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In this project, we're going to show you how to convert the rotational motion of a servo into linear motion which will eventually move "Grumpy Greg" up and down. This will be achieved using a lead screw and nut system that is connected to a scissor linkage mechanism. These engineering principles may sound complex but in reality are very simple and extremely effective when building robots or machines.

This project goes beyond basic making and programming, providing an additional challenge by using several engineering mechanisms. You'll see these mechanisms and terms mentioned throughout this post, so let's take a moment to define each of them before proceeding .

Project Glossary

The photo below helps to show how the lead screw and nut system are interconnected with the scissor linkage mechanism. When the servo turns, it will spin the connected screw which is threaded into a fixed nut. Since the nut is fixed in place, the only thing that can move is the wood bar which moves in a linear motion along the screw as it rotates. This wood bar is connected to our scissor linkage mechanism. When it moves inward, it will make the scissor mechanism extend upward which creates the vertical linear motion. So essentially, we're turning the rotation of a servo into horizontal and then vertical linear motion which raises the head of the "Grumpy Monkey".

This is a fun project that also uses a light sensor to call a "doorbell" function which are notes coded on a micro:bit and transmitted via the Hummingbird speaker. Once the notes are finished playing, it will start the lower servo in motion.

In order to create this project, you will need the following items:

Note: All of the electronic parts of this project can be found in the Hummingbird Premium kit

To begin this project, we will need to create the cross arm supports for the "scissor lift" mechanism. In our design, we made them 1″ x 9″ in dimension but you can make yours larger or smaller. Use a ruler and sharpie to create the outline of these supports and then cut them out using a utility knife.

Pro Tip: Not all cardboard is created equal. We found some scrap cardboard but it was very thin and lightweight. In order to make it stronger, we laminated two pieces of cardboard together using hot glue. This took a piece of 1/8″ thick cardboard and created cardboard 1/4″ in thickness. Some projects require material with extra structure and this is a simple way to do it. Also, instead of using cardboard, you can substitute large popsicle sticks in place of it. This will however require a drill or heavy duty punch in order to make the holes in future steps.

Once the cardboard cross arm supports are cut, you will need to measure where the brass brads and dowel rods will be placed. Measure to find the middle and draw a line the length of the support. Next, draw another line to indicate the center in addition to spots on each end that are 1″ in from the edge. Cut an "X" where the lines intersect. You should have (3) "X" cuts on each support arm.

Push the brass brads through all of the "X" cuts you made in the support arms. Do not bend the brads at this time as this will need to be done in the next step. Note - Some of these brads will be removed later in future steps and are simply used as a placeholder for the time being.

A mechanical linkage mechanism is an assembly of systems that are connected to manage forces or movement. In this case, we will be creating a scissor linkage mechanism by combining two arms together using the brass brads. Place one cardboard arm perpendicular to each other. Remove the middle brass brad from the bottom support arm. Push the brass brad on the top arm through the middle hole in the bottom arm and then bend the back of the brad to lock it in place. Follow these steps again to make the next 3 scissor linkage structures. Grab the bottom legs of the structure and move them inward to make sure that they move freely.

At this point, you should have created (4) separate scissor linkage mechanisms. Place one of the "X"s on top of the other and connect them using the brass brads. Make sure they are connected as shown in the photo below to ensure a smooth movement. Push the bottom legs together to make sure they lower and rise correctly.

Cut a piece of cardboard measuring roughly 11″ x 11″ in size for the base. For the side structures, we used wooden rulers that were laying around our makerspace but you could also just use thick cardboard. The sides needs to be sturdy, so if you're using cardboard make sure it's reinforced as described earlier. The side structure measures 2″ high by 11″ wide. Cut a hole the same size diameter of the wooden dowel rods you are using at about 1″ from the end and 1/2″ from the top. Hot glue both of the side structures to the base.

Now it's time to attach both scissor linkage mechanisms to the base and sides. Cut (5) dowel rods to 12″ in length. Push (1) of the dowel rods through the bottom of the cardboard arms all the way to through the bottom of the opposite scissor mechanism. This dowel rod should sit on the top of the side supports. The left side (as shown below) is constructed the same way but this time the dowel rod will also go through the holes that were cut in both support sides. Finally, insert dowel rods through the top 3 holes where the brass brads are currently. When you're finished, test the mechanism by pushing on the dowel rod that is resting on the side support. If built correctly, the mechanism should extend upwards.

