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Interested in designing your own circuits and building interactive projects? You’ll begin by learning the fundamentals of circuit design and the science behind electricity. You’ll be introduced to the Microbit microcontroller and the MakeCode programming environment, and how this can be used to read data from various types of sensors to control motors, servos, displays. Students will then create a series of projects, such as infinity mirror art projects, radio-controlled robots, devices to automatically water plants, weather stations that connect to the Internet, smart houses, and AI-controlled systems that react to speech, text, and emotions.
Mr Jonathan's Microbit Site:
https://sites.google.com/aceraschool.org/mrjonathansengineering/home
MakeCode:
https://makecode.microbit.org/
Microbit Make It/Code It Starter Projects
https://microbit.org/projects/make-it-code-it/
Science Buddies: How to Use a Microbit
Day 1: Introduction to Microbit
Concepts Covered:
Meet the Microbit: Introduce students to the Microbit microcontroller and the MakeCode programming environment.
https://sites.google.com/aceraschool.org/mrjonathansengineering/lessons/1-meet-microbitExperiment with the "Out of the Box Experience" demonstration program
Sensors and Actuators
Email PW
amcamp1@aceraschool.org Summercamp1
amcamp2@aceraschool.org Summercamp2
amcamp3@aceraschool.org Summercamp3
amcamp4@aceraschool.org Summercamp4
amcamp5@aceraschool.org Summercamp5
amcamp6@aceraschool.org Summercamp6
How to download a hex file to the MicroBit
Complete basic programming challenges at https://makecode.microbit.org/
using the various built-in sensors and actuators
https://sites.google.com/aceraschool.org/mrjonathansengineering/lessons/2-basic-programming-challengesParts needed: Microbit, MicroUSB to USB-A cable, 3V MicroBit battery, USB-A--->USB-C adaptor
1. Flashing Heart (The "Hello World" of Micro:bit)
https://makecode.microbit.org/projects/flashing-heart
Every physical computing journey starts with making an LED blink. This project uses the 5x5 LED matrix on the front of the board to display a heart icon, pause, clear the screen, and repeat.
What it teaches: Basic loops (forever block) and controlling the LED matrix.
The code: A simple loop that toggles between the "show icon" (heart) block and the "clear screen" block, with a short pause in between.
2. Step Counter (Pedometer)
https://microbit.org/projects/make-it-code-it/step-counter/
By tapping into the on-board accelerometer, the Micro:bit can detect when it's being shaken or moved up and down, just like a fitness tracker.
What it teaches: Variables, math operations (incrementing a value by 1), and using the accelerometer's on shake event.
The code: Create a variable called steps. Every time the on shake event triggers, change the steps variable by 1, and display the new number on the LED matrix.
3. Rock, Paper, Scissors
https://microbit.org/projects/make-it-code-it/rock-paper-scissors/
This turns the board into a digital game. When you physically shake the Micro:bit, it randomly selects and displays an icon representing rock, paper, or scissors.
What it teaches: Conditional logic (if/then/else statements), random number generation, and using events to trigger actions.
The code: On a shake event, generate a random number between 1 and 3. If the number is 1, show a rock icon; if 2, show paper; if 3, show scissors.
4. Automatic Night Light
https://microbit.org/projects/make-it-code-it/nightlight/
The LEDs on the Micro:bit don't just emit light; they can also detect it. This project uses the LED matrix as a light sensor to automatically turn on all the LEDs when the room gets dark.
What it teaches: Analog sensor inputs, threshold values, and using comparative logic (less than).
The code: In a continuous loop, check the light level block (which reads from 0 to 255). If the light level drops below a certain threshold (e.g., 50), turn on all LEDs. Otherwise, clear the screen.
5. Digital Pet / Tamagotchi
https://microbit.org/projects/make-it-code-it/microbit-pet/
Give the Micro:bit a personality by having it react to how it's handled. It can smile when you press a button, frown when you shake it, or fall asleep if left alone.
What it teaches: Managing multiple inputs (buttons A and B, touch logo, accelerometer) and understanding state changes.
The code: Program the on button A pressed event to show a happy face, the on shake event to show a dizzy face, and the on logo touched event to show a surprised face.
6. Soil Moisture Tester
https://makecode.microbit.org/projects/soil-moisture
This is an excellent physical science project that uses the Micro:bit to determine if a plant needs watering by measuring the conductivity of the soil.
What it teaches: Analog inputs, reading resistance/conductivity, and basic external circuits using alligator clips.
How it works: You connect two nails (or long screws) to the 0 and 3V pins using alligator clips and push them into the soil. The Micro:bit reads the analog signal on pin 0; wet soil conducts electricity better than dry soil, resulting in a higher reading. You can program the LED matrix to show a happy face if the soil is damp and a sad face if it's dry.
7. Wireless Radio Communicator
https://microbit.org/get-started/features/radio-and-pins/
The Micro:bit has a built-in radio antenna, allowing two or more boards to send data back and forth wirelessly using Bluetooth.
