Lesson video

Hello, welcome to lesson one of our Flats-file Databases Unit.

I'm Andy and in this lesson, you're going to making a Paper-Based the Database.

For the lesson, you'll need some paper, a pen and pencil, and some scissors.

Other than that, we just need you, so please clear away any distractions and then we can start.

In this lesson.

You're going to use a form to record information.

You're going to create questions about the same field.

You're going to explain how information can be recorded and you're going to sort and order your data cards.

So let's think about databases first.

Where have you heard the word "database"? What do you think it means? Okay.

We'll just split into two and think about the word "data" and "base" and anything we might know about the word "data".

I'll give you a moment to think.

So a database is a collection of data that stored in a computer and can be easily used and added to.

So we're going to make a paper-based database first, and that's just going to help us as we go through the lessons.

Your first step is to make a record cards.

You need at least eight record cards.

And the most important thing is that they are the same size.

The cards will need to look something like this when you finished, but you don't have to worry about all the boxes lines for now.

Eight cards that are the same size would be great.

You might choose to take a sheet of A4 and fold it in half and then half again, that will give you four even sized cards.

So if you did that twice, that would give you your eight cards.

So it needs to make your cards now, please pause the video.

Okay.

So now we need to fill the record cards in.

So we're going to make our cards have information about animals.

So you're going to pick at least eight different animals.

So one would go on each card, but you're going to have the same information recorded about each one.

So this one has antelope and we can tick the things that are correct about an antelope.

And if we'd put, say bear on here, then we could answer the same questions.

So every card is going to have the same fields.

These are called on it, and you need to put the name of each animal and then tick the boxes that are correct for that animal.

Okay.

So that's your next task to do.

So if you'd like to pause the video and complete your at least eight data cards.

Pause the video now.

So we're just going to have a little think about our cards for a moment.

So each card is what we would call a record and on each card, there are five fields.

So the name is a field.

Can it fly is a field.

How's it got six legs.

Does it live in large groups? And is it more than one colour? Okay.

So that's our five field up five areas of information.

And altogether our cards make a database.

So, your next task is you need to shuffle the cards up and then sort them by the animal name A to Z.

And then you need to send again, shuffle them up and sort them Z to A.

The important thing is you need to time how long it takes.

So you need to look at a clock or some kind of of stopwatch, or maybe user something that's got the time on it.

And then you can record how it takes to do your sorting.

Sorry, pause the video now and sort those records.

A to Z and then Z to A, time each one separately.

Pause the video now.

Okay.

So I'm going to have a go at sorting my cards.

I've got them in front of me.

I've decided to spread them out to help me a little bit.

So I've got a timer here, and if I just click start ready? Steady go.

Right.

A, antelope, B, bat.

C I've got a cat.

And then what have I got? E-elephant must come next.

And then P for penguin, R, rabbit.

Snake.

Wasp.

And said, all sorted, stop.

Okay.

So that one took me nearly 23 seconds.

I'm going to try again now.

I show mixed them all up and just put them out on here.

Okay.

So they're mixed up and I'll start time myself again.

So this is going to be the other way around.

So I need to reset the clock, ready and go.

So last is going to be the wasp and then it's the snake and then it's the rabbit and it's the penguin, and it's the elephant.

And then it's the cat.

Then it's the bat then it's the antelope.

There we go.

Sorted, stop.

So nearly 22 seconds.

Okay.

So both ways it's taken me 22, 23 seconds to sort my cards.

Okay.

So now I'd like you to answer some questions using your record cards.

On the worksheet There's a couple of questions for you to look at, and use your cards to answer.

And then I'd like you to think of two or three questions of your own that you could answer using the cards.

So please look at the questions on the worksheet.

Pause the video now.

So we'll just have a look at those questions with my cards.

So the first question was which animals can't fly.

So we've got, can fly here in the corner.

And if that was ticked, it means it can.

So antelope can't fly, cat no, elephants definitely not, penguins they don't fly.

Bat.

But can fly, there we go.

Snake can't, rabbit can't, wasp can.

So I've got two cards here, two creatures, bats and wasps that can fly.

So next question was how many have six lakes? So I'm going to put all my cards back together and I'm looking in this corner, now has six legs.

So, wasp has six legs? Rabbits doesn't, snake doesn't, penguin doesn't bat doesn't, elephant doesn't, cat doesn't, antelope doesn't.

So it was just this one.

Wasp.

Wasp has six legs.

So hopefully you thought of a couple more questions yourself.

You might have thought about whether there's a question, whether it does or doesn't live in big groups or whether it is more than one colour or not.

You might have also chosen some things that it isn't.

So which ones can't fly.

You could have looked for the ones without the ticks for can't fly.

Okay, great.

So in this lesson you created a paper-based database, you sorted and ordered your cards and you use your cards to answer some questions.

Please keep hold those cards.

You will need to be in less than three.

So keep them somewhere safe until less than three.

That's it for this lesson.

If you'd like to share your work, you need to ask your parents or carers to do that for you.

It could be stills off things you've been working on photographs.

That kind of thing.

If you'd like to share it, please share it on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, tagging it with @OakNational and #LearnwithOak.

See you next time.