Binary

Maths didactics is ofttimes rushed. We encompass topics likewise quickly, nosotros show regularly, nosotros repeat the same affair every year. By Year 10 our pupils are bored. It's too then unnecessary too frustrating. If entirely nosotros spent to a greater extent than fourth dimension on rich Mathematics. I'd dearest to tiresome down, learn off on tangents, allow my pupils investigate too discover... The entirely fourth dimension I learn the run a endangerment to digress from the Scheme of Work is at the goal of the summertime term.  So I seize the chance to engage my pupils inwards interesting concepts too ideas - similar the binary system.

It's slow to learn pupils interested inwards this topic. Here's to a greater extent than or less suggestions:

• Show them a painting present of a binary watch. I i time knew a Year thirteen who genuinely wore i of these to schoolhouse every day! My pupils were intrigued past times this too wanted to know how to read it.
• You could Pb into this theme through other reveal systems (Roman Numerals etc).
• Perform this fantastic binary magic trick.  My pupils loved it! They were desperate to know how it worked.
• Tell them the joke "There are entirely 10 types of people inwards the world: those who sympathise binary too those who don't". 

Here's a few examples of resources y'all could operate inwards a binary lesson:

• Nice PowerPoint 'Binary Bot' from MauveStorm on TES (designed for Key Stage two simply could survive used for Year 7/8)
• The slides that I operate when I learn binary.  Includes how to count binary on your fingers! 
• Binary Window Frames from mathsticks.com (free registration to access)
• A worksheet to do converting to too from binary
• Binary Crossums
• PowerPoint from teachitmaths.co.uk on binary, denary too hexadecimal numbers
• Teaching binary using cups
• Lots to a greater extent than resources listed inwards this blog.

Last twelvemonth I went to a fantastic lecture past times Simon Singh (@SLSingh) well-nigh Maths inwards the Simpsons.  His book 'The Simpsons too their Mathematical Secrets' is absolutely brilliant, a must-read for all Maths teachers.  Singh writes well-nigh a scene inwards the Futurama episode 'The Honking' inwards which Bender is alarmed when he reads the binary code 0101100101. When read inwards a mirror, the code reads '666'.  I told my Year 13s well-nigh this - they loved it. I wanted to present them the clip from Futurama simply all I constitute was this YouTube video in Castilian (?) which they sentiment was hilarious. I also explained the reference to the 'Redrum' scene inwards The Shining - most of them had never seen the celluloid too then I showed them this clip too managed to terrify one-half the class! Myself included. :)