Now it's time to build the opening that will house the nut that the screw goes through. Add two pieces of cut dowel rod below the main rod making sure the gap is big enough for the nut. Once both pieces are hot glued in place, attach another full piece below it to complete the structure.

For this push board, we used some scrap wooden rulers but you can also use thick cardboard or craft sticks. Cut a small hole in the center of the wood or cardboard so the nut can be glued in place. Make sure the nut is firmly in place and glued so it WON'T spin.

Attach a round servo horn to one of the rotation servos using the screw that comes with it. Normally you can pressure fit a servo horn without screws but in this project it is very important to use the screws.

Using hot glue, attach the end of the screw to the round servo horn. Make sure to carefully put hot glue on the back side of the servo horn as well as the front side and all around. This will help make sure the screw stays firmly attached while it is spinning. Ensure you don't accidently get hot glue on the servo shaft which could prevent it from spinning.

In this step, we're going to create a little box for the servo to be mounted in. This will help elevate and secure the servo and will allow the screw to fit horizontally into the nut. Begin by carefully threading the screw into the nut. Once in place, you can see how much cardboard is need for the servo to be level. Secure the servo in place with a rubber band or hot glue it for a more permanent installation.

Cut a piece of cardboard roughly 5″ x 11″ and secure it to the left side of the upper dowel rods using zip ties. The other side needs to be free to move when the platform is raised and lowered. To the left or right of the upper center dowel rod, cut a rectangle smaller than the overall servo. This will allow it to fit through the opening but still stay on top of the platform. Make sure to attach a round servo horn to the servo. In this case, the screws don't need to be used to secure the horn.

For this project, we found a stuffed monkey from the " Grumpy Monkey " book series by Suzanne and Max Lang. Unfortunately for Jim Panzee (the name of the monkey in the book) we only needed his head. Sorry Jim! Yet another reason for this monkey to be grumpy.

Place the head on a piece of cardboard and trace around it. Cut this piece out and attach it using hot glue to a small cardboard circle. Remove most of the stuffing from the head and slip it over the head structure and glue it in place.

Next, you will need to hot glue the monkey head to the top of the round servo horn. Again, be careful not to drip hot glue on the servo shaft which could prevent it from rotating.

Now for the fun part which is connecting all the electronics to the Hummingbird Bit. Attach the servo cable from the upper platform to servo port #2 on the Hummingbird. If the cable doesn't reach, you may need an extension cable. Next, attach the cable from the lower servo to servo port #1 on the board. Make sure the white wires on the servo cables line up with the "S" or Signal on the servo ports.

Plug the light sensor into sensor port #1 and make sure the yellow wire goes to the "S" and the red wire goes to the (+) positive and the black wire to the (-) negative.

Lastly, plug in the battery holder and make sure there are (4) AA batteries installed.

Now that the main structure has been created, it's time to build the outer box that will house our grumpy monkey. Measure your structure to determine the exact size for your outer box and add 1″ to each side. In our case, our box needed to be 12″ x 12″ x 12″. Hot glue 5 of the 6 sides of the box in place and leave the top open as the top panel will be on a hinge. To create this, we are using wood bamboo skewers but you can also use crafting wood. Take a straw and cut (3) pieces about 2″ long each. Slide the cut straw pieces onto the bamboo and elevate it in between the straw pieces using wood or cardboard. Hot glue the straw pieces to the lid and the visible bamboo sections to the elevated wood pieces. Open the lid and verify it moves freely.

The last construction part of this build is to fabricate a doorbell. On the front of this box, cut a small hole and push the light sensor through it. Cut small strips of cardboard and hot glue it together in order to resemble a doorbell. Make sure the front of the doorbell has an opening and the light sensor is visible. When you press your finger over the hole, it should block out all the light which will trigger the light sensor.

Put the monkey in the box with all the connected electronics. At this point you can decorate the front.

Now it's time to make this project come alive. For this project, we used Microsoft's MakeCode which is free to download and use.

Insert the micro:bit into the Hummingbird Bit controller

Connect the battery holder to the Hummingbird and turn it on

Connect the USB cable from your computer to the micro:bit

Go to https://makecode.microbit.org

Click on "New Project"

Give your project a name and click "Create"

- "Grumpy Greg" ZIP folder which contains (1) HEX file

Drag the HEX file into the middle of the MakeCode work area

Click the purple "Download" button on the bottom left of the screen

The code should be sent to the micro:bit after a few seconds

IMPORTANT - Make sure the battery holder is turned on. The servos won't work until the batteries are powering the unit. Test to make sure everything works by covering the doorbell hole. You should hear the doorbell ring and then the servos should start operating.

