note of why we use each type of storage
Lets explore computer storage with a little activity.Attempt to drag and place the images under the right category.
Primary Storage
Hard Disk Drive
Random Access Memory
Secondary storage
Flash Drive
What is Primary Storage?
+ Primary Storage (also known as main memory) is the component of the computer that holds data, programs and instructions that are currently in use (Powell & Smalley, 2025).
RAM is volatile (loses all data stored when the computer is turned off) ROM which is non-volatile (data is stored even when not powered)
Examples: Read only memory (ROM), Random Access Memory(RAM)
(Powell & Smalley, 2025)
Next
Back
What is Secondary Storage?
+ Secondary storage are non volatile long term forms of storage. It is used to store data and information indefinately even when the device is turned off (Havrada, 2025).
+ There are many types of secondary storage for example Hard Disk Drives(HDD) have high capacity and reasonable speeds used to store data and programs while a Flashdrive is typically smaller and is a more convenient form of storage
(Havrada, 2025)
Next
Back
Real Life Scenario
Next
Back
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Reflection Questions
Back
Next
The computer would run faster because more ram means more apps can run smoothly
Saving the work as they progress in secondary storage so that its saved even when the power goes out unexpectedly
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
The computer did not lose any saved files because they were stored in secondary storage
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
What action can the student take to make sure the data loss issue wont happen again?
why did the computer slow down put didnt lose any saved files?
What would happen if the computer had more RAM?
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Drag & Drop Exit Ticket
References
Thats the end of the lessonGood Job everyone
Back
References
Havrada, D. (2025, February 13). Secondary storage: All you need to know. Secondary Storage: All you need to know. https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/secondary-storage-types/
Powell, P., & Smalley, I. (2025, January 2). What is primary storage?. IBM. https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/primary-storage
BrainBoz Quzzes. (2024, December 10) When I forgot to save my work and lost everything: My office horror story. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y45zOmb5biM&list=TLGGghwS_EiPjowyNDAzMjAyNg
Explore Today. (2025, April 27). Understanding Storage Devices: Primary vs Secondary (RAM, HDD, SSD, Pen Drive) Explained Simply [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-GH65kqGEY
All Images used are courtesy of Genially.com
Back
Not quite
Secondary storage affects file saving not how fast apps can run
The answer is B
For those you guessed correctly, yes its runs from the memeory of the device. But not to worry we will be diving in a bit more in types of storage to solve the mystery.
Correct!
Right! when too many apps are running the RAM can be overloaded causes these issues
The answer is B
For those you guessed correctly, yes its runs from the memeory of the device. But not to worry we will be diving in a bit more in types of storage to solve the mystery.
Not quite
Secondary storage keeps hold of data even when power is lost
Correct!
The project was stored in primary storage(RAM) while being typedRAM is temporary and losses data when the power is turned off
The answer is B
For those you guessed correctly, yes its runs from the memeory of the device. But not to worry we will be diving in a bit more in types of storage to get everyone on the right track.
Primary & Secondary Storage in a Computer
jevaughn foster
Created on February 10, 2026
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Transcript
Primary & Secondary Storage in a Computer
Understanding How Computers store data
Start
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to explain the difference between primary and secondary storage by describing atleast three characteristics (speed, volatility, function) in a written or oral response with at least 80% accuracy
By the end of the lesson students should be able to correctly classify at least three examples of storage devices in the right category during a interactive activity with atleast 85% accuracy
By the end of the lesson students should be able to analyze a real life scenario example and state which type of storage is being used during a disscussion with 90% accuracy
Back
Next
Lets Talk about it
Where does your data go when you turn off your computer or phone?
How do you think the person in the video felt when they lost their work?
Have you ever lost unsaved work, where and how did you store it?
Back
Next
Back
Next
Primary VS Secondary Storage
To enable captions Select the CC option within the player
Back
Next
While watching the video take note of why we use each type of storage
Lets explore computer storage with a little activity.Attempt to drag and place the images under the right category.
Primary Storage
Hard Disk Drive
Random Access Memory
Secondary storage
Flash Drive
What is Primary Storage?
+ Primary Storage (also known as main memory) is the component of the computer that holds data, programs and instructions that are currently in use (Powell & Smalley, 2025).
RAM is volatile (loses all data stored when the computer is turned off) ROM which is non-volatile (data is stored even when not powered)
Examples: Read only memory (ROM), Random Access Memory(RAM)
(Powell & Smalley, 2025)
Next
Back
What is Secondary Storage?
+ Secondary storage are non volatile long term forms of storage. It is used to store data and information indefinately even when the device is turned off (Havrada, 2025).
+ There are many types of secondary storage for example Hard Disk Drives(HDD) have high capacity and reasonable speeds used to store data and programs while a Flashdrive is typically smaller and is a more convenient form of storage
(Havrada, 2025)
Next
Back
Real Life Scenario
Next
Back
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Reflection Questions
Back
Next
The computer would run faster because more ram means more apps can run smoothly
Saving the work as they progress in secondary storage so that its saved even when the power goes out unexpectedly
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
The computer did not lose any saved files because they were stored in secondary storage
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
What action can the student take to make sure the data loss issue wont happen again?
why did the computer slow down put didnt lose any saved files?
What would happen if the computer had more RAM?
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Drag & Drop Exit Ticket
References
Thats the end of the lessonGood Job everyone
Back
References
Havrada, D. (2025, February 13). Secondary storage: All you need to know. Secondary Storage: All you need to know. https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/secondary-storage-types/
Powell, P., & Smalley, I. (2025, January 2). What is primary storage?. IBM. https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/primary-storage
BrainBoz Quzzes. (2024, December 10) When I forgot to save my work and lost everything: My office horror story. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y45zOmb5biM&list=TLGGghwS_EiPjowyNDAzMjAyNg
Explore Today. (2025, April 27). Understanding Storage Devices: Primary vs Secondary (RAM, HDD, SSD, Pen Drive) Explained Simply [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-GH65kqGEY
All Images used are courtesy of Genially.com
Back
Not quite
Secondary storage affects file saving not how fast apps can run
The answer is B
For those you guessed correctly, yes its runs from the memeory of the device. But not to worry we will be diving in a bit more in types of storage to solve the mystery.
Correct!
Right! when too many apps are running the RAM can be overloaded causes these issues
The answer is B
For those you guessed correctly, yes its runs from the memeory of the device. But not to worry we will be diving in a bit more in types of storage to solve the mystery.
Not quite
Secondary storage keeps hold of data even when power is lost
Correct!
The project was stored in primary storage(RAM) while being typedRAM is temporary and losses data when the power is turned off
The answer is B
For those you guessed correctly, yes its runs from the memeory of the device. But not to worry we will be diving in a bit more in types of storage to get everyone on the right track.