Machines and Robots with micro:bit

## What We’ll Do Today Welcome! Today we’re exploring a tiny computer called the **Micro:bit**. It helps us learn how to use code to control lights, buttons, and sensors. We’ll: - Discover what the Micro:bit is - Use a coding tool called **MakeCode** - Write and test our first program - Run it on a real Micro:bit --- ## Getting to Know the Micro:bit We’ll begin by exploring the Micro:bit. It has: - A grid of LED lights - Buttons A and B - Gold edge pins - Sensors for motion and light We’ll discuss what each part does and where we’ve seen similar technology around us. --- ## Exploring MakeCode We’ll visit [makecode.microbit.org](https://makecode.microbit.org) and create a new project. Students will learn: - Where to find coding blocks - How to build programs using drag-and-drop - How to test code with the built-in simulator We’ll use simple, block-based coding — like building with digital LEGO bricks. --- ## Writing Our First Program We’ll write a simple program that: - Shows an icon (like a heart) when the Micro:bit starts - Displays a message when a button is pressed Then students can explore: - Changing icons or messages - Trying new inputs like shaking the Micro:bit --- ## Trying It on the Real Micro:bit We’ll connect the Micro:bit to the computer and: 1. Download the code 2. Transfer it to the Micro:bit 3. Test it by pressing buttons or moving the device If anything doesn’t work, we’ll go over the steps together. --- ## Wrap-Up & Sharing To finish, we’ll reflect on the day: - What did you make your Micro:bit do? - What do you want to try next time? Students can show their devices in action and share what they enjoyed most. --- We’re excited to keep exploring coding and technology together! --- We’re excited to begin this fun journey into coding and tech!

Welcome! Today, we’re learning about **variables** — a simple but powerful way to help your Micro:bit **remember and work with information**. Let’s find out what variables are, why we use them, and how we can build fun programs using them. --- ## What Is a Variable? A **variable** is like a labeled box that stores something — like a number, word, or message. You can change what’s inside the box whenever you want. Examples: - A box called `score` can start at 0 and go up by 1 every time you win a game. - A box called `name` can hold your name and display a greeting like “Hello, Sam!” Variables help your Micro:bit remember things and make decisions. --- ## What You’ll Learn Today - What a variable is - How to make and name variables in MakeCode - How to store and change values - How to use variables in fun Micro:bit projects - How variables help your program think and react --- ## Activity 1: Digital Dice Show a random number between 1 and 6 everytime the dice is rolled by pressing the button A. ### 1. Create the Variable - Click **Variables** → **Make a Variable** - Name the variable: `roll` ### 2. Set Up the Button Input - Drag the `on button A pressed` block into the workspace - This block will run the code every time you press button A on the Micro:bit ### 3. Fill the Variable with a Random Number - Inside the `on button A pressed` block, add a `set roll to` block - Go to **Math** → drag `pick random 1 to 6` and place it in the `set roll to` slot - Now, when button A is pressed, `roll` stores a random number between 1 and 6 — just like a dice roll! --- ### 4. Show the Result - Add a `show number` block under the `set roll to` line - From the **Variables** menu, drag `roll` into the `show number` block - This will display the random number stored in `roll` on the Micro:bit’s LED screen --- ## Activity 2: My Multiplication Bot Let’s make a program that gives you a random multiplication question, then shows the answer when you’re ready. ### What You’ll Need: - Two variables: `num1` and `num2` ### Steps: 1. Open a new project at [makecode.microbit.org](https://makecode.microbit.org) 2. Click **Variables** → **Make a Variable** → Name it `num1` 3. Repeat to make a second variable: `num2` 4. In the `on start` block, set both variables to random numbers between 1 and 10 5. Add an `on button A pressed` block: - Show `num1` - Show the "x" sign using `show string "x"` - Show `num2` 6. Add an `on button B pressed` block: - Use the `show number` block to display the answer: `num1 × num2` You’ve now built a mini math quiz bot! --- ### Wrap-Up You’ve just learned how to use **variables** to make your Micro:bit smarter and more interactive. Keep practicing at and bring your best creation to share next class! Happy coding!

