Programming for kids and beginners: Using Scratch & Microbit

Explore the history of programming and how instructions become machine actions, from punched cards and switches to binary bits and ASCII, with hands-on binary messages and music encoding.

Learn basic Scratch instructions by moving and directing sprites on a stage using x and y coordinates, direction, and motion blocks, while creating and saving projects.

Learn basic micro:bit instructions by creating projects that display patterns with LEDs, strings, and icons, and explore shake-activated dice with random numbers.

Learn to plan a sequence of instructions into an algorithm that tells computers what to do. See how a maze with a fish reunion demonstrates step-by-step logic guiding outcomes.

Learn to plan and code algorithms in Scratch to draw art shapes like squares and letters with pen down and movements, then create simple musical programs.

Create light and music projects on the micro bit by writing an algorithm. Use on start and forever blocks to display a center dot, a square, and the full grid.

Explore how events trigger responses in programming with Scratch and micro:bit, distinguishing external events such as button presses and joystick moves from internal events like notifications from different apps.

Explore events in Scratch, triggering drawing with pen on green flag and reset, broadcasting messages, animating sprites, changing backdrops, and building a keyboard project with notes and pitch.

Apply micro:bit input events to display happy, sad, or straight smileys with button presses, and use radio to send messages between devices while exploring tempo control with A and B.

Explore how repeat loops express actions multiple times in Scratch and Microbit, with examples like five jumps and repeating patterns, and learn to use the repeat block to shorten code.

learn how to use the repeat block in scratch to simplify drawing squares and circles, and create a ballerina dance by cycling costumes, timing, and music.

Explore loops in micro:bit by building a flashing heart project that uses the repeat block to show and clear the screen, with a 100-millisecond pause and up to 100 repetitions.

Explore variables and constants using Scratch and Microbit, learning how a variable stores changing values like a ball in a bowl, and how events trigger updates.

Learn how Scratch variables store and change values, use a global time variable to adjust speed, and build projects like a ballerina and apple counter with fast and slow modes.

Learn to use variables in micro:bit to manage a running score, starting at zero and updating with plus or minus one, then display the score.

Learn how conditional statements and if conditions control actions in programs, using true/false logic and else branches with Scratch and Microbit examples.

Learn to use if conditions in Scratch to compare two numbers and identify the greater one, then build a monkey and bananas project with glide, broadcasts, and spacebar eating.

Build Micro:bit projects that use the if condition to show rock, paper, or scissors based on a random number generated after shaking the device, using a variable and if-else logic.