Name: micro:bit Makers Week-7/13/2026 - 7/17/2026 | Ages 9-12 | Blue Ridge Boost
SKU: SUMMER26-MICROBITS-26
Price: 509.99 USD
Availability: InStock

micro:bit Makers Week

For Parents

Skill progression: Each day focuses on a fresh project—wearable badge, arcade game, radio team play, pocket science lab, and a final original invention.
Grounded in MakeCode Projects: Draws from Tutorials, Games, Radio Games, Tools, Science, and Data Logging at makecode.microbit.org/projects.
Beginner‑friendly structure: 4 sessions/day (Explore • Build • Create • Share) with clear steps and frequent wins.
STEM concepts made tangible: Events, loops, variables, timers, sensors, thresholds, and simple wireless messaging.
Visible progress: Daily mini‑demos and a final showcase—kids bring home code they can rerun and explain.
Safe & supported: Simulator first, then hardware; age‑appropriate pacing and gentle troubleshooting.

For Kids

Day 1: Build a glowing name badge that plays a jingle when you shake it.
Day 2: Make a reaction‑time arcade and try to beat your best score.
Day 3: Play “Red Light, Green Light” using radio messages with friends.
Day 4: Turn your micro:bit into a pocket lab—light alarm, step counter, or compass.
Day 5: Invent something new—like a Weather Badge or Treasure Tag—and show it off!
Bonus fun: Custom icons, emoji messages, sound effects, and secret settings with A+B.

Daily Plan (Different Project Each Day)

Day 1 — Light & Sound Badge (Tutorials: Flashing Heart, Name Tag, Dice)

Create a wearable “Light & Sound Badge” that shows your name, mood icons, and a victory jingle when you shake it.

S1: Explore — Meet the micro:bit and MakeCode.
- Tour LEDs, buttons A/B, shake gesture, speaker (V2), and simulator.
- Build “Flashing Heart” to learn on start vs forever loops.
- Add your name with “Name Tag” (scrolling text).
S2: Build — Inputs and random.
- Add button A to show a happy icon; button B to show a cool emoji.
- On shake, play a short melody and show a random “lucky number” (Dice idea).
- Discuss events, variables, and randomness.
S3: Create — Personalize your badge.
- Make brightness react to room light (Tools: Light Level Meter concept).
- Design your own icon frame-by-frame; add a startup splash.
- Optional: Add a “quiet mode” toggle with A+B.
S4: Share — Mini demo and debugging.
- Wear/hold your badge and present your features.
- Peer test: try buttons, shake, and light-reactive effect.

Outcomes: Events (button/shake), loops, random, basic sound, LED patterns.

Day 2 — Reaction Time Arcade (Games: Reaction Time, Snap the Dot)

Build an arcade-style reaction trainer that measures your fastest reflexes and levels up difficulty as you improve.

S1: Explore — Game loop basics.
- Program a start signal (random delay), then measure time to press A.
- Show score as milliseconds; explain variables and timers.
S2: Build — Add scoring and best time.
- Keep track of current and best scores; display with icons.
- Add rounds (e.g., 5 tries) and show average.
S3: Create — Difficulty and mini-game.
- Speed-up mode: shorten random delay after good performance.
- Optional mini-game: “Snap the Dot” with moving target on LEDs.
S4: Share — Arcade showcase.
- Compete for best reaction; practice fair resets and clean UI.
- Reflect: how did we prevent “early press” cheating?

Outcomes: Timers, variables, conditionals, difficulty curves, user feedback.

Day 3 — Radio Team Game: Red Light, Green Light (Radio Games)

Create a wireless group game: one Leader micro:bit broadcasts “GO/STOP”, players move only on GO, and get flagged if they move on STOP.

S1: Explore — Radio basics.
- Set radio group; send/receive simple strings (“GO”, “STOP”).
- Leader device UI: A = GO, B = STOP; Players listen and react.
S2: Build — Player logic and fairness.
- Detect motion with accelerometer (tilt/shake threshold).
- If motion during STOP, show “X” and play a buzz; freeze for 2 seconds.
S3: Create — Rounds and scoring.
- Add rounds/timer; count wins per player.
- Optional: “Referee” device tallies player wins (Voting Machine idea).
S4: Share — Mini tournament.
- Rotate Leader; try different radio groups to avoid cross-talk.
- Discuss message design and reliability.

Outcomes: Wireless messaging, simple protocols, motion sensing, multiplayer design.

Day 4 — Pocket Science Lab (Tools & Science: Light/Temp Meters, Step Counter, Compass)

Turn your micro:bit into a mini lab to sense the world and record simple data like light, temperature, steps, and direction.

S1: Explore — Sensor sampler.
- Read light level, temperature, and accelerometer.
- Display values with icons and scrolling numbers.
S2: Build — Choose a tool.
- Option A: Light Alarm (dark → play tone + moon icon).
- Option B: Step Counter (count shakes; show total and goal).
- Option C: Compass (N/E/S/W arrows using compass heading).
S3: Create — Data and thresholds.
- Set thresholds (e.g., “too dark” < 50); add adjustable settings with A/B.
- Log readings to console for a short experiment (Data Logging concept).
S4: Share — Science fair demo.
- Show a short dataset, explain what your tool senses and why.
- Discuss accuracy, noise, and how to improve readings.

Outcomes: Sensor inputs, thresholds, simple data logging, user settings.

Day 5 — Original Invention Showcase (Integrates Tutorials, Games, Radio, Tools)

Design and build your own invention by combining what you’ve learned—then present it to the group.

S1: Explore — Brainstorm & plan.
- Pick an idea: Weather Badge, Treasure Tag (radio hide-and-seek), Team Timer, or Mood Music.
- Sketch screens/states; list variables and events.
S2: Build — Core features.
- Implement main loop and one core feature (e.g., radio broadcast, score, sensor trigger).
- Test in simulator, then on device.
S3: Create — Polish & safety.
- Add icons, sounds, and clear messages; A+B reset.
- Optional: log one metric (time, steps, light) and show a summary.
S4: Share — Expo presentations.
- 2‑minute demo: goal, how it works, live run, next steps.
- Peers leave “one cheer, one idea” feedback.

Outcomes: End‑to‑end design, integration, presentation skills, reflective debugging.

Camp Details

Format: 4 sessions/day (Explore • Build • Create • Share)
Tech: micro:bit, Microsoft MakeCode editor
Inspired by: MakeCode Projects — Tutorials, Games, Radio Games, Tools, Science, Data Logging
Take‑home: 5 complete projects (one per day) + a final invention demo

Camp Essentials

Ages: 9 to 12 years old.
Dates: Monday, 7/13/2026 to Friday, 7/17/2026
Times:
- Full-Day,8:30 AM–5:00 PM
- AM, 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM
- PM, 12:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: 2171 Ivy Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22903
What to Bring: Water bottle, lunch, and one or two light snacks.
Video gaming: Not allowed
Tech Provided: Computers and robotics kits (for in‑camp use only; equipment stays with us).
Skill Level: Beginners welcome; no prior coding experience required
Dress Code: Comfortable clothes; indoor‑friendly shoes
Contact: camps@yblueridgeboost.com • (434) 260‑0636
Allergies/Medical: Share details during registration; bring any necessary meds
Behavior & Safety: Kindness first; follow staff directions; internet safety rules apply