OCR GCSE Computer Science – Binary Numbers & Arithmetic | Conversions, Addition & Shifts Lesson

OCR GCSE Computer Science – Binary Numbers and Arithmetic (Full Lesson Pack)
(Also suitable for AQA and Edexcel Computer Science specifications)

This clear, structured, and fully editable lesson introduces binary numbers, binary arithmetic, and bitwise shifts, giving students the essential understanding needed for data representation and computer systems.

Ideal for OCR J277 1.2 – Data Representation, this lesson builds from basic conversion skills through to binary addition, overflow errors, and left/right shift operations.

Lesson objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

Convert between denary (decimal) and binary up to 8 bits.

Perform binary addition and identify overflow errors.

Explain and demonstrate binary left and right shifts, including their effect on values.

Recognise the relationship between binary and hexadecimal values.

What’s included

Fully editable Word lesson file with structured student tasks and teacher prompts.

Starter quiz/game link to recap binary conversions interactively.

Guided practice converting between binary, denary, and hex values.

Worked examples of binary addition and overflow.

Binary shift tasks (multiply/divide by powers of two).

Plenary reflection and student self-assessment checklist.

Why teachers love it

Combines clear explanations with step-by-step tasks and self-checking questions.

Supports mixed-ability learners with structured scaffolding and challenge tasks.

Builds core skills for OCR J277 Paper 1 and 2 — especially useful before the Hexadecimal and Data Representation lessons.

Fully editable for classroom or remote teaching.

File format

Editable .docx worksheet/lesson pack

Optional online game link for starters

Tags
OCR GCSE Computer Science, J277, Data Representation, Binary, Denary, Decimal, Binary Addition, Overflow Error, Binary Shift, Left Shift, Right Shift, Base 2, KS4 Computing, Computer Science Lesson, Memory and Storage