New
New
Year 3

Creating a branching database

I can create a branching database.

New
New
Year 3

Creating a branching database

I can create a branching database.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Objects need selecting to use in a branching database.
  2. Objects can be grouped using yes/no questions.
  3. Branching databases can be tested.

Keywords

  • Branching database - a digital tool for identifying objects using yes or no questions

  • Identify - establish what something or someone is

Common misconception

You can ask any question to add an item to a branching database.

You need to ask yes or no questions to add items to a branching database. Open-ended questions are too difficult to represent in a branching database.


To help you plan your year 3 computing lesson on: Creating a branching database, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Branching databases work well as whole-class activities. Set up the questions from a database and ask pupils to follow the path of their answers to see how it works when identifying objects.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Software is required to create branching databases on a computer. This lesson uses oak.link/branching-db but activities can be completed using any alternative.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is an attribute?
a question about an object
a group of objects
Correct answer: a word or phrase used to describe an object
a branching tree diagram
Q2.
What is a group?
Correct answer: a set of objects placed together
a single object
a branching tree diagram
a question about objects
Q3.
Which of these is an example of an attribute?
a diagram
a group of objects
Correct answer: a colour like red or blue
a yes or no question
Q4.
What does a branching tree diagram do?
Correct answer: It splits one group into smaller groups based on attributes.
It combines multiple groups into one large group.
It organises objects randomly.
It describes objects without grouping them.
Q5.
What is the shape of a branching tree diagram?
a straight line
a circle
Correct answer: an upside-down tree
a random shape
Q6.
What type of question can split a group of objects?
Correct answer: a 'yes or no' question
a question with a long answer
a question about numbers
a question about groups

6 Questions

Q1.
What is a branching database?
a tool for grouping objects randomly
Correct answer: a digital tool for identifying objects using questions
a way to describe objects with long answers
a diagram with no organisation
Q2.
What type of question does a branching database use?
long, descriptive questions
questions about numbers
questions about groups
Correct answer: questions with yes or no answers
Q3.
What does it mean to identify an object?
to describe an attribute
to split it into groups
Correct answer: to establish what it is
to add it to a random group
Q4.
What is an example of a yes or no question for a branching database?
Correct answer: Is the object red?
What is the colour of the object?
How many objects are there?
What is the size of the object?
Q5.
What happens when you test a branching database?
Correct answer: You check whether it identifies objects correctly.
You add new objects to it.
You remove objects from it.
You describe objects in detail.
Q6.
Why is it important to test a branching database?
to split objects into random groups
to remove objects from the database
to describe objects in detail
Correct answer: to check whether the questions work correctly