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How binary digits work: programming challenges

Beginner robot Difficulty 1/5 Screen-free lesson Stop 1 / 34 ages 8-10

Programming challenges (Scratch, Python or blocks) to go with the 'How binary digits work' lesson, from the 'Binary numbers' unit. Best done with a grown-up.

For a grown-up to do with a child.

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Your guide

AI-written overview

What is it?

How binary digits work: programming challenges is part of a CS Unplugged unit about binary numbers. Binary is how computers store numbers using only two states, on and off. The activities use cards, movement and games, with no screen.

Is it for me?

It is made for children about 8-10 and up, and it is meant to be done together with a grown-up or teacher. You do not need to know any coding. It is a Beginner activity.

Grown-ups: these are teacher and parent lesson plans. Be the guide, let the child discover patterns, and do not worry about correct answers at first.

How to start

  1. Ask a grown-up to read the lesson or open our simple version with you.
  2. Gather what you need, like paper cards with dots, and clear a little space.
  3. Do the activity together and say out loud what you notice.

How much time?

Most lessons take 30 to 60 minutes. Plan about 25 minutes for a session. (estimate)

25 min per session 3 sessions estimate

A plan you can follow

  1. Day 1 45 min Do the first lesson of the unit together.
  2. Day 2 30 min Do it again and teach someone at home.
  3. Week 1 45 min Try the next lesson in the unit.
  4. Week 2 30 min Make up your own binary game.

Times are estimates. Go at your own speed.

Go to the learning site

You are about to leave our site to visit How binary digits work: programming challenges on another website. We don't control that site. Ask a grown-up before you go. Check the original for details. This site may not be in your language. Your browser can translate the page: look for the translate button near the address bar, or ask a grown-up to help.

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Grown-ups: this link goes to a site we do not control and have not reviewed beyond its listing. Please look at it first.

Go to the learning site (opens the original site in a new tab)

https://www.csunplugged.org/en/topics/binary-numbers/how-binary-digits-work/programming/

On this site. From the list: uccser/cs-unplugged · License: CC-BY-SA-4.0 · CS Unplugged: Binary numbers

Lesson from CS Unplugged, University of Canterbury CSER Group, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes were made: translated and level-tagged by Open Cosmos, with AI. Shared under the same license.

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