Dictionary Word Search – Making Sense out of Linear and Binary Search
Use 2 copies of the same dictionary.

Instructions:

• The Pickers: Hand a dictionary to 2 students and have them pick out a word in the dictionary. They should keep it a secret.
• The Guessers: Select 2 other students who will try to guess what the word is in the least number of attempts. Each of these students will be handed one of the two dictionaries.
• One student will pursue a Linear Search – start at the beginning of the book and ask if each word, as it appears in alphabetical order, is the word they selected.
• The other student will pursue a Binary Search – start with a word in the middle of the Dictionary and ask if the word you are searching for is before or after that word. If before, then go to the half way point between the middle and the start and select a another word and ask if it is before or after that word being searched for. You will slowly narrow in your search.
• Counters: 2 students who will be matched with one of the two guessers. Each one will count how many attempts it takes for the student to narrow in the search.