Computational thinking with Boolean logic
Computational thinking breaks a messy real-world question into small true/false decisions a machine can follow exactly.
Part of your national curriculum
- Computer systems and networks: Understand simple Boolean logic (for example AND, OR and NOT) and some of its uses in circuits and programming, and its use in computational thinking
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand simple Boolean logic (for example AND, OR and NOT) and some of its uses in circuits and programming, and its use in computational thinking
Key learning points
- • Decomposing a problem
- • Truth tables help you check your logic
- • Where this shows up
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
Computational thinking with Boolean logic
Computational thinking breaks a messy real-world question into small true/false decisions a machine can follow exactly.
In a nutshell
Understand simple Boolean logic (for example AND, OR and NOT) and some of its uses in circuits and programming, and its use in computational thinking
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Decomposing a problem
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
Decomposing a problem
To decide 'can this player level up?', break it into smaller checks: hasEnoughXP AND hasCompletedQuest AND NOT isBanned. Each check is a simple Boolean expression, and combining them with logic gives one reliable overall answer.
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
Truth tables help you check your logic
For A AND (B OR C), list every combination of true/false for A, B and C and work out the result row by row. Writing this out catches mistakes before you ever run the program, because you can compare it to what you intended.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Where this shows up
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
Where this shows up
Search engines use AND/OR between keywords, spreadsheet formulas use IF with AND/OR conditions, and traffic light controllers use logic such as NOT pedestrianCrossing AND carsWaiting. The same three gates keep reappearing.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
Each check is a ____ Boolean expression, and combining them with logic gives one reliable overall answer.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
Why break a big decision into smaller Boolean checks?
Card 1 of 3
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Computational thinking with Boolean logic
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Why break a big decision into smaller Boolean checks?
2. A truth table for A AND B has how many rows for two inputs?
3. A search for 'cats AND dogs' returns pages that contain...
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
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Understand simple Boolean logic (for example AND, OR and NOT) and some of its uses in circuits and programming, and its use in computational thinking