Project Guide

Warm-ups

Project name	CS concepts	Software	External elements	Learn to..
Start with a Heart	on start, show icon	MakeCode		pair & download
Name Badge	buttons, show text, show numbers	MakeCode		strings, numbers, build code stacks
Make an Animation	repeat, pause, LEDs	MakeCode		animate images
Lucky Number	shake sensor, random	MakeCode		insert operators into a block
Your First Game	plot LEDs, game blocks (game over)	MakeCode		control the 5×5 LED matrix
What’s the Temperature?	forever, temperature sensor	MakeCode
Shake it Up	shake sensor values	MakeCode
micro:bit Tips				attach a battery, download code, update firmware
What’s New V2	V2 capabilities and V2-only blocks			understand the differences between the V1 and V2 micro:bit

Getting Started

Project name	CS concepts	Software	External elements	Learn to..
Unicorn Greeting Card	digital write pin	MakeCode	LED	control a component attached to the micro:bit, duplicate
Jingle Bells	music blocks	MakeCode	speaker or headphones	compose & play music
Turkey Trot	servo write pin	MakeCode	positional (180-degree) servo	control a servo attached to the micro:bit
Fruit Piano	on pin pressed, tilt	MakeCode	fruit & other conductive objects	connect circuits to pins to trigger events
Hack Your Game	send & receive radio, unplot x,y	MakeCode	second micro:bit	use basic radio functions
Radio Communications	all radio blocks	MakeCode	second micro:bit	understand & experiment with radio functionality
Distance Detector	radio signal strength, if/then	MakeCode	second micro:bit, piezo speaker/buzzer	use logic blocks, using a piezo speaker/buzzer
Saving and Sharing Your Code		MakeCode		save & open code files, share to cloud

It’s Alive!

Project name	CS concepts	Software	External elements	Learn to..
The Bionic Doll	every block	MakeCode	multiple LEDs	control LED patterns
Monster Box	set servo angle, plot bar graph, map	MakeCode	positional (180-degree) servo	control a servo using sensor values, add extensions, map data ranges
Fortune Teller	variables, if/else, random logic, on sound	MakeCode		create and use a variable, use sound sensor (V2 only)
Space Game	variables, if, game blocks (score, sprite)	MakeCode	arcade-style buttons	create and use multiple variables, use game blocks for sprite control and scorekeeping
Doctor Shaky	digital write pin, game blocks (lives, score, game over), play melody	MakeCode	LEDs, piezo speaker/buzzer	use game blocks for scorekeeping, sounds, and lives, code comments
A Spooky Game in Scratch	buttons, tilt	Scratch		install & use Scratch on the micro:bit, control onscreen sprites with the micro:bit

Let’s Get Physical

Project name	CS concepts	Software	External build	Learn to..
Halloween	digital write pin, scrolling images, radio	MakeCode	holiday light string, second micro:bit	animate with large images, control an external light string, make a remote control
Art Machine	while block, continuous servo, light level	MakeCode	continuous (360-degree) servo	use continuous servos, control a continuous servo with light
Smart Toothbrush	game blocks (score, countdown), reset	MakeCode		create a timed game, reset the micro:bit
Extend MakeCode with Your Own Functions	functions	MakeCode		make, define, and experiment with functions
Nightlight	logic, functions, digital write pins, sound sensor (V2 only)	MakeCode	LEDs	use sensor values in logical expressions, use a function to simplify code
Race Car Game Controller in Scratch	sprite control blocks, tilt, Scratch functions	Scratch		use the micro:bit as a Scratch game controller

Super-Duper

Project name	CS concepts	Software	External build	Learn to..
Wearable Computing	digital write to pins	MakeCode	sewable LEDs, conductive thread	control wearable circuitry
Talking micro:bit in Python	import, display, speech, while	MicroPython	powered speaker	use microPython text to speech functionality
Remote Control Car	continuous servos, radio, logic, tilt sensor blocks	MakeCode	two additional micro:bits, continuous servos
Programming NeoPixels	NeoPixel blocks	MakeCode	NeoPixels	learn to control a variety of NeoPixel strips, learn to make your own RGB color pixels
Refrigerator Data	V2 – data logger blocks, radio	MakeCode	second micro:bit V2	log and display data, log data from a remote micro:bit
Bottle Rocket	variables, logic, free fall, running time	MakeCode		program a timer triggered by sensor data

Material Gallery

Many of the projects in the book use cardboard and other simple materials. Each project has a recommended material list. There is no soldering necessary.