Year 5 Students Learn Semaphore and Morse Code: Unlocking the Power of Non-Verbal Communication in Computing Lessons
In today’s increasingly digital world, understanding how messages are sent and received is more important than ever. But what if you couldn’t rely on words or modern devices like phones or computers to communicate? How would you convey your thoughts or ideas? This question is at the heart of Year 5’s exciting new computing lessons, where students are diving into the fascinating world of semaphore and Morse code — two ancient yet still relevant methods of communication that don't rely on words.
What Are Semaphore and Morse Code?
Before we explore how students are using these codes in class, let’s take a quick look at what semaphore and Morse code are.
Semaphore is a system of signalling using flags or other visual markers. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by a specific position of the flags, allowing messages to be sent over long distances without speaking.
Morse code, on the other hand, uses a series of short and long signals — commonly dots (.) and dashes (-) — to represent letters and numbers. This code can be transmitted in various forms, including sound (like beeps or taps), light (flashes), or written form.
Both methods were once vital for military and maritime communication, where reliable, word-free transmission of messages was essential, especially over long distances or noisy environments. Today, they serve as an interesting lesson in the origins of digital communication.
The Lesson: Understanding How Messages Travel
In their computing lessons, Year 5 students are learning these coding systems as part of a unit focused on how messages are sent and received. The goal isn’t just to memorise codes but to understand the broader concept of digital communication: how information can be transferred in forms that don’t rely on spoken or written words.
