Make a Micro:Pet that smiles and sings! In this lesson, learners will code a micro:bit to show a face and make sounds. The learners can then design a papercraft monster to fit round the micro:bit.
This lesson works well as an early/first level adjustment to our second level Micro:bit Data Monsters activity. Both versions could be run simultaneously in a mixed-level class. This has been tried and tested successfully in a mixed-level classroom containing P1s through to P7s!
Learners at Duns and Chirnside Primaries in the Scottish Borders making their Data Monsters.
Materials required:
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- A set of microbits (learners can work in pairs if need be)
- Laptops or ipads to create the code
- Scissors, tape or glue, and coloured pens for creating the papercraft monsters
- Printable handouts, papercraft templates, and graph templates, all available below.
Printable resources:
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- Print out the PDF handout or alter our editable Word doc to meet your needs. We have used a large dyslexia-friendly font, with sparse text, friendly to early readers.
- Papercraft templates for the microbit monsters: These papercraft templates from kidzcourse.com need tape or glue to stay together and to hold the microbit in place.
Extension activities
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- Put your Micro:bit Monster to work collecting data for you! Add code which makes it display the ambient temperature. (See the handout for the Second Level version of this activity)
- Put your Micro:bit Monster to work collecting data for you! Add code which makes it display the ambient temperature. (See the handout for the Second Level version of this activity)
Other useful resources for working with microbits
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- Micro:bit Cheatsheet! Print out this one-page PDF handout and keep it nearby to help with common troubleshooting issues. Editable powerpoint file.
- Micro:bit Unplugged Coding Blocks. You can cut these out and use to help learners plan out their code without needing to use a device. Useful for beginner coders.
- Micro:bit award certificates to present to learners for successfully coding a micro:bit!
Micro:bit Data Monsters for P5-7!
The above activity is ideal for First (and even some Early) Level learners, but if you have a mixed-level class, or want to try using micro:bits with your P5-7 learners, check out our Micro:bit Data Monsters activity.
If you require a resource in an alternative format, such as large print or a coloured background, please contact dataschools@ed.ac.uk detailing which resource(s) you require.