cryptocurrency
Single lesson introduction
Task 1 What is Crypto?
Open a new tab and go to YouTube.
Search for "what is cryptocurrency explained simply" or "bitcoin for beginners animated".
Watch one of the short, animated videos (under 5 minutes long) that explains the basic idea.
In a new word processed document, answer these two questions:
1
What was the name of the very first cryptocurrency?
2
Based on the video, what is one major difference between cryptocurrency and the money in your bank account (like pounds £)?
Task 2 The Investigator
Use a search engine (e.g., Google) to find definitions for the key terms below. Write a short, one-sentence explanation in your own words for each one. Don't just copy and paste!
Blockchain: (Hint: Think of it like a public, digital list of who has paid who.)
Decentralised: (Hint: What does it mean if no single person, company, or bank is in charge?)
Crypto Wallet: (Hint: How do you store and access your digital money?)
Mining: (Hint: How are new crypto coins created? It involves powerful computers solving puzzles.)
List three examples of cryptocurrencies OTHER than Bitcoin.
Task 3 The 'SchoolCoin' Project
Imagine our school wants to create its own cryptocurrency called 'SchoolCoin' to be used in the canteen instead of cash.
Your task is to think about whether this is a good or bad idea.
Create a simple table in your word processed document with two columns: PROS (Good Things) and CONS (Bad Things).
Fill the table with at least three points in each column for using 'SchoolCoin'.
Need ideas? Think about:
Pros: How fast could payments be? Could you lose your lunch money? Is it modern?
Cons: What if the school Wi-Fi goes down? What happens if you forget your password? Who is in charge of it? Is it fair for everyone?
⭐ Extension Task: For Early Finishers (5 mins) ⭐
Search online to find out what an 'NFT' (Non-Fungible Token) is.
In one sentence, explain what it is.
Find one famous or interesting example of an NFT and state how much it sold for.
Last modified: October 6th, 2025
