Y3 Branching Databases


Lesson Focus

Digital Skills & Computing Focus

Key vocabulary
Attribute, value, questions, table, objects, Branching database, database, attribute, value, questions, objects, equal, even, separate, compare, order, organise

Learners will develop their understanding of what a branching database is and how to create one. They will use yes/no questions to gain an understanding of what attributes are and how to use them to sort groups of objects. Learners will create on-screen branching databases. 

Children will create questions with yes/no answers and test yes/no questions about a collection of objects. By simply answering yes/no they will create two groups of objects separated by one attribute

Learners will identify the attributes needed to collect data about an object. They will select an attribute to separate objects into groups and arrange objects into a tree structure. Children will be able to explain that questions need to be ordered carefully to split objects into similarly sized groups and sub-groups.

To conclude the unit, they will create an identification tool using a branching database, which they will test with a partner. They will also consider real-world applications for branching databases.


📸photographic summary 📸

📋Sorting Questions📋

Web Y3 Sorting Questions

Year 3 start to explore questions with yes/no answers, and how these can be used to identify and compare objects. They will create their own yes/no questions, before using these to split a collection of objects into groups.

Children investigate questions with yes/no answers and was able to create a collection of objects based on their answers - either a YES or NO

Children spent time thinking about questions relating to different items and how to identify them with simple questions.

👩‍👩‍👦Creating a Group👩‍👩‍👦

Children develop their understanding of using questions with yes/no answers to group objects more than once. They now learn how to arrange objects into a tree structure and will continue to think about which attributes the questions are related to. 

They learn to use an attribute to separate objects into groups and  arrange objects into a tree structure. It's during this lesson, learners will be introduced to branching databases, what a branching database looks like and how they work.

📈Creating a Branching Database📉

Children develop their understanding of ordering objects/images in a branching database structure. They will learn how to use an online database tool to arrange objects into a branching database, and will create their own questions with yes/no answers.  

Children work with a partner to test their database and correct any mistakes.

Learning objectives

📈going it alone📉

Children were finally confident to start to create their own branching database. They worked in pairs to create the structure and add the various questions that will enable anyone to find the item via it's attribute .

Learners then demonstrated their knowledge and understanding by creating and finishing a "space" branching database on the touch screen at the front of the class. Children took turns in completing a section of the database then we tested it together.

James, even built a branching database at home - well done James.

Y4 Web Branching Data Wall display