Computing · Stage 5

Databases: Records & Fields

Programs & Judgement · data — organise information into records (rows) and fields (columns) so a database can store it tidily

✦ Computing📘 Stage 5 · S5⏱ ~12 min🧒 Ages 9–10★ Free to start

I can organise data into records and fields.

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Kavi Organises the Forest Friends List

Kavi had facts about the forest friends scribbled all over one page — names, animals and favourite foods, muddled together. "Nobody can find anything!" Kavi hooted. "I'll make a database — a tidy table." Kavi gave each friend its own row, called a record, and each kind of fact its own column, called a field: Name, Animal, Favourite food. Now one glance down the Name field lists every friend, and one glance across a record tells the whole story of one friend. "Organised at last!" Kavi cheered.

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What your child will learn

1Table, record, field, valueA database stores data in a tidy table. Reading across one row gives all the facts about one thing — that row is a record. Reading down one column gives one kind of fact for everyone — that column is a field. Where a record and a field meet sits one value. Tap each part to hear its job.

2A record reads across · a field reads downThe same table can be read two ways. Read across a row and you get one whole record — everything about one friend. Read down a column and you get one field — the same kind of fact for every friend.

3Is it a field or a record?A column of the same kind of fact is a field. A row with every fact about one thing is a record. Tap the right box for each one.

4How to organise data into a tableTurning a jumbled list into a database is a little program — steps in order. Press ▶ Run and watch Kavi tidy the forest friends list into fields and records.

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A peek inside

In Kavi's table, one row reads: Milo · cat · fish. That whole row holds every fact about one friend. What do we call one whole row?

a row holds every fact about ONE thing

Try this at home: A tidy table that stores organised data is called a ____.

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Part of Computing · Stage 5 · S5 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.