Information in a computer is stored and transmitted as sequences of bits, or binary digits. A bit is a single piece of data which can be thought of as either zero or one. Sequences of the two symbols can be used to represent any number. When the students are familiar with the binary system they walk through a lifesize computer grid which sorts them by name into alphabetical order.
Students solve several problems for which the solutions can be found in the binary numbers.
They learn about pixels and decode picture puzzles. They convert black and white pictures into a sequence of 0s and 1s. We enlarge pictures on the computer so the students can see the pixels. They notice that some images have lots of details. Small squares are used where lots of detail occurs.