Lesson 5: From Electricity to Information – Understanding Binary States

• How can electricity represent information?
• What does it mean for a system to have two states?
• How does a circuit represent 1 or 0?
• How do input and output relationships create logic?
• Why is binary efficient for digital systems?

Binary
State
Input
Output
Signal
High
Low
On
Off
Voltage level
Logic
Processing

HS ETS1-2
Analyze components of a complex technological system and explain how they function together.

Science and Engineering Practices:

Developing and Using Models
Constructing Explanations
Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Crosscutting Concepts:

Systems and System Models
Cause and Effect
Stability and Change

• Translating symbolic representations
• Interpreting logical relationships
• Explaining multi-step cause-and-effect reasoning
• Writing structured analytical explanations

Students practice converting between physical states and symbolic meaning, a transferable reasoning skill.

Day 1-2 – Two States in a Circuit

Students revisit simple circuits.

Teacher frames:

When the circuit is closed, current flows.
When the circuit is open, current does not flow.

Students define:

On = 1
Off = 0

Students model simple examples:

Switch closed ? Light on ? 1
Switch open ? Light off ? 0

Purpose:
Ground binary in physical state, not abstraction.

DOK: 2 – Identify state relationships.

Day 3-4 – Input and Output Logic

Students explore simple input-output relationships:

If switch is closed, light turns on.
If switch is open, light remains off.

Teacher introduces simple logic framing:

If input = 1, output = 1
If input = 0, output = 0

Students explore what happens when:

Two switches are added
One input is required versus two

Students are not introduced to formal logic gates terminology yet unless appropriate.

Purpose:
Establish that circuits can represent decision structures.

DOK: 3 – Analyze input-output relationships.

Day 5-6 – From Binary to Processing Concept

Students analyze a simplified processor role:

Processor reads input state
Processor produces output response

Students consider:

Button press ? Signal sent ? Output action

Students explain:

How regulated voltage allows consistent state detection
Why unstable signals would corrupt information

Purpose:
Prepare for full processing and digital language explanation in next segment.

DOK: 3 – Construct multi-step explanation linking state to information.

Students connect binary to:

Button presses on controllers
Touchscreen taps
Power buttons
Digital clocks
Messaging apps

They recognize:

Every digital interaction begins as electrical state change.

• Binary means “simple” rather than precise.
• Electricity carries language directly.
• Processors create electricity rather than interpret states.
• Voltage amount does not matter as long as current flows.
• On and off are arbitrary rather than regulated thresholds.

• Provide visual input-output charts.
• Use physical switches or simulation tools.
• Offer sentence stems for logic explanation.
• Allow collaborative reasoning before written explanation.
• Extension: Introduce AND behavior concept informally.

Formative Assessments:

• Binary state identification exercises
• Input-output explanation responses
• Diagram labeling activity

Exit Ticket Prompt:

Explain how a closed circuit can represent the number 1.
Describe what would happen if the voltage fluctuated unpredictably.

Evaluation Criteria:

Accurate state identification
Clear cause-and-effect explanation
Connection between regulation and information reliability
Logical reasoning