Unit: Branching
Databases
Year: 3
Strand: Data Handling
Time: 4 - 6 hours
National Curriculum Objectives –
Pupils should be taught to:
o Use logical reasoning to explain how a simple algorithm works and to detect
errors in algorithms and programs.
o Select and use a variety of software to accomplish given goals, including
collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information.
o Evaluate and apply information technology analytically to solve problems.
You must:
o Understand how branching databases can sort and identify different objects in
a group.
o Understand what a closed question is (e.g. 2 answers – yes/no, tall/short, etc.)
o Generate appropriate closed questions to sort a group of objects.
You should
o Use a branching database system to create a branching database.
o To understand the relationship between the answers to a closed question and a
binary representation (e.g. yes/no or 1/0).
o To use a branching database to solve problems.
You could:
o Identify and debug errors in a branching database.
o Use a branching database program to create a branching database
independently to solve a problem of their choosing.
Key Questions:
o What is a closed question? Give examples.
o What is a branching database and how is it useful?
o How does a branching database work?
o What types of problems is a branching database useful for solving?
o How does a binary system relate to a branching database?
Links to more info/help videos:
Resources/Programs
Cleo –
www.cleo.net.uk/resources/displayframe.p
hp?src=841//files/Bird_Box/branchdb.html
- free
FlexiTree 3 (
www.flexible.co.uk/FlexiTree.html) - £216
for primary school site license.