MakeCode for Micro:bit
Create - Learn - Code
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Chapter 3: Micro:bit | Lesson 1
Objective Reviewing the skills learned in Grade 4
Displaying messages
Last year, you discovered how to program a Micro:bit.
Let us review some of its features.
Launch MakeCode and try the missions.
Describe the mission 1:
Describe the mission 2:
List your favourites
List 3 names of your friends: List 3 of your favourite foods:
How to run the program MakeCode?
MakeCode is available in 2 versions: Online and Offline.
If you have Internet connection, launch the If you don’t have Internet connection, install
1 2 the Offline version by visiting the following
Online version from the following address:
https:// makecode.Micro:bit.org/ address:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/makecode
Project
Launch MakeCode and create the program to list the
names of your friends if the button A is pressed and
list the foods you prefer if the button B is pressed.
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More missions to perform
Launch Makecode and build the mission shown on the
right.
Describe the result:
Micro-controllers around us
A micro-controller is an electronic board designed to
perform specific tasks.
It is made by engineers and contains a program to
control its functioning.
Finding micro-controllers around us
A micro-controller is found in every electronic device
we use every day.
In a fridge, a micro-controller is used to:
freepik.com
In a lift, a micro-controller is used to:
Time to practise
Now it is your turn to know more about micro-controllers. Open Power Point
to create the presentation below:
1. Give examples of objects controlled by a micro-controller.
2. Create 5 Slides containing a picture and a brief description. 37
2
Chapter 3: Micro:bit | Lesson 2
Objective Displaying shapes on the screen of the Micro:bit
Displaying pictures and messages
On the Micro:bit board, 25 leds form a screen to
display any kind of information (shapes, messages, etc).
The Micro:bit’s screen is OFF.
The Micro:bit’s screen is ON.
What is displayed on the Micro:bit screen?
From the Basic category, you can choose the
blocks needed to show information on the
Micro:bit’s screen.
The blocks of the basic category
While exploring the Basic category, you identify many
blocks that manipulate the Micro:bit’s screen.
Try each block and then describe its use.
Sustainability VIBES
Let us talk!
What can you see in the picture below?
www.freepik.com
Why is it not good to heat the earth?
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Challenge
Launch MakeCode and try the projects below.
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3
Chapter 3: Micro:bit | Lesson 3
Objective Introducing the Shake sensor
Sensing your steps
Answer the following questions:
Do you do sports? Yes No
How many times per week?
Is sport good for health? Yes No
Counting the sensors
Does the human being have sensors in his body?
Yes No
If yes, list them.
Name sensors you know in a car
Name sensors you know in a fridge
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Defining a sensor
A sensor is a device that can detect and measure things
in the world around us. It acts like our body’s senses,
such as our eyes, ears, nose, and skin. Sensors are
made to collect information and send it to a computer
or another device such as the Micro:bit, so we can
understand what’s happening in our environment.
The temperature sensor
The thermometer is a sensor that
measures temperature. When you 36
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List the sensors you see in the picture above.
put it in your mouth, it can tell you
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if you have fever or not.
Examples of sensors
There are many different types of sensors for
different purposes. Some sensors can measure light,
sound or even the speed.
Shaking the Micro:bit
From the category,
move the shake block.
Insert the block
Examine the Micro:bit, press the Shake
button to shake it.
Project
Create the project on the Micro:bit to display your
name when you shake it and to play music when you
press button A.
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4
Chapter 3: Micro:bit | Lesson 4
Objectives Managing variables to count steps
Defining a variable
A variable is used to store information that our
program needs to remember. Just like in real life,
6 7
variables have names in which we can place different
values. We can then use these values later in our code.
The variable is compared to a box.
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3 4
7
2
Each variable has a name.
And it can contain information. steps
1
The variable is named
And it contains
Let us move to practice
It is now the time to create the project to count the
steps you are making during a sport activity.
