Thanksgiving Crack the Code | Binary Coding Unplugged Activity

This Binary Coding Unplugged Activity is a great way to introduce the concepts of Binary Coding – looking at how computers use a secret code to communicate with each other.

Students will learn about decoding, debugging, problem solving, and critical thinking in a fun and motivating way.

This resource includes two activities. The first worksheet is cracking the code to solve the Thanksgiving Jokes, the second involves cracking the code to solve the Thanksgiving Saying. They are a fun way to engage in the concepts of coding, while also having fun this Thanksgiving season.

Use them as an early finisher task, filler activity, or as a way to introduce the key concepts around binary coding – Before moving into an activity like: Back to School Binary Coding

Students will learn to:

1. Students will be able to decode a coding alphabet.
2. Students will begin to understand how we can use code to communicate.
3. Students have the potential to create and decode their own binary alphabet.

We’ve designed this project to cover part of the Digital Curriculum. Specifically looking at binary coding within Progress Outcome 2 of Computational Thinking.

In authentic contexts and taking account of end-users, students give, follow, and debug simple algorithms in computerised and non-computerised contexts. They use these algorithms to create simple programs involving outputs and sequencing (putting instructions one after the other) in age-appropriate programming environments.
– Progress Outcome 2

Students will be given opportunities to look at what binary coding is and how computers use their own coding language to communicate between each other.

This project is the perfect way to introduce binary coding to children who have not been exposed to this concept before.