Lesson Plan

• Describe what a record (structure) is and identify its fields.
• Explain why records are preferred over arrays for heterogeneous data.
• Calculate the total memory size of a record, including alignment padding.
• Demonstrate how to declare, access, and modify record fields in pseudocode.
• Use a record as a single argument when passing data to a procedure.

• Projector and screen
• Whiteboard and markers
• Handout with record examples and memory‑layout diagram
• Pseudocode worksheet
• IDE or compiler for live coding demo
• Sample student data set

Begin with the question, “How could we store a student’s full profile in a single variable?” Connect this to prior knowledge of variables and arrays. Explain that today’s success criteria are to define a record, compute its size, and use it in functions.

1. Do‑now (5 minutes): quick quiz on arrays vs. single‑type collections.
2. Mini‑lecture (10 minutes): definition, syntax, and purpose of records; compare with arrays.
3. Guided practice (12 minutes): calculate memory size of the Student record with and without padding.
4. Coding demonstration (10 minutes): write a record declaration, assign values, and pass it to a print procedure.
5. Independent activity (8 minutes): students design their own record (e.g., Book) and write a function to display its fields.

Review the advantages of records and the steps for size calculation. For the exit ticket, each student writes one benefit of using records. Homework: create a record for a real‑world object, calculate its memory footprint, and prepare a short description.