What it teaches: Wireless data transmission, setting radio groups, and sending/receiving strings or variables.
How it works: You set both Micro:bits to the same "radio group." One board can be programmed to send a text string (like "HELLO") when a button is pressed. The receiving board uses an on radio received event block to catch that data and scroll the message across its LED matrix. It's a great stepping stone before moving into more complex transceiver setups.
8. Reaction Time Game
https://microbit.org/projects/make-it-code-it/reaction-game/
This turns the Micro:bit into a fast-paced two-player game to see who has the quickest reflexes.
What it teaches: Advanced timing functions, boolean variables (true/false states), and keeping score.
How it works: The game starts with a random delay, after which a central LED lights up. Player 1 hovers over button A, and Player 2 hovers over button B. The first to press their button after the light appears gets a point. If someone presses early (false start), the other player automatically wins the round.
Day 2: Sensors, Displays, and Interactive Art
Concepts Covered: Reading sensor data, adding extensions, and controlling visual displays.
Activities:
Write short programs that display built-in sensor values- tilt, temperature, light,etc.
How to search for and add extensions to MakeCode
Explore input data with different sensors, such as the RCWL-1601 Ultrasonic Sensor for detecting distance, or DHT-11 for temperature and humidity.
Learn to control displays by programming Neopixels strips utilizing the Neopixels Extension.
https://sites.google.com/aceraschool.org/mrjonathansengineering/lessons/3-neopixels-extension.Vary the behaviors of the strip utilizing built-in sensors.
Materials: Microbit, MicroUSB to USB-A cable, 3V MicroBit battery, USB-A--->USB-C adaptor; RCWL-Ultrasonic distance sensor; DHT-11; Neopixel Strips , alligator clips
Main Project Option 1: Arcade Game
Main Project Option 2: Infinity Mirror :Combine circuit design and programming to build and code an interactive Infinity Mirror art project, which changes its behavior based on the built-in accelerometer/tilt sensors.
Infinity Mirror can be built into classroom window, using a fixed mirror
https://sites.google.com/aceraschool.org/mrjonathansengineering/projects/infinity-mirror
Parts Needed: Microbit, MicroUSB to USB-A cable, 3V MicroBit battery, USB-A--->USB-C adaptor;
Cardboard; mirror film; Neopixel strips, power supply, duct tape
Day 3: Robotics, Motors
Concepts Covered: Controlling physical systems, servos, and wireless communication.
Activities:
Introduce Motor Control using ElecFreaks Breakout Board and learn how to vary motor speed using analogWrite functions. If the breakout board is not available, you can use an L298 H-Bridge or similar device
Main Project: Build and program Robotic Cars. Students can enhance their robots by incorporating line sensors for line-following capabilities https://sites.google.com/aceraschool.org/mrjonathansengineering/lessons/5-robotic-car
Parts Needed: Microbit, MicroUSB to USB-A cable, 3V MicroBit battery, USB-A--->USB-C adaptor; ElecFreaks breakout boards; TT Motors and wheels(2/unit); Caster wheels; 6V 'AA' battery pack; 4 AA batteries per unit; RCWL-1601 ultrasonic sensors; cardboard or foamcore
Day 4: Robotic Cars- Day 2: Radio control
Concepts Covered: Radio Control, sensors
Activities: Experiment with control robotic cars with sensors, radio remote control of robotic vehicles, and create swarms of interacting vehicles
https://sites.google.com/aceraschool.org/mrjonathansengineering/lessons/11-radio-control
https://sites.google.com/aceraschool.org/mrjonathansengineering/projects/dancing-with-robots
Day 5: The Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Automation
Concepts Covered: Connecting physical devices to the internet to automate tasks and log data.
Activities:
Discuss "What is the Internet of Things?" and introduce the ESP-01 Wifi Board and the Thingspeak IoT platform.
Main Project (Option A): Build a Device to automatically water plants, utilizing soil moisture sensors to trigger a water pump. Parts: Water Pump, Moisture Sensor, Relay or MOSFET switch
Main Project (Option B): Create an IoT Weather Station using a BME280 sensor to read temperature, pressure, and humidity, display values on the MicroBit, and report this data directly to a website using Thingspeak.
Main Project (Option C): Begin designing automated systems for a Smart House.
Science Buddies: Pocket-Sized Physical Computing Projects with MicroBit
- Thingspeak IoT Dashboard (paid account)
signin: jonathan@aceraschool.org
PW: #AceraIOT123
Bonus Project: Artificial Intelligence and Emotion-Responsive Systems
Concepts Covered: Machine learning, AI cameras, and responsive design.
Activities:
Get hands-on with AI and machine learning using tools like Teachable Machine, MindPlus Software, or Pictoblox.
Experiment with an AI Voice Control Module using fixed command words to trigger physical actions.
Main Project: Build AI-controlled systems utilizing the Huskylens AI Camera to react to visual cues or text. Alternatively, students can build systems that react to emotions, such as programming an Emotion Badge that expresses how the user is feeling.
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