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The Micro:Bit microcomputer is first & foremost an educational tool. It introduces students to coding and computer sciences with a simplicity of use and a high fun factor. Learning through doing is the best form of education possible and this economical, practical device has a huge part to play in delivering the new School curriculum subject, computer sciences.
One of the best things about the Micro:Bit is its huge satisfaction level for beginner programmers, as they complete cool projects while learning the basics. You may well be surprised at what its 16MHz ARM CPU is capable of!
At SG Education we are pleased to present some handy little projects to make the school days more interesting. All projects have easy to follow instructions and most will take under an hour to complete.
- A Virtual Pet:
Get started with the Micro:bit. If you are feeling nostalgic for the famous, and now retro, Tamagotchi virtual pet, or you just want to introduce a fun project – why not make a virtual Pet. Use the Python programming language to make a virtual pet that can be fed and played with! So simple and satisfying that you might say it is your ‘pet project!’
- A Combination Lock:
This is really popular with the teenagers, who can find lots of practical uses, such as keeping siblings away from private stuff and ensuring diaries stay private! It’s a really easy way to protect your things and can even be used to warn you of burglaries. The project relies on using the micro:bit to detect whether a circuit is complete or broken. By creating a circuit of copper tape with a buzzer attachment, the micro:bit sounds an alarm once the protected door, drawer, or box has been breached. What student would not want to set up their own lock and passcode?
- Frustration:
This simply but addictive game is aptly named. A new version of the buzzer wire loop game it is indeed, frustrating but also very addictive game. A metal hoop or loop is guided along another metal wire, without the two touching. If contact is made, a buzzer goes off and you have to start again. This project shows you how to make your own version of the game using the Micro:Bit and with the added option of showing the number of attempts instead of making a noise.
- Flashing Heart:
This is one of the easiest Micro:Bit projects and is best suited to absolute beginners. By following the simple instructions you can make the device’s LED grid form a flashing heart. The code is created in the Microsoft Blocks graphical editor. This BBC tutorial is very helpful and guides you through the steps in an uncomplicated and clear way. Once the heart shape has been mastered, the same principals can be applied to make other shapes, letters etc. Great starter project for any classroom setting.
- Milk Carton Robot
An exciting and fun project for any group of young coders to enjoy. The instructions state that this project can be tacked in less than three hours, so it may not fit into one time table slot for the classroom. However, the results of your labour would be very satisfying.
https://youtu.be/Ah4fEbJtklU