# Micro:bit Lesson 3 – Events and Loops Welcome to Lesson 3! Today, we’re learning how to make our Micro:bit more **interactive and animated** using two powerful ideas in programming: **Events** and **Loops**. --- ## What You’ll Learn Today - What an **event** is, and how it lets your program react (like pressing a button) - What a **loop** is, and how it helps repeat actions over and over - How to use the **pause** block to control the speed of animations - How to combine images, animations, and simple logic to make Micro:bit games --- ## Key Concepts ### What is an Event? An **event** is something that happens — like pressing a button or shaking the Micro:bit. You can write code that only runs **when** that event happens. Examples of events: - `on button A pressed` - `on shake` - `on start` (runs when the program begins) --- ### What is a Loop? A **loop** tells the computer to do something **again and again**. Types of loops: - `forever` → keeps repeating - `repeat X times` → repeats for a set number of times Loops are great for making: - Animations - Flashing icons - Repeating patterns --- ## Activity 1: LED Animation Loop Let’s create a simple animation using loops and LED patterns. ### What You’ll Do: - Show a sequence of 2–3 images - Use `pause` blocks to control how fast they change - Repeat them using a loop ### Steps: 1. Open MakeCode and start a new project 2. Use a `forever` loop 3. Inside the loop, add multiple `show leds` blocks with different patterns 4. Add a `pause` (e.g., 500 ms) after each pattern 5. (Optional) Add `clear screen` for a cleaner animation effect Now you’ve made a repeating animation! --- ## Activity 2: Button-Controlled Animation Let’s make the animation play **only when a button is pressed**. ### Steps: 1. Replace the `forever` loop with `on button A pressed` 2. Inside this block, use a `repeat 4 times` loop 3. Add the same LED pattern + pause combination 4. Now your animation runs just once — each time you press A ---

Welcome to Lesson 4! Today, we’ll learn how to draw using the Micro:bit’s LED screen — just like a tiny drawing board made of lights. --- ## What You’ll Learn Today - How the Micro:bit screen is a **grid of 25 lights** (5 rows × 5 columns) - How to turn lights on by choosing the right **X and Y positions** - How to use **loops inside loops** to draw many dots quickly - How to create patterns and animations using repeat blocks --- ## Key Idea 1: What Is the LED Grid? The Micro:bit has **25 tiny lights** in a square grid. We can light them up using numbers called **coordinates**. - **X-axis** (left to right): 0 to 4 - **Y-axis** (top to bottom): 0 to 4 Think of it like this: We use `plot x y` blocks to turn lights on! --- ## Activity 1: Diagonal Line Let’s light up a diagonal line across the screen. ### What You’ll Build: - A line from top-left to bottom-right using the same number for X and Y. ### Step-by-Step (in MakeCode): 1. Start a new project 2. Go to **Loops** → drag `repeat 5 times` into the workspace 3. Inside that, go to **Variables** → `make a variable` → name it `i` 4. Add `set i to 0` before the loop 5. Inside the loop: - Use `plot x y` block → set X to `i`, Y to `i` - Add `change i by 1` at the end of the loop 6. Press "play" to watch the diagonal light up! --- ## Activity 2: Light Up the Grid (Nested Loops) Now let’s light up the whole grid row by row using two loops — one for **rows** and one for **columns**. ### What You’ll Build: - A full-screen lighting effect using two loops. ### Step-by-Step (in MakeCode): 1. Start a new project 2. Drag a `forever` block from **Basic** 3. Inside it, drag a `repeat 5 times` block (this will be for Y) - Make a variable called `y` - Before the loop, set `y to 0` 4. Inside that loop, add another `repeat 5 times` block (for X) - Make a variable `x` - Before this loop, set `x to 0` 5. Inside the inner loop: - Use `plot x y` - Add `change x by 1` 6. After the inner loop, add `change y by 1` 7. Add a `pause (100 ms)` after each row lights up Now the lights will fill the screen row by row! (Optional: use `clear screen` and repeat to animate) ## Wrap-Up Great job! Today, you learned: - How the Micro:bit’s LED screen uses **coordinates** - How to use **loops** to repeat drawing steps - That loops inside loops help us draw rows and columns Next time, we’ll add more interaction — like using buttons to control drawings! Keep exploring and drawing with lights!

