Read - Wonder - Innovate!
  • LMC Blog
  • Library Home & Information
  • Library Resources
    • K-4 Symbaloo
    • New books!
    • Websites and more!
    • Nutmeg Books
    • Search Engines for Kids
    • Digital Resource Login Info
    • Book release calendar
    • Series and Your Next Read help
    • Book Trailers
    • Image Sources

Binary Bracelets

1/15/2018

0 Comments

 
Each Wednesday morning I work with one of the 1st/2nd grade classes as part of an enrichment block. We have explored a variety of makerspace materials during our first rotation, built structures with only tongue depressors, binder clips and clothespins next, and started using Codestudio during our third rotation. For this rotation I wanted to do something hands on again. I remembered creating a binary bracelet when I was at ISTE at couple years ago and thought that it would be perfect! (I also have a large supply of perler beads from my daughter! Yes!)
I found the actual lesson from Thinkersmith's Traveling Circuits and tweaked it a little due to 45 minute time blocks. It was a lot of fun having kids think about exactly how computers communicate. We have done quite a lot of coding together, but I think this was the first time they really thought about what happens to make the code work. I don't have a computer to take apart right now, but they provide pictures. 
After taking a quick peek at the inside, we moved on to the challenges of binary. It is a little bit of a stretch to think about how computers actually understand the keystrokes/mouse clicks, but overall we got the idea. The kids loved trying to figure out the letters in ASCII. I put a code on the chart paper and gave each student a decoder card. Some of the kids noticed that A-O started with the same pattern while P-Z do too. 
After we did a few together and most students felt pretty comfortable, I showed them how they would create a bracelet using beads that represented their 2 initials. They used a strip of paper (provided in the lesson) to record the code for their initials and chose 2 colors for on / off. The perler beads worked great, but I did need to use thread, not a thicker string. We also had to try different ways to tie the beads on (we did have a few whole codes just fall off), but the kids were patient with me. Pictures will be coming soon!
If they finished, they could wear their bracelets home. If they needed more time, I put their materials into a baggie and either sent it home to complete or they will finish it during their next library class.

The best part was on Thursday morning, some students came down to the library to show me what they created at their afterschool program! They had shared with their teacher what we had done and she looked up binary codes, found beads, and helped them create even more! They came back Friday morning too! It was so exciting to see the kids take what we had done and extend it and teach others.
0 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Author

    Mrs. Lussier is a Library Media Specialist at Brewster Elementary School in Durham, CT.  I am passionate about getting kids reading (ok, everyone!), wondering, using technology and having FUN!
    Follow me:
    Twitter: @jluss
    Instagram: mrslussierlibrary
    Facebook: @mrslussierslibrary
    Pinterest: jluss13

    Jenny's books

    Dangerous Deception
    Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny
    Bugged: How Insects Changed History
    Bramble and Maggie Spooky Season
    Nest
    The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
    Mouseheart
    Me Want Pet!
    Queen of Christmas
    The North Star
    Kate the Great, Except When She's Not
    Tap to Play!
    When the Silliest Cat Was Small
    Cows Going Past
    Vote for Me!
    Snowmen All Year
    Uni the Unicorn
    Chickens to the Rescue
    Wazdot?
    The Nuts: Bedtime at the Nut House


    Jenny Lussier's favorite books ยป

    2019 Reading Challenge

    2019 Reading Challenge
    Jenny has read 1 book toward her goal of 350 books.
    hide
    1 of 350 (0%)
    view books
    Tweets by @jluss
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Map

    Blogroll

    Librarydoor
    Book-a-day Almanac
    The Nonfiction Detectives
    A Year of Reading
    Librarian's Quest
    Great Kid Books
    Free Technology for Teachers
    SLJ
    The Styling Librarian
    The Book Whisperer
    The Busy Librarian
    Barrow Library Media Center
    Watch. Connect. Read.
    Kid Lit Frenzy
    Chocolate Air
    Daydream Reader
    BookJeannie
    100 ScopeNotes
    The Daring Librarian
    Sharpread
    Librarian in Cute Shoes
    Read Write Reflect



    Archives

    May 2020
    August 2019
    April 2019
    September 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    July 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    October 2012
    September 2012
    May 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011

    Categories

    All
    21 Century
    21st Century
    Aasl
    Authentic
    Author
    Author Visit
    Books
    Booktrailers
    Collaboration
    Common Core
    Curation
    Ebooks
    Education
    Elementary
    Google Earth
    Information Literacy
    Ipads
    Library
    Makerspace
    Msla
    Reading
    Research
    Science Fair
    Skype
    Smartboard
    #walkmyworld
    Web 2.0
    Writing

    Click to set custom HTML
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.