micro:bit holiday activities
Some festive ideas for the holiday season to keep you and young learners busy and creative with the micro:bit, with new projects and old ones given a seasonal twist.
![Snow-covered tree and candles](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ajwvhvgo/production/483b8c7b078933803d2326bcf59cfd2ff27c5658-800x267.jpg?w=653&q=80&fit=max&auto=format)
Blow out the candle!
These videos show you how to use the new micro:bit with a built-in microphone to make a candle that you can 'blow' out - and back on again!
Animated decorations
The Shining sunbeams animation also works really well as a Christmas decoration - the LED patterns also look like stars and would look fantastic hanging up in windows or on a tree.
Light up when it gets dark
Save energy and create a wonderful effect by making decorations that use the micro:bit's built-in light sensor to light up when it gets dark. Give the Sunlight sensor project a seasonal twist by modifying the code so that it lights up the light level is less than (<) 100 instead of greater than (>) 100.
Mix and match
Why not combine the code from Shining sunbeams and Sunlight sensor to make an animated decoration that lights up only in the dark, saving batteries and creating a lovely effect?
Download the code
Each project has a guide and code you can open in the MakeCode and Python editors, or just download the .hex file and flash it straight on to your micro:bit:
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ajwvhvgo/production/1ef3f462a7373b23dea76109d9453beeb734e724-790x635.gif?rect=0,21,790,593&bg=fff&w=232&h=174&q=90&fit=min&auto=format)
Blow out an electronic candle
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ajwvhvgo/production/6a9f055f718a36a9c1824d967e0668508de5a1a1-383x313.gif?rect=0,12,383,287&bg=fff&w=232&h=174&q=90&fit=min&auto=format)
Make a flashing sunbeam animation
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ajwvhvgo/production/ab367a2cd9cc0d67385873386a906c8939a67a90-1449x1276.png?rect=0,94,1449,1087&bg=fff&w=232&h=174&q=90&fit=min&auto=format)
Make your micro:bit light up when the sun comes up
More projects to modify
- Check out the Frère Jacques loops project and remix it to play your favourite festive tune or Christmas carol. If you have more than one micro:bit, try getting them to play a 'round'.
Hint: here are the notes you need to play the start of 'Jingle Bells':
E E E E E E
E G C D E
F F F F F E E
E E E D D E D G - If you've been given a new micro:bit with sound, get in the party mood with our Disco lights that glow in time with music...
- ...or create your own micro:bit pet with expressive sounds and emojis as a gift for someone you care for.
Program your micro:bit to play a tune
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ajwvhvgo/production/1f64bcc8f5d5ea65d8ece3be53f254275aae3960-800x600.png?bg=fff&w=232&h=174&q=90&fit=min&auto=format)
Make lights flash to the rhythm
![](https://cdn.sanity.io/images/ajwvhvgo/production/354b1bf53af37f57fd26aec55435862a5a712057-800x600.png?bg=fff&w=232&h=174&q=90&fit=min&auto=format)
Code your own electronic pet