I began the unit in the usual way by explaining the idea of a database as a way of quickly finding information. We looked at a set of card-based records on different countries and discussed the language of a database, i.e. 'records' and 'fields'. We experimented with searching this database.

Next, in the computer suite, in pairs the children worked for two sessions on an exercise consisting of using the 'Search' and 'Sort' facilities on a prepared database of children in Information Workshop. They found it useful to be able to see the information in the different 'views'. Having done this, they then set their partner searches to complete.

The next stage was to compile a class database. The children took photos of each other using the digital camera. Although our network is peer-to-peer, we have a shared area known as the G-drive, and I saved the photos to a folder in this area so that the children would be able to access them from the computers in the suite or the classroom.

For this database we used the 2Investigate program from the Junior Video Toolkit, which has the facility to insert a picture or photo into each record. We discussed what information should be included in the database then each child completed their own record, importing their photo.

Next stage: studying rocks with the Intel microscope