Objective: Students will transfer their understanding of binary to the Binary Puzzle
along with adding and subtracting binary numbers. Students will understand that
different base systems exist. All computers accept and transmit information in
binary numbers.. Every key on the keyboard is translated into a binary number.
Coding with Bracelets
Students will generate a bracelet that translates their initials code use their code
from the Thanksgiving handout to translate letters of the alphabet into binary
numbers.
Begin discussing base ten system. How would we write each place value using a
base number and an exponent? How would write the number 1? Let students think.
Yes, 1 would be written with a 10, Now think about the base ten system. What power
you would need to multiply by to get the next place value. Yes, tens. How would we
write the number ten exponentially? Yes, 101. Yes, we would write it 101. What is the
next place value? Students will respond: hundreds, how would we write this
number exponentially? 102, what power pattern is occurring each time? Students
should respond with multiplying by a power of ten.
Have a discussion that computers and technology only use binary numbers 1 and 0’s
to transmit information so we are going to “THINK” like a computer.
Let’s think, what would happen if we changed the base number to 2…..what would
be our first place value? Ones place value. What would be our base number and
exponent if we use binary numbers?? If tens was our next largest place value using
base ten, would be our next place value with base 2? Yes, it would be 2s,. How do we
write that number? 2 1 .What is our largest next place value? Yes, it is hundreds.
What is our base number (10) and the exponent 2. What is the next place value
worth using base 2 numbers? Yes, it is 22 which is 8.
Step 1: Binary has the prefix bi, therefore, we will use base 2 – exponentially.
Students will add up the value starting with the smallest place value – all other
numbers receive zeros. O and 1s represent off and on respectively.
BASE 10
104
PLACE VALUE
103
102
101
1000 100’s 10’s
BASE 2
24
23
PLACE VALUE 16’s 8’s
22
4’s
21
2’s
100 *Our number system
1’s
20
1’s
*Computer Number System
Ask students what power is being multiplied in base 2? What power would be
multiplied in base 5? So how do we translate base ten numbers into the binary
system? Find the sum of the number by adding the place values of base 2. If you use
a number from the column, then you will place a 1 in that column. If not, that digit
will become a zero. 1 is on and a 0 is off.
BASE 2
24
23
PLACE VALUE 16’s 8’s
22
4’s
21
2’s
20
1’s
*Computer Number System
ie 5
0
0
1
0
1 *(4+1)
16
1
0
0
0
0
*(16)
9
0
1
0
0
1
*(8+1)
3
0
0
0
1
1
A number is assigned to each letter of the alphabet. In our game. We are going to use
that same data to make a binary bracelet.
A = 1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5
So you will create a bracelet with 2 colors to represent your first and last initial of
your name – predetermine on/off for each color before passing out the packs to
your students. Ie Pink = On Lime Green = Off – allow for a separation bead which is a
different color to be placed between your first and last initial.
You will need 8 beads for each initial and one separation bead. Students will need to
select their colors based on the number of 1 and 0’s generated by their initial.
Ie – A would be LG, LG, LG, LG, LG, LG, LG, P
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
Another Idea: Make a binary with candy using licorice and cheerios.
©Tricia Betts & Mary Cummings