Microbit Sensors & Circuits

Advanced

60 mins

Teacher/Student led

190 points

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

LED Stacking

In this step-by-step lesson, you'll create an interactive LED stack using a Microbit project. You'll add the neopixel extension, set up the LED strip, create variables, and develop functions to control the LED stack. By programming buttons, you'll be able to increase or decrease the stack. Finally, you'll download your code and test your LED stack.

Learning Goals Learning Outcomes Teacher Notes Lesson Files

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1 Create a new Microbit project
2 Add the neopixel extension
3 Setup the LED Strip
4 Create an amount variable
5 Create a function to show the stack
6 Create a range and light it up
7 Increase the stack
8 Decrease the stack
9 Download your code
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.

10 points

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

15 points

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 points

4 - Create an amount variable

We need a variable to store the amount of LEDs in our stack.

Create a variable called amount.

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 points

5 - Create a function to show the stack

At several times we will want to show the stack of LEDs lit up. Rather than add the code to light up the stack each time, let's create a function that has the code to light up the stack. We can then call this function anytime we want to run that code.

Create a function called "showStack".

Microbit: How to create a function

Functions are useful if you have some code/instructions that you want to use again and again.

To create a function go to the Advanced > Functions toolbox and click 'Make a Function'.

Give your function a name that makes sense and choose whether to pass anything into the function. In this example we will pass in a number.

10 points

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LED Stacking

Live Class Feed

1 - Create a new Microbit project

Using the makecode website

Using the micro:bit app

2 - Add the neopixel extension

3 - Setup the LED Strip

4 - Create an amount variable

5 - Create a function to show the stack

Unlock the Full Learning Experience

Learning Points