Pool Noodle Ideas - Building Letters in Binary Code

Each summer I like to share pool noodle ideas with you. Previously I have shared a pool noodle shark craft, a pool noodle airplane that actually flies, and an addition fact activity. Today I have an activity for your that combines binary code and the letters of the alphabet. (I will be sharing it at a session of a technology conference I will be presenting at in July focusing on learning to code offline.) Your children will have fun exploring it too.

What is Binary Code?

It is the code used by a computer to understand letters, number, symbols, and commands. The code uses groups of 8 numbers to represent each letter, number, symbol, and command. The only numbers that the computer can use to create the code are 0’s and 1’s. The blue pool noodle sections will represent the 0’s and the red sections will represent the 1’s.

Getting the Pool Noodle Sections Ready

You will need to cut 1-inch sections out of a red and a blue pool noodle. Each of your children will need eight poodle sections in each color. A serrated knife will probably be the easiest knife to cut with.

It is totally okay if each of the sections isn’t cut into perfectly flat on the top and bottom. The key is to try to make them as close to 1-inch tall as possible.

Getting the Binary Code Letter Cards Ready

You will need to print out a set of Pool Noodle Ideas -Building Letters in Binary Code cards for your children to explore. The cards were designed to be printed out in color onto cardstock. If you want each of your children to work on the same letter at the same time, you will want to print out a set of building letter cards for each of your children.

Once you have printed out the set, you will need to cut each card in half. You will notice that there are two letter cards on each page.

Exploring the Binary Code Letters with Pool Noodle Sections

As you children work on each letter, they will need to lay out the pool noodles in the pattern shown on the card. You will want to check each of their noodle codes to make sure that they match the ones on their card.

Once they have completed a letter, they can move on to another letter. If they didn’t start with the letter that starts their name, you may want them to work on that one next.