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STEM MakerSTEM maker with parents and studentmicro:bit and many sensorsmakecode block coding

STEM Maker

IT STEM Standard 8 10 hrs Computational Thinking Block Coding

This course introduces the fundamentals of STEM using the micro:bit, covering coding basics, electronics, and sensor interactions. Engage with practical exercises to discover the micro:bit's versatile applications with sensors. Ideal for beginners, this course is a stepping stone to mastering technology and engineering principles.

Course Enquiry

Learning objectives

  • Create various micro:bit products with sensors (mainly Grove Sensors) using block coding
  • Apply principles of fair testing and debugging in practical engineering and science exercises
  • Understand and apply closed circuits, light sensors, ultrasonics, motors, and infrared sensing

Lesson plan

Basic micro:bit and Pins | Compulsory opener on micro:bit fundamentals in MakeCode, across five tasks: first program and the LED display, 'on start' versus 'forever', the 'pause' block with a lighting-decoration activity, buttons A and B (including A+B), and current flow, closed circuits and the P0/P1/P2 pins. Ends with a knowledge check.
Home Alarm System | Base project for an intruder alarm. Task 1 tries the 4-Digit Display, Task 2 measures distance with the Grove Ultrasonic Ranger and shows it on the display, Task 3 sounds a one-beat tone when an object comes within 20 cm. Closes with a knowledge check on the display and the ultrasonic sensor.
Advanced Exercise 1 – Parking System | Extension of the alarm. Task 4 rebuilds it as Home Alarm System v2 to fix the slowdown caused by refreshing the 4-Digit Display on every loop, then Task 5 turns it into a parking system that plays Middle C, D or E depending on whether the object is under 20 cm, 20-40 cm or 40-60 cm away. Has its own knowledge check plus the answer deck for Tasks 1-5.
Reaction Time Test | Base project for a reaction-time tester. Task 1 tries the vibration motor, Task 2 shows running time on the 4-Digit Display, Task 3 builds a variable-based timer started by button A and stopped by button B, Task 4 measures reaction to a vibration stimulus fired after a random delay. Closes with a knowledge check on the motor signal values and the reaction-time formula.
Advanced Exercise 2 – Multi-stimulus Reaction Tester | Extension of the reaction tester into a complex testing machine. Task 5 adds an LED as a second stimulus, using an 'output' variable holding a random 1 or 2 to pick which one fires; Task 6 adds sound as a third stimulus with an if / else-if / else chain on a random 1, 2 or 3. Includes the answer deck for Tasks 1-6.
Hand Gesture-controlled Fan | Base project for a gesture-controlled fan. Task 1 tries the Grove Gesture Sensor, Task 2 assembles the fan blade and motor onto port M1 of the DFRobot micro:Driver and runs it at a fixed speed with the DF-Driver 'motor' block, Task 3 turns the fan on at speed 50 with a right gesture and off with a left gesture. Closes with a knowledge check on detectable gestures and the micro:Driver ports.
Advanced Exercise 3 – Fan Speed Control and Safety Limits | Extension into a smart fanning system. Task 4 stores fan speed in a variable and maps four gestures onto it (up +20, down -20, right resets to 50, left resets to 0); Task 5 handles the safety problems this creates, clamping the speed to 150 at the top and 0 at the bottom so the fan cannot spin too fast or reverse direction abruptly. Includes the answer deck for Tasks 3-5.
Automated Light System | Base project for a light that switches itself on in the dark. Task 1 compares the micro:bit built-in light sensor with the Grove Digital Light Sensor (TSL2561) on I2C, Task 2 drives the 30-LED Neopixel strip to show red, Task 3 uses an if statement on the light level to turn the strip on when dark and off when bright. Closes with a knowledge check on the LED blocks and the light-level range.
Advanced Exercise 4 – Buffer and Switch System | Extension of the light system, and the one advanced module the live page is missing. Task 4 fixes the flicker when readings hover around the threshold by adding a buffer with an else-if statement (off above 100, on below 50); Task 5 introduces logical operators and a switch variable so the turn-on command fires only on a change of state instead of repeating every loop. Includes the answer deck for Tasks 1-5.
Smart Traffic Light | Base project for a sensor-driven traffic light. Task 1 tries the infrared distance interrupter, Task 2 addresses individual LEDs on the strip (LED-0 red, LED-1 yellow, LED-2 green), Task 3 switches green off and yellow on for two seconds when the sensor detects a pedestrian, Task 4 runs the full 5s-2s-5s-2s colour cycle. Closes with a knowledge check on the cycle timings and which block belongs in 'on start'.
Advanced Exercise 5 – Pedestrian Lights and Countdown | Extension into a full traffic-light system. Task 5 builds the pedestrian lights on LED-0 and LED-1 with the flashing green phase repeated eight times; Task 6 adds a countdown on the 4-Digit Display showing the time pedestrians have left to cross. Includes the answer deck for Tasks 1-6.
Campus Insect Guiding Device | Standalone extra project not on the live page. Students draw and cut out a cardboard bird and mount it on a popsicle stick; the ultrasonic sensor detects that nobody has passed for a period of time and a servo motor then shakes the bird to deter insects from flying in. Uses micro:bit, Grove Shield, 4-Digit Display, Ultrasonic Ranger and a servo motor.
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Prerequisites

  • None

Software

  • Una Virtual Classroom - Intermediate or Microsoft MakeCode

Other requirements

    Hardware

    • Tablet/Notebook/Desktop
    • Micro:bit Bundle x 1
      • micro:bit x 1
      • battery holder x 1
    • Grove Inventor Kit for micro:bit x 1
      • Grove Shield for micro:bit x 1
      • Grove - Rotary Angle Sensor(P) x 1
      • Grove - Speaker x 1
      • Grove - Ultrasonic Ranger x 1
      • Grove - Light Sensor v1.2 x1
      • Grove - WS2812 Waterproof LED Strip - 30 LEDs 1 meter x 1
      • Grove - Gesture Sensor x 1
      • Grove - 4-Digit Display x 1
      • Grove - Red LED x 1
      • Micro USB Cable x 1
      • Alligator Cable x 10
      • Grove Cable x 7
    • Grove - Digital Light Sensor - TSL2561 x 1
    • DFRobot micro:Driver - Driver Expansion Board for micro:bit x 1
    • Mini Fan Bundle
      • Motor x 1
      • Fan blade x 1
    • Grove - 4 pin Female Jumper to Grove 4 pin Conversion Cable x 1
    • Grove - Vibration Motor x 1

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