Autumn 2025 — Micro:bit Foundations
Theme: “From inputs to outputs: making systems that sense and respond.”
This term, participants in Tech Tinker Club will explore how microcontrollers (tiny computers that power gadgets, robots and everyday devices) can be programmed to sense the world and control outputs. Using the BBC micro:bit, motors, buzzers, servos and built-in sensors, children will design fun mini-projects that blend computing concepts with real-world making.
Intent (What we want to achieve)
- Build understanding of the Input → Process → Output model.
- Introduce and practise key computing concepts: events, variables, loops, conditionals, logic, data and communication.
- Show how science and computing connect (sensors, electricity, data logging).
- Develop confidence and creativity through small projects that children can explain and adapt.
Implementation (How we will do it)
- Weekly 90-minute sessions throughout the Autumn term.
- Each week introduces a new computing idea inside a fun project.
- Projects are designed with tiers of challenge so every child can access and extend.
- ⚠️ Please note: This is our planned sequence, but plans are made to be flexible — we may adapt activities depending on time, resources, or the group’s interests.
Week by Week Overview
| Week | Focus Concept | Mini-Project Example | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Intro to club & microcontrollers | Name badge, beating heart | Link |
| Week 2 | Events & inputs | Dice roller (shake to roll) | Slides · Worksheet |
| Week 3 | Conditionals (if/else) | Reaction timer game | Slides · Worksheet |
| Week 4 | Variables & thresholds | Light/temperature monitor | Slides · Worksheet |
| Week 5 | Loops (iteration) | Step counter | Slides · Worksheet |
| Week 6 | Outputs (servo & buzzer) | Servo dial + alarm | Slides · Worksheet |
| Week 7 | Mini-project consolidation | Burglar alarm or tilt gadget | Slides · Worksheet |
| Week 8 | Data logging | Temperature tracker | Slides · Worksheet |
| Week 9 | Radio communication | Wireless message sender | Slides · Worksheet |
| Week 10 | Compound logic | Dark + motion alarm | Slides · Worksheet |
| Week 11 | Game loops | Score-based button game | Slides · Worksheet |
| Week 12 | Integration | Design your own 2-sensor gadget | Slides · Worksheet |
| Week 13 | Showcase & reflection | Share favourite projects | Slides · Reflection |
Impact (What success looks like)
- Participants can describe their creations in terms of inputs, processing and outputs.
- They use computing vocabulary (variables, loops, conditions).
- They demonstrate debugging strategies and persistence.
- By the end of term, every child has completed a set of working mini-projects and shared one with peers.
Looking ahead
- Spring 2026: Tinkercad Design & Circuits — designing and simulating enclosures and circuits.
- Summer 2026: Integration — combining micro:bit coding with 3D design and circuits.