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Computers & Digital Literacy · Grade 8

Data Models and Database Foundations

Using the Cedar Valley Library's fictional Ledgerly database, learners describe tables as records and fields, choose data types, and pick primary keys that stay unique and stable. They see how one big table repeats data and causes update problems, split it into two linked tables, and then read plain-language queries that filter, sort and count to predict exactly what the database will return.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 100 minutes
  • Databases check: 10 questions
  • Ways to answer: fill in the blanks, choose an answer, put code in order, trace code, highlight a text and match pairs
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What learners will discover

  • Describe a table in terms of records, fields and data types, and choose a suitable data type for each field.
  • Choose a primary key and explain why names and other shared or changeable values make poor keys.
  • Explain how one big table repeats data and causes update problems, and link two tables with a key in a one-to-many relationship.
  • Read simple queries that filter, sort and count, and predict their results from a small table.

Lessons

  1. Records, fields and data types 6 steps4 practiceabout 23 min
  2. Primary keys: one record, one identity 5 steps3 practiceabout 22 min
  3. One big table or two linked tables? 6 steps4 practiceabout 25 min
  4. Asking questions: filter, sort and count 8 steps6 practiceabout 30 min
  5. Databases check 10 questions at the end

Keep exploring

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Guide for grown-ups