Attach the Micro:bit to your shoes in order to count
your steps.
Do we need a variable in this project?
Yes No
If yes, why?
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Steps to do the project
Click on
Click on
Name the variable.
Examine the new blocks created.
Place the block “set step” into
the block “on start”.
Create the script “on shake” as
shown on the right.
Each time you click on shake, the
step will add one.
Project
Create the project on the Micro:bit to add one step if
you press the button A and to reduce one step if you
press the button B. Look at the hint on the right.
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5
Chapter 3: Micro:bit | Lesson 5
Objective Controlling the Micro:bit with the push buttons
Defining a push button
A push button is everywhere around us. We use it in
our daily life without paying attention.
A push button can have two statuses only:
On or Off.
Pressed or Not Pressed.
What do you do to turn on the light?
What do you do to turn on the TV?
Push buttons are everywhere
A push button is an input device to control any action.
On the Micro:bit, two buttons are installed:
Button A.
Button B.
With the two buttons A and B, you can control any
action you want to take with the Micro:bit.
Project
Create the following project:
1- Create a variable named “count”.
2- When you run the Script, the value of “count” will take the value 0.
3- If you press button A, the value of “count” will add 1.
4- If you press button B, the value of “count” will be deducted by 1.
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Step by step
Click on
Click on
Name the variable “count”.
Insert the block “set count to 0”
in the block “on start”.
Click on
Move the block
Build the script as shown.
Create the script to program the button B.
Project
Create the Script to display odd numbers when you
press button A.
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6
Chapter 3: Micro:bit | Lesson 6
Objective Measuring the temperature with the Micro:bit
Reading the temperature
The Micro:bit is equipped with a temperature sensor.
When the Micro:bit reads the temperature, you can
program it to take the action you want.
You can display a message.
You can reproduce a sound.
Describe what you can do with the Micro:bit
You can activate a motor.
Taking actions with Micro:bit
In this project, the temperature will be shown on
the Micro:bit’s screen and a message is displayed
accordingly.
Display “Too hot” if the temperature is greater Display “Cool weather” if the temperature
than 30 degrees. is less then 30 degrees.
1 Click on
2 Examine the block Enjoy building the project
3 Click on
4 Examine the block
5 Examine the block
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Drawing with the turtle
It is possible to draw shapes on the screen of the
Micro:bit.
All you need is to add the “Turtle” blocks.
1 Click on
2 Add
3
3 Examine the blocks of the “microturtle” category.
Describe the utility of the blocks below:
2 5
3 6
4 7
Challenge
Build the two scripts shown on the right and examine
the behaviour of the turtle.
1 2
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Objectives
S k iof
llsthe lesson 7 : 1- Introducing the LAB:bit board 2- Adding the
extension of the LAB:bit to the program MakeCode
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Chapter 3: Micro:bit | Lesson 7
What is the LAB:bit?
LAB:bit is an extension board where you can connect your Micro:bit in order to program
additional input and output devices in an easy way.
Insert the Micro:bit into the edge
1
connector.
With MakeCode, you program
2 the Micro:bit.
The lab:bit is available to be ordered online:
https://macrotronics.net/
Adding the extension lab:bit
In order to add the blocks of the lab:bit, we have to add its extension.
Once you create a project in
1
MakeCode, click on the category
Advanced.
In the search bar, type “lab” and press
2
enter. Then choose the Kitronik-lab-
bit
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The lab:bit category
The lab:bit category including its sub categories is now
added to the main categories:
Inputs: represent all the inputs
1
found on the lab:bit
Traffic light: contains the
2 commands to manipulate the
traffic lights on the lab:bit
Dice: contains the commands to
3 manipulate the Dice lights on the
lab:bit
Colour lights: contains the
4 commands to manipulate the Describe what you see in the above picture
Colour lights on the lab:bit
Motor: contains the commands
5 to manipulate the motor on the
lab:bit
Discovering my LAB:bit
Examine the LAB:bit board and identify its different components.
