Task 3: Option 3
A hidden surprise
in Binary
Talking the Language of Computers …
Duration: 45 minutes
Years 5 and 6
Students will use problem solving skills to link the binary base 2 system to letters of the alphabet, uncracking a code to where a secret surprise lies.
A hidden surprise
in
Binary
Talking the Language of Computers …
Duration: 45 minutes
Years 5 and 6
Students will use problem solving skills to link the binary base 2 system to letters of the alphabet, cracking a code to where a secret surprise lies.
Lesson steps:
- Students are introduced to binary as a base 2 system, first practicing how to show their ages in binary.
- There is a message hidden in the classroom, (15 minutes free time on a favoured activity for example). Students are guided to understand how numbers can be regarded as code for letters of the alphabet; with A as 1, B as 2 and so on.
Students practice writing their names.
| 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | Number Letter
2 B 9 I 12 L 12 L |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Answer: BILL
3. In teams, students are given sets of bytes that represent each letter of each word in a sentence revealing where a written message is hidden.
For example, “Look” will contain 4 bytes, “under” will contain 5, “green” 5 and “box” 3
| 128 | 64 | 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | Number Letter |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 L |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 O |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 15 O |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 K |
Which team will be first to decode the sentence?
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