A paper chain made of pink and green loops, representing binary code. It sits draped over a table.

Ages 9+ | 40 mins | Craft | No Screens

Write your name in the language of computers!

What You'll Need: 

Step 1: Write your name. 

  • If you have a printer, print the binary code chain planning sheet and follow the instructions.

  • If you don't have a printer, write your name on a piece of paper and open up the binary code planning sheet on your computer, tablet, or phone.

    Binary Code Chain Planning Sheet

Step 2: Convert your name to binary code. 

  • Use the conversion chart on your sheet to find the binary code for each letter in your name.
  • Write down the binary code for each letter in your name.
  • Example: G=1000111, A =01000001. 

Step 3: Plan your colors.

  • Decide which color will represent 1 and which will represent 0.
  • Example (above): 1 is pink and 0 is green. 

Step 4: Cut your strips.

  • Cut enough paper strips in both colors to match the number of digits in your binary name. 

Step 5: Build your chain. 

  • Start with the first digit of your binary name. If it's a 1, used the color for 1. If it's a 0, use the color for 0.
  • Make a loop with the strip and glue, tape, or staple it closed.
  • Link the next strip through the first loop and close it.
  • Continue until you've made a chain for your entire name.
  • Tip: Mark the first loop of each letter to help you keep track. 

Step 6: Display your code! 

  • Hang your colorful chain as a garland.
  • Challenge friends to decode your name using the binary chart. 
Small Snoopy, a cartoon dog, and Charlie Brown, a cartoon boy, dolls sit on top of a monitor at mission control. The Snoopy doll wears a spacesuit.

Binary Code: It's How Computers Talk

Binary code is a computer language made of just 1s and 0s.

When you put lots of 1s and 0s together in a special order, they can represent letters, numbers, pictures, and even games! Binary is how computers talk and understand everything we tell them.

Binary code was even used to help Apollo astronauts land on the Moon!

We want to hear from you!

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Adapted from Soar Together at Air and Space. Soar Together is made possible by the generous support of the Northrop Grumman Foundation.