Lesson Plan

• Describe the purpose and characteristics of text, numeric, date‑time, and Boolean data types in a relational database.
• Explain how to choose appropriate data types based on data nature, size, and required operations.
• Apply data type selection by assigning suitable SQL types to given field specifications.
• Demonstrate how data types affect storage, validation, and query performance.

• Projector or interactive whiteboard
• Laptop with SQL database software (e.g., MySQL, SQL Server)
• Handout of data type summary table
• Worksheet with practice exercise
• Sample database schema printed
• Markers and whiteboard

Begin with a quick poll: which types of information do you store in everyday apps? Review how fields in a database need a defined type to ensure correct storage and operations. Today students will learn to match common data requirements to the right SQL data type and will be able to justify their choices.

1. Do‑now (5'): Students list examples of data they encounter and classify them as text, number, date, or true/false.
2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Explain each data type category with examples and display the summary table.
3. Guided demo (12'): Instructor creates a table in SQL, choosing appropriate types for sample fields and discussing the rationale.
4. Pair activity (15'): Students complete the practice exercise, selecting data types and writing brief justifications while the teacher circulates.
5. Check for understanding (5'): Quick quiz (e.g., Kahoot) on key distinctions between data types.
6. Reflection (3'): Class shares common pitfalls and performance considerations.

Summarize how selecting the most restrictive appropriate data type improves data integrity and performance. Ask each pair to share one justification they found most convincing as an exit ticket. For homework, assign a short task to design a simple product table with correctly typed fields.