Activity array

Step 1: Make it

What is it?

Finding hard to decide or agree on what to do? Use arrays to create a micro:bit program that chooses for you!

How it works

• Your micro:bit stores the list of your possible activities in a list (or array) called 'options'. Arrays are really useful ways of storing data in lists.
• When you press button A it chooses an item from the list at random and shows it on the LED display.
• Using an array makes it really easy to modify the code to add more options to the list.
• Because the code measures how long the array is, you never need to modify the random number code, you can just add things and take things away from the list.
• It picks a random number and stores it in a variable called 'choice'. The number will be between 0 and one less than the length of the array because computers usually start counting items in arrays from 0. 'PE with Joe' is item number 0 in the list, the last item 'bake a cake' is item number 5, but the array is 6 items long.

What you need

• micro:bit (or MakeCode simulator)
• MakeCode editor
• battery pack (optional)

Step 2: Code it

1from microbit import *
2import random
3
4options = ['PE with Joe', 
5           'watch a movie',
6           'play a board game',
7           'tidy our rooms',
8           'learn a song',
9           'bake a cake']
10
11while True:
12    if button_a.is_pressed():
13        choice = random.randint(0, len(options)-1)
14        display.scroll(options[choice])

Step 3: Improve it

• Customise it by putting your own activities in the code.
• How could you make it more likely to pick your favourite activity?
• Try writing the same program in Python.