Computers and information
Year 5 · Computing
Give clear instructions, solve problems and use technology safely.
Choose a game
Take your time, try a game and collect stars.
The internet and networks: routers, servers and the web
Is the web the same as the internet? What does a router do? A free KS2 computing game about networks, servers, URLs and packets.
Play The internet and networks: routers, servers and the web
Learning about computers and information
In this Year 5 computing collection, you can practise The internet and networks: routers, servers and the web. Choose a game above for a short activity, or explore the examples below before you play. The full guide for each game explains its controls, gives more examples and includes a free printable for practice away from the screen.
Talk it through
Ask your child to predict an outcome before testing it. When a prediction does not match the result, change one thing at a time. Safety games rehearse decisions, but children should still ask a trusted adult when something online worries them.
Ask: “What would happen if you changed one step?” Give your child time to explain. Return to an example after playing and ask whether they would approach it differently.
The internet and networks: routers, servers and the web
A network is a group of computers and devices connected so they can share information. The internet is the biggest network in the world: a network of networks joining billions of devices. Servers store information such as webpages, clients are the devices we use, cables and Wi-Fi carry the data, and routers make sure it reaches the right place.
Try an example: Is the World Wide Web the same as the internet?
The internet is the network itself. The web is the pages and links you visit using a browser.
Show the answer
No, the web is one service that uses the internet.
What to look out for
Using “internet” and “web” as the same word. Use the roads and traffic picture: the web is one kind of traffic on the internet.
Read the full The internet and networks: routers, servers and the web guide
Practise away from the screen
- Find your router at home and talk about what it does.
Curriculum connections
These games support selected practice connected to Information technology in the National Curriculum in England. The programme groups requirements by key stage; the year shown here is our suggested practice placement. A game covers selected examples, rather than assessing every requirement.
Questions families ask
Where should we start with computers and information?
Start with The internet and networks: routers, servers and the web. Look at the worked example together, then try a round. If the task feels unfamiliar, use the full game guide or its free printable before trying again.
Does this cover everything taught at this level?
No. This collection brings together the games currently available for this learning area. It supports selected skills and does not replace the full programme of study or practical teaching.