Clickory

Classroom mode

Run it in class

What's the fastest way to find one name in a giant sorted list?

Show of hands — before you project anything

Predict first: to find one name in a sorted A–Z list of 100, do you think you must read most of them, about half, or only a handful? How could we test it?

  • A Way more than you'd guess
  • B About what you'd guess
  • C Way less than you'd guess

Count the votes out loud. Hold them to it — then watch.

Project it (fullscreen)

Discussion prompts

  • Predict first: to find one name in a sorted A–Z list of 100, do you think you must read most of them, about half, or only a handful? How could we test it?
  • Predict first: if we double the list to 200 cards, how many MORE peeks will the middle-jumping search need — lots more, or just one more?
  • Predict first: what happens to the middle-jumping trick if we shuffle the cards out of order? Why does it stop working?

Where it shows up in real life

  • Finding a contact instantly among thousands on a phone
  • Looking up a word in a dictionary by opening near the middle
  • A guessing game where 'higher or lower' hints let you zero in fast

A prediction-first worksheet — no answer key.

zero prep · no login · any projector

Winding down at home? Family mode · Explore every question