In this tutorial, we are making binary code ornaments.
Binary code is a way to write numbers, letters and symbols using only 0 and 1.
You will need pipe cleaners, and three colours of beads - one colour for 0, one colour for 1, and one colour as a spacer between letters.
In our example, we’ve used white for zero, red for 1, and green as the spacer.
Instructions
Download our binary code chart and look up the code for the letters you will need. Three and four letter words work best for this. We have used only capital letters.
It helps to lay out the beads for each letter first. Don’t forget the spacer beads.
Then you just need to thread the beads on to your pipe cleaner, twist the ends together to make a loop, and the ornament is ready to hang on your tree.
Maths Week Scotland is back for 2026 with the theme Maths Matters. To celebrate our tenth year, we will have an extended gala week running over two weekends, from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 September.
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