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Objective
S kof
i l lthe
s lesson 8 : Using the Ultrasonic sensor of the LAB:bit to
measure a distance
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Chapter 3: Micro:bit | Lesson 8
Extending your experience
In this lesson, we will use the LAB:bit to measure a distance. From the lab:bit, we will be using
the Ultrasonic sensor.
1 Examine the Ultrasonic Sensor.
3
The LAB:bit kit is controlled by a
2 Microbit.
1
3 Insert the Micr:obit in its socket.
Measuring a distance
In order to make the LAB:bit measure a distance using the Ultrasonic sensor, follow the steps below:
1 From the LAB:bit category, click on
1
Examine the blocks to measure the
2
distance.
In the “forever” block, build the script
3
shown. 2
The distance measured by the LAB:bit
4
is shown on the Microbit’s screen.
4
3
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Creating a warning message
Now it is time to add a condition to the Script in order to
make a warning sound when the distance measured is
less than 10cm.
1 Click on
2 Move
3
Add the comparison
3 block as shown.
4
4 Set the correct condition.
What happens if the distance
5
measured is greater than 10cm?
What happens if the distance
6 measured is less than 10cm?
More projects to explore on the LAB:bit
Visit www.zero1.education to explore more ideas on projects on the LAB:bit. 51
Objectives
S k iof
llsthe lesson 9 : 1- Controlling the rotation of the wheel of the
LAB:bit 2- Converting the distance read by the Ultrasonic sensor to a speed
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Chapter 3: Micro:bit | Lesson 9
Turning the wheel
The wheel should be attached to a motor in order to make it turn.
On the LAB:bit, a motor is installed in order to experiment its behaviour with other components.
1 Examine the Wheel. 1
2 Examine the Motor.
3 The motor has two characteristics.
2
a The speed.
b The rotation (clockwise and counter-clickwise).
Turning the wheel
In order to make the wheel turn, follow the steps below:
1 Click on
3
2 Click on
Examine the blocks of the Motor
3 category.
4
The two properties of the motor are in
4 included in the same block .
Challenge
Build the Script to control the motor of the LAB:bit as follow:
1- If button A is pressed, the motor turns clockwise.
2- If button B is pressed, the motor turns counter-clockwise.
3- If buttons A+B are pressed, the motor stops
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Controlling the speed of the motor with the Ultrasonic sensor
In this project, you will learn how to control the speed of the
motor according to the distance detected by the Ultrasonic
sensor.
The speed of the motor will be defined by the distance detected
by the Ultrasonic sensor.
1 Click on
3
2 Click on
Move the block “turn motor” inside the
3 “forever” block.
4 Click on
5
Move the block “measure distance in
5 cm” inside the “turn motor” block.
Connect the LAB:bit on your computer
6 to download the Script.
7 What happens if the distance
measured is equal to 30cm?
What happens if the distance
8 measured is equal to 10cm?
More projects to explore on the LAB:bit
Visit www.zero1.education to explore more ideas on projects on the LAB:bit. 53
Objective of the lesson 10 : Controlling the display of random numbers
using the button A
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Chapter 3: Micro:bit | Lesson 10
Objective Using the block <if> to control the Micro:bit
Time to play with the dice
Do you want to create a dice with your Micro:bit?
Follow the steps below:
In the block forever, insert the
block show number.
From the category Math, insert the
block pick number and set the lower
and higher values of the dice.
When you run the Script, you will
notice that random numbers are
displayed continuously on the screen
of the Micro:bit.
To stop showing the random numbers
automatically, move the block if from
the category Control.
From the category Input, insert the
block button A is pressed.
Now you can use the Micro:bit board
to play with the dice. Each time you
press the button A, a random number
between 0 and 10, will be shown.
More ideas... more projects
To discover more projects
on Micro:bit, visit the link
www.zero1.education
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