Logic gates in the classroom: ready-made lessons, free circuits
For teachers of computing, physics, design and technology or electronics, and for club leaders: what you can use tomorrow for free, and six ready-to-teach lessons if you want to save time.
Free, right now
Nothing to install, no sign-up for you or your students.
The 6 “Learn” pages, in English
AND, OR, NOT, XOR, NAND / NOR and the truth table: everyday examples, the symbols, a circuit to play and a 4-question quiz on every page.
The 10 free circuits, on the board
Project them in class: place the gates, flip the switches, and the truth table turns green row by row.
The daily challenge
One circuit a day, the same for everyone: a five-minute starter.
Circuits you can play with the keyboard
Tab to move through the circuit, Enter to pick a gate from a menu, announcements for screen readers: a student who does not use a mouse can play like everyone else. We have not yet been able to test with a screen reader: tell us what gets in the way.
A lesson in 5 steps
About 45 minutes, with the free pages only. The pack gives a one-hour introductory lesson, minute by minute, plus six one-hour lessons to go further.
- Hook (5 min) — Project the first circuit. Students predict: will the lamp light up? Flip the switches and watch.
- The gates (10 min) — AND, OR, NOT, then XOR and NAND / NOR, with the “Learn” pages as your support. Read the output column from top to bottom.
- In pairs (15 min) — Each pair plays circuits on a computer or a tablet, or fills in a worksheet if you have the pack.
- Whole class (10 min) — One pair places its gates on the projected circuit. The table turns the right rows green: the class checks the answer.
- Exit ticket (5 min) — Five minutes, on their own, to see who has understood. The pack gives two printable versions, A and B.
The Teacher Pack
Six one-hour lessons on logic gates, plus an introductory lesson, ready to teach, with answer keys and assessments. In English. For secondary school (high school) teachers of computing, physics, design and technology or electronics, for post-16 courses and for after-school clubs.
- 6 one-hour lessons, each with its own lesson plan: learning objectives, minute-by-minute plan, answer keys for the activities, differentiation (support and challenge), common mistakes
- One assessment per lesson (5 questions, out of 10, with a mark scheme) and student worksheets to photocopy
- Plus a one-hour introductory lesson, minute by minute, with 4 student worksheets and exit tickets with answer keys
- A cheat sheet of the 6 logic gates (ANSI/IEEE distinctive-shape and IEC symbols)
- 50 circuits to project on the board, sorted by lesson, no internet needed
- A contents page and user guide: what to print, what to project
- Use it as often as you like with your own class or club (no reselling)
The six lessons in the pack
- Lesson 1 · AND, OR and NOT gates — ages 11–16 (computing, design and technology), early post-16 computing, and clubs from age 12
- Lesson 2 · Truth tables — ages 11–16 and post-16 (computing, electronics)
- Lesson 3 · NAND and NOR: the universal gates — ages 14–16 and post-16 (computing, electronics), clubs; ages 11–14 as an extension
- Lesson 4 · XOR and the 1-bit adder — ages 14–16 and post-16 (computing, electronics); ages 11–14 as an extension
- Lesson 5 · Reading a circuit and predicting its output — ages 11–16 and post-16 (computing, design and technology, electronics)
- Lesson 6 · Mini-project: design a circuit and test it — ages 11–16 and post-16 (computing, design and technology, electronics), clubs
The answers in the tables are computed from the circuits, and every answer key is checked by a program. These lessons have not been taught in a classroom yet: tell us what works and what doesn't.
No national curriculum is quoted: each lesson gives general links (computing, physics, design and technology, electronics), to check against your own.
Teachers' questions
How can I use Wire & Gate in class?
Open the “Learn” pages or the free circuits on the projector: no account, no sign-up, for you or your students. The Teacher Pack adds 6 one-hour lessons ready to teach (minute-by-minute plan, answer keys, an assessment out of 10), plus a one-hour introductory lesson, worksheets to print and their answer keys.
Does it work offline, with no network in the classroom?
The pack's “circuits to project” file (50 circuits) opens in a recent browser with no internet; the worksheets are PDF files.
Can I photocopy the worksheets?
Yes. The worksheets and assessments are designed for black-and-white photocopying, with two versions of the exit ticket. Copy them for your students or your club members.
What does the licence allow?
You can use the pack as often as you like with your own students or club and photocopy the worksheets for them. You may not resell it or put it online publicly; a closed school platform or online class is fine.
Another question? See the Help & FAQ page or the Contact page. You can write to us in English.