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Year 3

Planning a branching database

I can plan the structure of a branching database.

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New
New
Year 3

Planning a branching database

I can plan the structure of a branching database.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Branching database structures can be planned.
  2. A series of questions can be used to identify a unique object.
  3. Objects can be compared using attributes.

Keywords

  • Plan - a design to show what something will look like in the future

  • Compare - find similarities and differences

Common misconception

Any question can be used to create a branching database successfully.

A good question should split the data evenly to make sure the number of questions required to reach what is being looked for is minimised.


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

Guessing games are a good way of demonstrating the power of carefully chosen questions. Try a game with your class to guess a card from a deck of playing cards by only being able to answer yes/no questions. Show how carefully chosen questions will narrow down the options about what is being guessed.
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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does "structure" mean in a database?
the number of questions
the size of the database
Correct answer: the way related parts are organised
the colour of the database
Q2.
Why is it important to think about the order of questions in a database?
Correct answer: to ensure all objects can be identified
to make the database faster
to add more objects
to reduce the size of the database
Q3.
What kind of question is used in a branching database?
open-ended
multiple-choice
descriptive
Correct answer: yes/no
Q4.
What is the first step in creating a branching database?
Correct answer: selecting objects to include
writing a story
printing the database
testing the database
Q5.
Why is comparing two database structures useful?
to make the database look nice
to delete questions
Correct answer: to find the most efficient one
to add more objects
Q6.
What happens if a database is poorly structured?
It is easier to use.
Correct answer: It is harder to use.
It works faster.
It looks better.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does the term "plan" mean in the context of a database?
Correct answer: a design for the future
a way to delete data
a random arrangement
a list of objects
Q2.
Why is it important to plan the structure of a branching database?
to make it look colourful
Correct answer: to ensure it works well
to add more objects
to delete questions
Q3.
What does "compare" mean in the context of a database?
to delete objects
to group objects randomly
to test the database
Correct answer: to identify similarities and differences
Q4.
Why is it important to use attributes when comparing objects?
to make them look better
to delete them
Correct answer: to group them logically
to add more objects
Q5.
What happens if the questions in a database are poorly planned?
It works faster.
It identifies objects more accurately.
Correct answer: It is harder to use.
It uses less data.
Q6.
Why is it important to choose good questions for a branching database?
Correct answer: to split the data evenly
to make the database look colourful
to add random objects
to delete unnecessary data