ASU Lesson Facilitator Guide LEDs and Expansion Board User Guide
- June 13, 2024
- ASU
Table of Contents
**ASU Lesson Facilitator Guide LEDs and Expansion Board
**
Overview
This lesson should take 1 class period, or about 50 minutes to complete.
In this lesson, students learn how to use the Micro:bit expansion board to wire and program smart circuits with wires, LED modules, and the expansion board. They will learn to use “digital write” and “pause” to program LEDs to turn on and off at certain times.
Lesson objectives
Students will be able to:
- Identify new Micro:bit components: wires, LED modules, and the expansion board.
- Use “digital write” and “pause” to program LEDs to turn on and off at certain times.
Materials
To complete this Lesson, students will need:
- Video for LED Module Kit: Micro:bit LED Module and Expansion Board
- Video for Breadboard Kit: Micro:bit Breadboard and Diode
- Access to: MakeCode
- 1 BBC Micro:bit
- 1 USB Cable
- 1 Micro:bit Expansion Board
- Several Wires
- 3 LED modules (red, yellow, and green)
- This lesson’s activity worksheet
Standards
- Common Core State Standards (CCSS) – ELA Anchors: L.6, SL.1, W.10
- Common Core State Standards (CCSS) – Mathematical Practice: 2
- Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) – Science and Engineering Practices: 2, 8
- International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): 4, 5
- National Content Standards for Entrepreneurship Education (NCEE): 2, 5
Key vocabulary
- Micro:bits LED Module: an electronic component that lights up when a current is passed through it.
- Micro:bits Expansion Board: lets you plug in the Micro:bit and get access to 25 more pins! It also allows you easily plug in wires and attach new components, like the LED module.
- Wires: let you connect tons of different inputs and outputs to the Micro:bit expansion board.
Before you begin
- Gather necessary materials (or ensure remote students can access needed materials).
- It’s recommended to pass out ONLY the components students will need for this lesson. That way, the other electrical components don’t become a distraction or get lost.
- Ensure students can digitally access this lesson’s activity worksheet.
- Follow the LED Module Tutorial Video or the Breadboard and Diode Tutorial Video yourself before teaching this lesson! Empowered educators lead to empowered students.
- Note: wiring with the expansion board requires great attention to detail! Students should take their time and systematically follow all steps in the tutorial video and wiring diagrams.
Lesson Procedures
Warm up (5 mins)
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Welcome students to class. Say to students: Look at the three circuit diagrams below. What do you notice?
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Discuss responses with the class.
Mini-lesson: LED module, expansion board, wires (5 mins)
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Say to students: Next, we are going to learn about some additional components of the Micro:bit.
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The Micro:bit LED Module:
- The Micro:bit LED modules work just like Snap Circuits’ LEDs. Connect the “+” side to the “+” end of the battery and connect the “-” side to the “-” end of the battery.
- Remember: LEDs are like a one-way street, so if you wire them backward, they won’t turn on.
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The Micro:bit Expansion Board:
- The expansion board lets you plug in the Micro:bit and get access to 25 more pins! It also allows you easily plug in wires and attach new components, like the LED module.
- Code the Micro:bit as you always would then plug it into the expansion board to control more components!
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Wires
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Wires let you connect tons of different inputs and outputs to the Micro:bit expansion
board. -
You can even chain multiple wires together to extend their reach.
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There are three kinds of jumper wires:
-
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Male to Male (pins on both ends)
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Female to Female (holes on both ends)
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Male to Female (Pins on one end, hole on the other end.
Activity: Wire and program the LED module (30 mins)
- Say to students: Are you excited to learn how to wire the LED module, use the Micro:bit expansion board, and program lights to turn on and off when you want? Follow the instructions of this lesson’s activity worksheet.
- Pass out this lesson’s activity worksheet. During the worksheet, students will follow this tutorial video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bntteQQ_hw
- Helpful tips:
- Students should only tinker with their wiring while the Micro:bit is unplugged.
- If a student’s LED doesn’t turn on:
- Make sure it is getting “high” voltage to the “+” pin from either the red pins on the expansion board or a yellow digital pin.
- Make sure the LED’s “-“ side is connected to a black GND pin.
- If a yellow pin is connected to the “+” of the LED, you need to program the Micro:bit to turn that specific pin on and off using the “digital write” command!
Wrap up, deliverable, and assessment (5 mins)
- Wrap up: If time permits, allow students to share and discuss their programs with a partner!
- Deliverable: Students will submit their programs and lesson activity worksheets.
- Assessment: The deliverable will be used for this lesson’s assessment. Additionally, students may complete this lesson’s checkpoint as an exit ticket.
Differentiation
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Additional Support #1: Print out and provide students with vocabulary.
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Additional Support #2: Guide students step by step through the creation of their programs,
frequently checking student progress. -
Additional Support #3: allow students to work with a partner to create their programs.
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Extension: VilBot’s town needs a new traffic light, are you up to the task to wire and program it? Here’s what it needs:
- A Red, Green, and Yellow LED Module wired to the expansion board
- Write your own MakeCode so that:
- The Green light turns on for 5 seconds
- The Green light turns off
- The Yellow light turns on for 2 seconds.
- The Yellow light turns off
- The Red light turns on for 5 seconds
- The Red light turns off
- Repeat
- Copy and paste your shared MakeCode link.
Additional resources
- Download the complete Micro:bit wiring diagram and coding booklet here: https://www.adeept.com/learn/detail-32.html
