Binary Numbers
The binary number system plays a central role in how information of all kinds is stored on computers. Understanding binary can lift a lot of the mystery from computers, because at a fundamental level they're really just machines for flipping binary digits on and off.
There are several activities on binary numbers in this document, all simple enough that they can be used to teach the binary system to anyone who can count! Generally children learn the binary system very quickly using this approach, but we find that many adults are also excited when they finally understand what bits and bytes really are.
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Mr Idosaka shows how magnetic binary number cards can be used on a whiteboard.
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Tim demonstrates how binary numbers are stored.
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Binary Numbers Activity at Fujitsu Kids event with JOI, Japan
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Consider making a string of beads that code a message in binary - RAFT have a worksheet about this.
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Sarma Singam from the University of Cincinnati has a variation on the Binary Numbers activity called Binary Encoding where students create binary numbers using positional notation with powers of 2. Students encode and decode an alphabetic message using a 6-bit encoding (Braille); the encoding is done on paper and with Candy Buttons (sugar dots on strips of paper). This activity was developed for high school students.
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Try Engineering has an activity called Give Binary a Try! which explores how binary codes work, how it is applied by computer engineers to computers and other electronic equipment including clocks. Students learn how to use the code, read binary clocks, and advanced students can build their own binary clock from a kit. Download Full Lesson Plan .
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An older version of this activity can be downloaded in PDF format here. The content is similar to the current version, but there's some extra technical information.
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Wikipedia has useful articles on binary numbers and finger binary
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The Mathmaniacs web site has a similar activity (lesson 1). It includes a Binary Piano activity which is another great aid for learning binary numbers. They also have a magic trick that can be performed with binary numbers.
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Rick Garlikov has a paper on teaching binary numbers using Socratic dialogue. This approach is very empowering for students, and the general principle can apply to many of the Unplugged activities.
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Video: 9yr Old Sister Hannah Joy Counts Binary on Her Fingers
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Video: how Bwana explains how his binary clock works . Bwana getting excited about the binary number system.
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A more technical explanation of binary numbers at Howstuffworks.com
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There is a card trick based on the binary number system, where you can guess a number from 1 to 63 by having people select cards from a set of 6.
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Rick Regan reports on The Binary Marble Adding Machine. To learn about the inner workings of this machine, you may visit woodgears workshop site on binary adding machine.
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thumbuki author Jacob Joaquin has developed an application that called Binary Clicker that converts binary numbers from 1 to 255 into music notes. Read Rick Regan's report What a Binary Counter Looks and Feels Like.
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Another application developed by Jacob Joaquin is the Binary Music Box which is a more musical version of the Binary Clicker .
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Bre Pettis has a video on a Binary Count Off and another on Couting in Binary on your Fingers .
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Intuitor has an applet on counting in Binary on your fingers. For more information, please visit How to Count to 1,023 on Your Fingers
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Math Teacher Link has a lesson Binary Information: Bits and Bytes that explains that Binary Information is the basis of how computers work. In this lesson we find out why and what Bits and bytes are and how they are used.
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Daniel Robbins has written an interesting article 5 or 31? (Your fingers as binary digits) Relearning how to count on your fingers! Counting on one’s fingers and thumb (or digits) is a convenient way to physically keep track of numbers – and most everyone can do it; at least up to 5. It seems that the way we are most used to in Canada, is to unfurl our digits, one at a time, until all are unfurled. Each digit represents one number – totaling 5.
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Hiroki Manabe at Kanagawa Vocational Training School for Persons with Disabilities has developed an animation of counting in binary on your fingers, and an interactive activity to experiment with binary numbers.
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A fun animation shows binary numbers using Alice IDE at Binary Penguins by Hiroki Manabe .
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University of Tennessee Department of Computer Science has an introductory CS module intended to teach the following concepts using binary numbers using animation. Note: This site is best viewed in Internet Explorer: