Linux Command Basics — Day 1: Map the Maze

Objectives

• Explain Linux file hierarchy
• Navigate terminal with basic commands

Materials

• Ubuntu computers

Activities

Mission: Map the Maze

Your Goal

You and your partner must explore your Linux file system and prove you can move to key locations using only terminal commands.

You are not given full explanations first. You learn by trying, observing, and recording what happens.

Allowed Tools (today only)

pwd

ls

cd

pwd

ls

cd

Mission Tasks

Task A — Where am I?

Find a command that reveals your current location. Record command, output, and what it means.

Task B — What’s here?

Find a command that shows what is inside your current location. Try in at least two places and compare outputs.

Task C — Reach the Root

Find a way to get to the top-most place in the system and prove it.

Task D — Return Home

From root, find a way back to your home location and prove it.

Task E — Climb and Descend

From home, move into a folder, move up one level, and end in home again.

Task F — Path Detective

Complete four destination calls: /, home, one folder in home, back home. Prove each with pwd.

Exit Ticket

1) What does pwd do?

2) What does ls do?

3) What does cd do?

4) Difference between / and ~?

Practical check:

cd /

pwd

cd ~

pwd

cd /

pwd

cd ~

pwd

Exit Ticket

Go to root, prove with pwd, return home, prove with pwd, then move into one folder and back out.