Game Microbit

Beginner

60 mins

Teacher/Student led

+85 XP

What you need:
Chromebook/Laptop/PC

Reaction Timer

Follow this guide to build a fun project on your Micro:bit. Start by creating a new project, add a welcome message, set up a countdown, introduce a random delay, create variables, and record your reaction time.

Learning Goals Learning Outcomes Curriculum Mapping Teacher Notes Lesson Files

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1 Create a New Project
2 Creating a Welcome Message
3 Creating a Countdown
4 Adding a Random Delay
5 Create Variables
Challenge
Quiz

1 - Create a New Project

First, go to the Micro:bit website. Click on 'New Project' and name your project as 'Reaction Timer'.

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.

+5 XP

2 - Creating a Welcome Message

Let's start by creating a welcome message that will be displayed when you power on your Microbit.

Add the following code to your project:

basic.showString("Get Ready")

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

+10 XP

3 - Creating a Countdown

After the welcome message, we are going to create a countdown from 3 to 1 and then show a line on the screen.

Add the following new code to your project:

basic.showString("Get Ready")
basic.showNumber(3)
basic.pause(1000)
basic.showNumber(2)
basic.pause(1000)
basic.showNumber(1)
basic.pause(1000)
basic.showLeds(`
    . . . . .
    . . . . .
    # # # # #
    . . . . .
    . . . . .
    `)

You could also create a function called 'countdown' and pass in the amount of seconds you want to count down. Have a think about how you could do this.

+15 XP

4 - Adding a Random Delay

To make the game unpredictable, let's add a random delay after the countdown.

Add the following new code to create a random delay between 1 to 5 seconds (1,000 to 5,000 milliseconds) and then show the signal (a fully lit up LED screen) to the player.

basic.showString("Get Ready")
basic.showNumber(3)
basic.pause(1000)
basic.showNumber(2)
basic.pause(1000)
basic.showNumber(1)
basic.pause(1000)
basic.showLeds(`
    . . . . .
    . . . . .
    # # # # #
    . . . . .
    . . . . .
    `)
basic.pause(Math.randomRange(1000, 5000))
basic.showLeds(`
    # # # # #
    # # # # #
    # # # # #
    # # # # #
    # # # # #
    `)

+20 XP

5 - Create Variables

We will need 2 variables to store some time stamps:

startTime - to store when the signal is shown to the player.
reactionTime - to store when the player presses the A button.

Create these variables now and then add the following new code to set the startTime variable.

let startTime = 0
basic.showString("Get Ready")
basic.showNumber(3)
basic.pause(1000)
basic.showNumber(2)
basic.pause(1000)
basic.showNumber(1)
basic.pause(1000)
basic.showLeds(`
    . . . . .
    . . . . .
    # # # # #
    . . . . .
    . . . . .
    `)
basic.pause(randint(1000, 5000))
basic.showLeds(`
    # # # # #
    # # # # #
    # # # # #
    # # # # #
    # # # # #
    `)
startTime = input.runningTime()

The running time (ms) block stores the number of milliseconds since the program started.

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 XP

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Your Answer or Description of Your Work

Project URL This can be a link to your project (e.g. a Scratch, Microbit, Arcade or CodePen URL link).

Upload File

You must be logged into Scratch to share your project, otherwise the link will not work.

To get the URL link of your Scratch project:

Make sure you're logged into Scratch.
Click on the Share button in the project editor.
Click on the Copy Link button.
Click on the Copy Link link. This will save the URL of your project page into your clipboard.

To get the URL link of your Microbit project:

Click on the button in the project editor.
Click on the Publish Project button.
Click on the Copy button. This will save the URL of your project page into your clipboard.

To get the URL link of your Arcade project:

Click on the button in the project editor.
Click on the Publish Project button.
Click on the Copy button. This will save the URL of your project page into your clipboard.

To get the URL link of your CodePen project:

Make sure you're logged into CodePen.
Open your project in the editor.
Click on the Save button at the top of the editor.
Copy the link from the address bar in your web browser (e.g. https://codepen.io/Jane-Smith/pen/gOVXxBQ)

Reaction Timer

Teacher Class Feed

1 - Create a New Project

Send your work to your teacher

2 - Creating a Welcome Message

Send your work to your teacher

3 - Creating a Countdown

Send your work to your teacher

4 - Adding a Random Delay

Send your work to your teacher

5 - Create Variables

Send your work to your teacher

Unlock the Full Learning Experience

Reaction Timer

Teacher Class Feed

1 - Create a New Project

Using the makecode website

Using the micro:bit app

Send your work to your teacher

2 - Creating a Welcome Message

Send your work to your teacher

3 - Creating a Countdown

Send your work to your teacher

4 - Adding a Random Delay

Send your work to your teacher

5 - Create Variables

Send your work to your teacher

Unlock the Full Learning Experience

XP