Microbit Arts

60 mins

+210 XP

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

Microbit LED Strip

In this step-by-step lesson, you'll learn to program a 30-LED strip using Microbits. You'll create a new Microbit project, add the neopixel extension, and set up the LED strip. You'll then program the LEDs to light up in different colours and patterns, including a rotating rainbow effect. Explore the Neopixel toolbox and experiment with your own lighting designs.

Learning Goals Learning Outcomes Teacher Notes

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1 Introduction
2 Create a new Microbit project
3 Add the neopixel extension
4 Setup the LED Strip
5 Make it red
6 Download the project and send it to your microbit
7 Show a rainbow
8 Connect your LED Strip
9 Rotate the rainbow!
10 Explore!
Challenge
Quiz

1 - Introduction

In this project we are going to program a strip of 30 LEDs to light up different ways. We will connect our Microbits to them and use the microbits to send the instructions to the LED strip!

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+10 XP

2 - 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.

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+10 XP

3 - 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 XP

4 - 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 XP

5 - Make it red

Now let's program the A button on your microbit to turn all the LEDs red.

Add the following new code to your project.

Download your updated code to your microbit and press the A button, the LED strip should light up all red!

+20 XP

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