Microbit Sensors & Circuits

Beginner

60 mins

Teacher/Student led

Learning Goals

Learning Outcomes

Lesson Files

+170 XP

What you need:
Chromebook/Laptop/PC
Microbit
LED Strip with crocodile clips

LED Strip Clapper

In this step-by-step lesson, you'll create a Microbit project, add the neopixel extension, and set up an LED strip. You'll create an 'on' variable, learn to detect a clap, and code the LED strip to turn on and off accordingly. Finally, you'll download your code, test it, and explore further improvements.

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1 Create a new Microbit project
2 Add the neopixel extension
3 Setup the LED Strip
4 Create an 'on' variable
5 Detect a clap
6 Turn it off
7 Download you code
8 Explore
Challenge
Quiz

1 - Create a new Microbit project

To get started create a new Microbit project.

makecode.microbit.org

Microbit: How to create a new Microbit project

Go to the Makecode.com Microbit website using the link below and click on the 'New Project' button underneath the 'My Projects' heading.

https://makecode.microbit.org/

Install the micro:bit app on your iPad or tablet.

Open the app, tap 'Create code' and then create a new project.

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+10 XP

2 - Add the neopixel extension

To access the blocks we need to program the LED strip, you need to add the neopixel extension to your project.

Microbit: How to add an extension

To add an extension follow these steps:

Click on 'Advanced' in the toolbox
Click 'Extensions'
Type the name of the extension in the search box
Click on the extension in the search results
The extension and all it's blocks will be added to your toolbox

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+15 XP

3 - Setup the LED Strip

To be able to interact and program the LED strip we will need a variable that stores the strip.

Add the following code to your project. We set the value to be 30 as there are 30 LEDs on the strip.

+20 XP

4 - Create an 'on' variable

We will need a variable called 'on' to store whether the lights should be in the on state (on = true) or the off state (on = false).

Create a variable called on and set it to be false at the start.

Microbit: How to create a variable

In the Variables toolbox, create a new variable by clicking the 'Make a Variable' button.

Once you click this button a box will appear asking what you want to call your variable. Give it a name that reminds you what you will be using it for. For example, if you wanted to keep track of your score in a game, you would create a variable called 'score'.

+10 XP

5 - Detect a clap

We will use the on [loud] sound block to detect when you clap.

When a clap is detected:

If on equals false, then we will turn on the light
Else on must equal true so we will turn off the light

Add the following code to set the on variable to be true and light up the LED strip a colour.

+30 XP

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