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Microsoft MakeCode screen reader / Activity 2: Welcome to the micro:bit

Activity

Activity 2: Welcome to the micro:bit

Beginner

Introduction

This activity allows students to become familiar with finding and pressing button A and B on the BBC micro:bit, as well as shaking it to experience some of the sounds that the micro:bit can play.

The micro:bit needs a program to tell it what to do. This activity uses a micro:bit running a pre-loaded Welcome to the micro:bit program.

A student moving a micro:bit connected to a laptop, exploring how it responds to movement.

What you need

  • micro:bit V2
  • 50cm to 1m long USB A to micro USB connector cable (the additional length to the standard 0.3m cable helps with freedom of movement)
  • A computer to connect the micro:bit, using a USB cable for power
  • The Welcome to the micro:bit project downloaded onto the micro:bit (see Preparation below)

Preparation

Open the Welcome to the micro:bit project below in Microsoft MakeCode for micro:bit and download it to the micro:bit.

If needed, there is further information about downloading files to the micro:bit.

Note: The program also includes visual output to the LED display for students who have some vision.

Instructions

Connect your micro:bit

Two girls, each holding a micro:bit close to their eyes
  1. Connect your micro:bit to a computer with a USB cable. Connect the smaller micro USB connector at the top of the micro:bit and the larger USB A connector to your computer. Your micro:bit will automatically turn on and play a sound. This could be completed by the student or educator.
  2. Press the reset button on the back of the micro:bit to run the program and hear the sound again.

Tips:

  • Feel how long the cable is so you know how much you can move the micro:bit.
  • To find the reset button: hold the micro:bit with the USB cable at the top and the A and B buttons facing you. The reset button is on the back, just left of the USB cable and right of the large battery connector.
  • This program also show images on the LED display for students who have some vision.

Press the A and B buttons

A student using a micro:bit that has braille capital A and B labels above its buttons, connected via USB cable to a laptop.
  1. Find the A button on the front of the micro:bit. Press it to hear a sound.
  2. Find the B button. Press it to hear a different sound.

Tip:

  • The A button is on the left of the micro:bit when the cable is at the top. The B button is on the right. If you have added braille labels, they will be above buttons A and B.

Shake the micro:bit

  1. Shake the micro:bit to hear a sound.
  2. Practice until you are confident creating a shake gesture to trigger the sound.

Tip:

  • Hold the micro:bit by its edges and firmly shake it in any direction. This can take some practise.

What next?

Try Activity 3: Start sound.