I run a Code Club for kids at my local primary school. I've received 10 micro:bits in the mail and the plan is to spend the next term (nine one hour sessions) teaching the kids using the micro:bits. Sounds like we need a plan...
Step 1: Pick some projects
Since we've been running the club for just over a year the kids are quite familiar with the Code Club project format. And luckily, there are (at the time of writing) six micro:bit projects available:
- Interactive Badge - change the LED display by pressing the buttons.
- Frustration - using some wire make a "wire loop game". This will introduce the kids to some basic electronics. I get the wire from a hardware store and order the crocodile clips for a few dollars on AliExpress.
- Fortune Teller - build your own Magic 8-Ball. We think this is going to really engage the kids as it's both fun and they will be motivated to modify the program to add their own results.
- Against the Clock - build a simple stopwatch.
- Rate Your Mates - a bit like the Fortune Teller it uses a bit of randomness to show a result (we think the kids will probably like this one too).
- Reaction - See who can press the button the fastest. Sure to engage the more competitive kids.
Step 2: Know the material
I get a micro:bit from the box and try the projects. And success! I think they're at the right level for the kids. The three volunteers who run the club and I get together one evening and we all do the projects together. Everyone actually has a lot of fun so we're pretty hopeful the kids will have fun too! Now we're ready to answer the questions we'll get when the kids try it themselves.
Step 3: Motivation
To encourage the kids to stay focused we've made a leaderboard in a Google Docs spreadsheet. That way hopefully everyone should complete the six projects described above and have a good knowledge of the micro:bit. Previously we've had kids who try and skip ahead and then lose motivation. Everyone working on the same thing is easier for the volunteers to manage too!
Step 4: What next?
Six projects for nine sessions... I think that's only going to take about half a term to complete. So for the remaining time the plan is:
- Some of the kids will explore the micro:bit in their own way.
- We'll encourage kids to look at the ideas on the micro:bit website.
- I'll write a few new projects, particularly using the Bluetooth radio (first attempt).
