Core rope memory
(Currently best viewed on a desktop machine.)
-
Large-hole round beads - approximately 8 for each group (see example)
-
12 inch pieces of nylon thread or thin string in varying colors -- creating roughly 7 pieces of string for each group (see example)
-
One additional large bead (referred to as a "charm" below)
What You Need
Step 1
Translate a short word into binary code. Each letter will be made of 8 digits.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
10000000
11000000
11100000
11110000
11111000
11111100
11111110
11111111
01000000
01100000
01110000
01111000
01111100
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
01111110
01111111
00100000
00110000
00111000
00111100
00111110
00111111
00010000
00011000
00011100
00011110
00011111
Example:
H E A R
11111111 11111000 10000000 00111000
Step 2
Turn your binary code into the physical distinctions of core rope memory.
For every letter in your word, attach one piece of string to your charm. Then attach one additional piece of string.
Ex: For the word "HEAR" you will attach five strings to the charm.
Each string represents a letter.
Step 3
Thread eight "magnetic core" beads onto the
first string.
Step 4
Pick up a second piece of string and begin threading it through and around the beads according to the binary pattern for the first letter in your word. If the digit is a 0, bypass the bead with your string. If the digit is a 1, lace the string through the bead.
Ex: encoding the letter "H" requires lacing the thread through each bead.
H
H
Continue encoding this pattern with the remaining letters in the word, representing each letter with one piece of string.
Step 5
E
H
E
A
R
Step 6
Once you complete the word, create a knot at the bottom of the beads by tying all the pieces of string together.
Key Questions
1. Sewing and weaving are activities often associated with certain people and not
others. In what way(s) does the making-core-memory activity reinforce
stereotypes? In what ways does it challenge stereotypes?
2. What does this activity remind you of?
3. As you learn more about the core memory weavers and their contribution to the
Apollo mission, are there parts of the story that resonate with you?
4. What stories in your own life remind you of the weaving activity?
5. If you made an error in making the core rope memory, what would that
correspond to in the weaving activity for the core memory weavers?
6. What parts of the activity did you enjoy the most? What parts stood out to you?
7. Do you often have opportunities to tell stories from your own life? What stood out
to you about sharing them today?