Activity A – ‘Musical Pencil’

Graphite (the drawing bit of a pencil) conducts electricity but has quite high resistance, so can be used to make a simple variable resistor. Resistance is affected by weight, thickness and length of line. We measure this change in resistance as a number and use this number to control the pitch of a tone played.

• Activity time: 30 minutes
• Difficulty level: easy
• Lesson plan: http://make.techwillsaveus.com/projects/micro-graphite-303
• Code (Microsoft Block Editor): https://www.microbit.co.uk/bllish
• Copyright: © Technology Will Save Us 2016

Activity B – ‘Banana Keyboard’

In this project, you will build your own music player BBC micro:bit banana keyboard from household fruit. Learn how to convert your BBC micro:bit into a music player using pins P0 and GND, earphones (or speakers), as well as crocodile clips (or spring clips). The connect fruit using pins P1 and GND.

• Activity time: 15 minutes
• Difficulty level: easy
• Lesson plan: https://www.microbit.co.uk/blocks/lessons/banana-keyboard/activity
• Code (Microsoft Block Editor): https://www.microbit.co.uk/lhpkbr
• Copyright: © Copyright 2015 BBC micro:bit

Further Reading

• BBC micro:bit lessons & tutorials
  • https://www.microbit.co.uk/teachers-and-parents
• Element 14 tutorials using Microsoft Block Editor
  • Beginner & Intermediate skill levels
  • 10-45 minute durations
  • https://www.element14.com/community/community/stem-academy/microbit/blog/2016/05/26/10-bbc-microbit-projects-in-ten-days
• BBC micro:bit 10 Student Classroom Pack
  • This pack contains 10 x BBC micro:bits, 10 x 1M anti-tangle USB cables, 10 x Battery cages and 20 x AAA Batteries.
  • http://cpc.farnell.com/bbc-micro-bit/mb224/bbc-micro-bit-club/dp/ED00036
  • https://www.kitronik.co.uk/5616-bbc-microbit-classroom-pack.html