Introduction to Micro:bit

Students should be familiar with basic computer functions

Students should have a basic understanding of what coding is (sequential order, positional language)

Minds On: 5 minutes

Have students consider how real world contexts, or familiar tools can be representative of coding with micro:bits. Use Warm-Up Questions:

""Do you know what a flipbook is?”

“What about a stop-motion? How does it work?""

""How do cartoon characters move on TV?""

Watch Video

Model: 15 minutes

Introduce students to the micro:bit platform and MakeCode environment. Encourage students to ask questions throughout this introduction as they explore these new tools for the first time.

Introduction to micro:bit Features:

Show physical micro:bit (or emulator) and identify key components:

• 25 LED lights in a 5x5 grid
• Two buttons (A and B)
• USB connector
• Sensors (accelerometer, compass, temperature)

MakeCode Platform Overview:

• Navigate to makecode.microbit.org

Demonstrate the three main areas:

• Workspace (where blocks go)
• Block Categories (color-coded instruction groups)
• Emulator (virtual micro:bit for testing)

Show basic event blocks: ""on start"", ""forever"", ""on button pressed""".

Activity #1: Heart Beat (15 minutes)

Objective: Create a simple animation

Before Teaching: Watch the demonstration video to see the complete process for creating a heart animation. This will show you exactly how to guide students through each step and anticipate common challenges.

Video/GIF: [Teacher demonstration of creating heart animation]

Leading the Activity: Guide your students through creating their heart animation.

Have students open MakeCode and find the ""on button B pressed"" block from the Input category.

Students will add their first ""show leds"" block and design a large heart pattern by clicking the squares.

Students will add a second ""show leds"" block with a smaller heart design.

Students will test their animation by clicking button B on the emulator.

To make it more realistic, students can add ""repeat"" and ""pause"" blocks from the Loops and Basic categories.

Activity #2: Animal Animation (15 minutes)

Objective: Create a simple animal movement animation (walking giraffe or other animal)

Before Teaching: Watch the demonstration video to understand how to guide students through planning and creating multiple frames of animation.

Video/GIF: [Teacher demonstration of animal animation frames]

Leading the Activity: Now, explain to students that they will create an animal that appears to move or walk across the micro:bit screen, similar to how cartoons are made with many slightly different pictures shown quickly.

Have students plan their animal animation by sketching 3-4 different positions on paper.

Guide students to open a new project in MakeCode and select the ""on shake"" event block from the Input category.

Students will create their first frame using a ""show leds"" block, designing their animal in its starting position.

Students will add a ""pause"" block, then another ""show leds"" block for the second frame, continuing this pattern for all frames.

Students will test their animation by clicking the shake button on the emulator or gently shaking a physical micro:bit."

Circle Share: Students will sit in a circle and take turns sharing one thing they learned today or one word that describes how they feel after the lesson (e.g., confused, excited)

Reflection Questions:

What was challenging about creating animations?

How is coding an animation similar to making a flipbook?

What other animations would you like to create?

Before Activity #1, provide a physical, printed cheat sheet that displays the key code blocks needed (e.g., "on button B pressed," "show leds," "pause") and a simple screenshot of where they are located in the MakeCode interface (Basic, Input categories). For students who are easily overwhelmed, temporarily hide or minimize the less-used block categories (Loops, Variables, etc.) on their screen, if possible, or instruct them to only use the Basic and Input categories.