OCR GCSE Computer Science – Data Representation: Characters, Images & Sound | Hands-On Hex Editor Le

OCR GCSE Computer Science – Data Representation of Characters, Images & Sound (Full Lesson Pack)
(Also suitable for AQA and Edexcel GCSE Computer Science)

This engaging lesson helps students understand how characters, images, and sound are represented digitally using binary.
Learners work directly with real files (ASCII text, BMP images, and binary data) to see how data is stored and decoded — a perfect practical complement to the OCR J277 1.2 – Data Representation topic.

Lesson objectives

Students will learn to:

Explain how characters are stored using ASCII and Unicode.

Describe how images are represented as pixels in binary with metadata (resolution, colour depth, and file headers).

Explain how sound is sampled and stored digitally, including how sample rate and bit depth affect file size and quality.

Analyse and modify binary data using a hex editor to reveal and change information within files.

What’s included

Fully editable Word lesson pack with tasks, screenshots, and space for evidence.

All associated binary, BMP, and text files (e.g. gorilla.bmp, red_1x1.bmp, beginner_blob.bin).

Student worksheet activities and step-by-step teacher guidance.

Starter game (Hexadecimal Bee) to reinforce prior learning on binary & hex.

Independent learning checkpoints (“Is it ok to move on?”).

Challenge: Write your own BMP file from scratch using header information.

Why teachers love it

Clear, scaffolded structure suitable for mixed-ability classes.

Visual and practical tasks that make abstract concepts tangible.

Encourages curiosity and critical thinking around how computers store data.

Works perfectly for both classroom and remote learning.

File format

Editable .docx lesson worksheet

Includes all example binary and BMP files

Tags
OCR GCSE Computer Science, J277, Data Representation, Binary, ASCII, Unicode, BMP, Pixels, Sound Sampling, Bit Depth, Sample Rate, File Size, Hex Editor, KS4 Computing, Computer Science Lesson, OCR Unit 1.2, Representing Data