# Micro:bit Lesson 5 – Light Sensors Today we’re learning about **sensors** — special tools that help the Micro:bit feel what’s happening in the world around it. We’ll focus on the **light sensor**, which tells us how bright or dark a place is. --- ## What You’ll Learn Today - What a **sensor** is, and why we use them in technology - How the **Micro:bit light sensor** works - How to use blocks in MakeCode to read the **brightness level** - How to create simple programs that respond to light --- ## What Is a Sensor? A **sensor** is like a tiny helper that tells a computer what’s going on around it. Examples: - A **light sensor** tells how bright or dark it is - A **temperature sensor** tells how hot or cold - A **motion sensor** knows when something moves The Micro:bit has sensors built right into it! --- ## Micro:bit’s Light Sensor The Micro:bit’s **LED screen** is also a light sensor! It can **measure how much light** is falling on the device. - In a **bright room**, the value is high - In a **dark place**, the value is low We can use the **`light level`** block to get this number and decide what to do with it in our code. --- ## Activity 1: Check Room Brightness Let’s build a simple program that shows the current light level on the Micro:bit’s screen. ### What You’ll Build: - A loop that keeps checking how bright the room is - The number will update again and again ### Steps in MakeCode: 1. Start a new project 2. Drag out a `forever` block 3. Inside it, add: - `show number` block (from **Basic**) - Inside that, place `light level` block (from **Input**) 4. Add a `pause (500 ms)` after it, so it updates every half second ➡️ Now your Micro:bit acts like a live light meter! Try shining a flashlight or covering it with your hand to see the numbers change. --- ## Activity 2: Light Alarm If the light level drops too low (like someone turning off a light), show a warning! **Hint:** - Use `if light level < 50 then` - Show a message like “Too Dark!” ## Activity 3: Read Light Only on Button Press Now let’s build a version where the Micro:bit only checks light **when you press Button B**. ### What You’ll Build: - Pressing Button B will show the light level just once ### Steps in MakeCode: 1. Drag out an `on button B pressed` block 2. Inside it, add: - `show number` block - Place `light level` block inside it Now you can check the light level *only when you want* — by pressing B! ---

* Learn to use the accelerometer sensor to detect gestures such as free fall, tilt, shaking, etc. * Learn to sense any other motion on Microbit.

# Micro:bit – Sound & Music with Micro:bit Today’s lesson is all about **sound**! We’ll explore how to make the Micro:bit **play sounds**, and how it can **listen to sounds** using its built-in microphone. --- ## What You’ll Learn - How to use the **built-in speaker** on the Micro:bit - How the **microphone** detects sound around you - How to write code that **plays music or reacts to noise** - Build simple programs that play tones or detect claps --- ## Key Concepts ### 1. Built-in Speaker The Micro:bit V2 has a small speaker built into the board — no wires or headphones needed! We can use the **Music blocks** in MakeCode to: - Play notes - Play melodies - Add fun sound effects to animations or games --- ### 2. Built-in Microphone The Micro:bit also has a microphone, which can **hear sounds** around it. We can measure: - **Sound level** (how loud it is) - Listen for **sudden sounds** like a clap or shout We use the `sound level` block to measure how loud it is, and `on loud sound` block to run code when it hears something. --- ## Activity 1: Make the Micro:bit Sing! Let’s play a short melody through the speaker. ### Steps (MakeCode): 1. Open a new project 2. Drag out the `on start` block 3. Inside it, go to **Music** → add `play melody` block 4. Pick a built-in tune like `"ba ba ba ba ba"` or `"C D E F G"` 5. Press the reset button — your Micro:bit sings on start! --- ## Activity 2: Sound Level Meter Let’s check how loud the room is and show it as a number. ### Steps (MakeCode): 1. Drag out a `forever` block 2. Inside it, add: - `show number` block - Place `sound level` block inside it (from **Input**) 3. Add `pause (100 ms)` to slow it down 4. Optional: try clapping or talking near the Micro:bit to see the number change --- ## Activity 3: Clap to Trigger a Sound Let’s code the Micro:bit to **listen for a loud sound** (like a clap) and play a beep or melody in response. ### Steps (MakeCode): 1. Drag out `on loud sound` block (from **Input**) 2. Inside it, add a `play tone` or `play melody` block from **Music** 3. Test it by clapping or tapping the table nearby Try customizing: - Use `show icon` or `show string` when sound is detected - Change the melody or play a sound effect --- ## Wrap-Up Awesome job! Today, you explored: - The Micro:bit’s **speaker** and how to play music - The **microphone**, which listens to sounds around it - How to build fun programs that **respond to real-world sound** Next time, we’ll mix sound with lights and logic to make even smarter projects!

* Learn about Microbit’s built-in magnetometer sensor. * Learn to use this sensor to detect the magnetic force around Microbit and code Microbit to create many useful applications.

* Learn about Microbit’s built-in temperature sensor. * Learn to use Microbit to take temperature readings.

* Create a real-time application of the Microbit accelerometer. * Tak e readings/make observation chart to use real-time sensor values in the application made.