Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Databases

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Grade(s)

3, 6, 7, 8

Overview

This activity provides several ways to introduce students to databases, with follow-up lesson extensions for increasing database understanding. 

This report gives details of a series of computing lessons designed to relate fundamental concepts of database use and design to children in Primary and Secondary Education (ages of 6 to 16). The skills and concepts developed in these lessons begin at a very simple level but progress to cover abstract concepts such as Relational Databases. The series has been aligned to match the scope, range and targets recommended in the Computing At Schools document A Curriculum for Computing.

Contents:

  • Human Branching Databases
  • Human Databases: Introduction
  • Human Databases: Intermediate
  • Human Databases: Advanced
  • Databases: Plugged-in
  • Relational Databases: Introduction
  • Philosophy of Computing: Introduction to databases

This activity concludes with a “plugged-in” activity using a database system. The Digital Schoolhouse Database Detectives lesson is aimed at Key Stage 2 pupils and based on the book Certain Death by Tanya Landman. Before completing the series of database unplugged activities, the class teacher is encouraged to read the book (except the last chapter) and complete a series of encryption activities loosely based on the book, the answers providing pupils with the clues to question the database and identify the murderer.

Pupils use cloud computing technology e.g. Google Documents: Spreadsheets, to collaboratively input data about the suspects from profile cards based on the book. Pupils then perform verification on their neighbor’s data entry before downloading the spreadsheet and importing it into Microsoft Access. After importing the data, pupils first use the filter tool to solve the murder using the answers from the numeracy challenges, then create a report for the Court based on a query identifying the murderer.

    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 3

    DLCS18.3.17

    Describe examples of data sets or databases from everyday life.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.3.17

    Vocabulary

    • database
    • data set

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • examples of data sets.
    • examples of databases.
    • characteristics of data sets and databases.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • describe examples of databases from everyday life.
    • describe examples of data sets from everyday life.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • data sets and databases are part of everyday life.
    • data sets and databases are organized in a certain way for a certain purpose.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 6

    DLCS18.6.20

    Identify data transferring protocols, visualization, and the purpose of data and methods of storage.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.6.20

    Vocabulary

    • transfer protocols
    • visualization

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • different transferring protocols are used for specific purposes depending on the data and storage methods.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • differentiate basic data transferring protocols from another and various methods of storing data.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • data is compressed and stored in various transferring protocols depending on the purpose.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 7

    DLCS18.7.22

    Compare data storage structures.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.7.22

    Vocabulary

    • stack
    • array
    • queue
    • table
    • database

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • different data structures store information in different ways based on the purpose for storage and recall.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • compare the best storage structure for storing and recalling data for various purposes.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • each storage structure serves a different purpose depending on what kind of data and the intended use of the data.
    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 8

    DLCS18.8.21

    Differentiate types of data storage and apply most efficient structure.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.8.21

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • different types of data storage and the appropriate use of those structures.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • apply the most efficient data storage given a set of data.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • applying appropriate tools, in this case a data structure, to appropriate task increases efficiency.
    Link to Resource

    CR Resource Type

    Learning Activity

    Resource Provider

    CS Unplugged
    Accessibility
    License

    License Type

    Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
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