Counting Binary with Cups

I am always looking for interesting and exciting ways to teach computing concepts to students. Engagement is a key to making learning memorable and therefore easier to understand and recall.  This post looks at how to create a Binary counting machine from plastic drinks cups.

You will need:
9 large plastic cups
A marker pen
A pinch of binary logic

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Step One

Join the cups together as shown in the picture, they will need to turn, this can be made easier by lining up the joins on the cups.

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Step Two

Across the top row write the Binary Values, 1,2,4,8,16,32,64,128.  Underneath each value write a zero.  The trick here is to be neat and line up the digits.

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Step Three

Under the zeros add a row of ones.  Again neatness and equal spacing is essential to ensure that the digits will all be lined up when the cups are turned.

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Step Four

 The final step is the add the two indicators as shown in the picture.  The first is the read here, which i where the user lines up the binary values.  The binary  where the user reads the binary code.

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Reading the Cups

To read the binary code simply turn the Binary Values until you have the total value that your want, for example 41 (32 +8+1)
Then read the Binary Code from the third line.  The process can be reversed and students can create a Binary Code and then work out the decimal value.