Embedded Files
Meet Your Maker
Meet Your Maker
Heather Lister @heathermlister
Chief Education Officer, Construct Learning
If your school participates in a door decorating contest, I'm going to help you win with some sweet maker skills. With a few supplies, you'll be able to make your work of art come to life with holiday tunes and twinkling lights.
If your school participates in a door decorating contest, I'm going to help you win with some sweet maker skills. With a few supplies, you'll be able to make your work of art come to life with holiday tunes and twinkling lights.
Supplies
Supplies
All of the materials you need are included in the MakerBit Starter Kit + Audio Narration Kit. If you already have a Micro:Bit, you can purchase just the MakerBit Board here.
MakerBit & MicroBit
MakerBit & MicroBit
The MakerBit is a "shield" or "piggy back" board for the micro:bit, adding lots of additional functionality (like music)
Portable Speaker
Portable Speaker
This is the speaker that came in the audio narration kit, but you can use any speaker that you can plug into a standard headphone jack.
Power Supply
Power Supply
This power supply is using 4 x AA batteries. I like that it has the off/on switch unlike a 9V battery and connector cord. But use whatever you have.
Male to Alligator DuPont (or jumper) Wire
Male to Alligator DuPont (or jumper) Wire
It's really fun explaining to the kids why we call these the "male"
Mp3 player module and microSD
Mp3 player module and microSD
Both of these are included in the audio narration kit or you can pick one up on Amazon here. The kit also includes a USB to microSD adapter.
A door
A door
It's really hard to do a door decorating project without one of these.
LED Ribbon Cable
LED Ribbon Cable
The MakerBit kit comes with two of these. You can use one, both, or none.
Touch Ribbon Cable
Touch Ribbon Cable
We'll only be using one wire (T5)
Step 1: Decorate Your Door
Step 1: Decorate Your Door
I'm not giving you guidance on this step. There's Pinterest for that.
Step 2: Pick Your Tunes
Step 2: Pick Your Tunes
The Mp3 Audio Module can support .WAV or .mp3 files.
Resources for audio:
Consider recording your own sounds!
Consider recording your own sounds!
Insert your microSD card into your computer (or by using an adapter), and create a folder named "01". After saving your music file (using the naming protocols to the right), drag it to this folder.
The music files should be named so that each one begins with “001”, then “005”, “006”, etc. For example:
001RingingBells.wav
005Caroling.wav
006TistheSeason.mp3
Step 3: Write & Upload Your Code
Step 3: Write & Upload Your Code
For this project, we want the song to play as soon as someone touches the doorknob. But you could also create a special button or make a switch using the doorstop. If your door is usually propped open and not a lot of people will actually be touching your doorknob, you may want to create a different trigger. You could also create a doormat switch.
a. Go to makecode.makerbit.com
a. Go to makecode.makerbit.com
You can erase the default program that is there.
You are also welcome to use my code which you can find here.
In addition to playing a sound, I decided to utilize the 25 LED's on the micro:bit and create a snowflake display. You can choose to do this or create another animation. You can even write scrolling text. Or you can do nothing. I also have the lights flashing which is why I put a pause between "high" and "low"
Note: My code is pulling from folder 4 because I have numerous files on a single SD card. If you created a folder "001", you'll put 1 in this box.
Name your file and choose "Download"
Name your file and choose "Download"
Plug your micro:bit (JUST your micro:bit) into your computer via USB.
Drag or send the downloaded .hex file to the micro:bit.
Note: Your micro:bit can store one program at a time. If you upload a new program onto your bit, it will overwrite your previous one.
Step 4: Assembly Time!
Step 4: Assembly Time!
Insert micro:bit into MakerBit
Insert micro:bit into MakerBit
Be sure the LEDs are facing you
Connect your touch cable
Connect your touch cable
You'll connect the grey ended rainbow cable to the grey port on the MakerBit.
Connect LEDs
Connect LEDs
You'll connect the black end of the rainbow cables to the black ports on the MakerBit.
Connect male end of alligator clip to female end of touch sensor cable T5
Connect male end of alligator clip to female end of touch sensor cable T5
This is the outer-most RED cord. You can find a diagram labeling all of the wires here.
Insert your SD card into the mp3 module
Insert your SD card into the mp3 module
Insert mp3 module into mp3 port on MakerBit
Insert mp3 module into mp3 port on MakerBit
Plug in speaker
Plug in speaker
Make sure it's pushed in the entire way
Connect alligator clip to doorknob
Connect alligator clip to doorknob
Step 5: Touch Doorknob & Jam Out!
Step 5: Touch Doorknob & Jam Out!
Heather Lister @heathermlister
Heather Lister @heathermlister
Chief Education Officer, Construct Learning
Chief Education Officer, Construct Learning
Share your creation!
Share your creation!
If you use the MakerBit to create an epic decorated door, I'd love to hear about it. Be sure to tweet me @heathermlister and tag Makerbit @themakerbit. And don't forget to use the hashtag #25daysofmaking
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