If you end up making this project, we would love to see it. Tag us on X at @BirdBrainTech so we can share it with our community.

Looking for other Hummingbird Bit projects? Check out our Birdhouse Blog or our project pages for more inspiration and ideas.

If you're looking to purchase the parts used in this project, make sure to check out our store to learn more about the Hummingbird Kit, Finch Robot and the other exciting products from BirdBrain Technologies.

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Convert Rotational Motion Into Linear Motion - BirdBrain Technologies

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Learn to convert the rotational motion of a servo into linear motion using a lead screw and nut in addition to a scissor linkage mechanism.

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We like to move it move it-  Light it up

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We like to move it move it-  Light it up

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Finch and Hummingbird are sold by BirdBrain Technologies under license from Carnegie Mellon University.

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New Play Sound Effects block in micro:bit

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MakeCode for micro:bit - Hack Your Headphone

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AI challenge (thnx Tom Driscoll for the 💡)

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AI challenge (thnx Tom Driscoll for the 💡)

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To use as little hot glue as possible in a cardboard mini golf game, follow these tips:

1. Plan your design: Before you start, plan out your mini golf course layout and design. This will help you determine where you need to apply glue and where you can avoid it.

2. Use interlocking pieces: Whenever possible, design your mini golf obstacles and features to interlock or fit together without the need for glue. This can reduce the amount of glue required.

3. Utilize tabs and slots: Create tabs and slots in your cardboard pieces to fit them together securely. This eliminates the need for glue in those areas.

4. Reinforce with tape: Instead of using hot glue, consider using strong double-sided tape or masking tape to secure certain parts of your course. Tape can provide a secure hold while using less glue.

5. Apply glue sparingly: When you do need to use hot glue, apply it sparingly. A little glue can go a long way. Use short, controlled bursts of glue to minimize excess.

6. Opt for low-temperature glue: If your glue gun has a temperature setting, use a low-temperature setting. This can help reduce the amount of glue used while still providing a secure bond.

7. Test fit before gluing: Before applying glue, test fit your pieces to ensure they align correctly. This can prevent mistakes that require additional glue to correct.

8. Prioritize structural points: Focus your glue application on structural points where additional strength is needed, such as connecting supports or stabilizing moving parts.

9. Use alternative fasteners: Depending on your design, you can use small screws, paper clips, or brads to secure pieces together instead of glue.

By following these tips and being mindful of where you apply glue, you can minimize the use of hot glue in your cardboard mini golf game while still creating a sturdy and functional course.

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To use as little hot glue as possible in a cardboard mini golf game, follow these tips:

Plan your design: Before you start, plan out your mini golf course layout and design. This will help you determine where you need to apply glue and where you can avoid it.

Use interlocking pieces: Whenever possible, design your mini golf obstacles and features to interlock or fit together without the need for glue. This can reduce the amount of glue required.

Utilize tabs and slots: Create tabs and slots in your cardboard pieces to fit them together securely. This eliminates the need for glue in those areas.

Reinforce with tape: Instead of using hot glue, consider using strong double-sided tape or masking tape to secure certain parts of your course. Tape can provide a secure hold while using less glue.

Apply glue sparingly: When you do need to use hot glue, apply it sparingly. A little glue can go a long way. Use short, controlled bursts of glue to minimize excess.

Opt for low-temperature glue: If your glue gun has a temperature setting, use a low-temperature setting. This can help reduce the amount of glue used while still providing a secure bond.

Test fit before gluing: Before applying glue, test fit your pieces to ensure they align correctly. This can prevent mistakes that require additional glue to correct.

Prioritize structural points: Focus your glue application on structural points where additional strength is needed, such as connecting supports or stabilizing moving parts.

Use alternative fasteners: Depending on your design, you can use small screws, paper clips, or brads to secure pieces together instead of glue.

By following these tips and being mindful of where you apply glue, you can minimize the use of hot glue in your cardboard mini golf game while still creating a sturdy and functional course.

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To use as little hot glue as possible in a cardboard mini golf game, follow these tips: Plan your design: Before you start, plan out your mini golf course layout and design. This will help you determine where you need to apply glue and where you can avoid it.

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Servo Extension Cable 3-Pin Male to Female 60 Core Lead Wire Cable Connectors Control Board Remote (300Mm/11.8In-15Pcs)
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Servo Extension Cable 3-Pin Male to Female 60 Core Lead Wire Cable Connectors Control Board Remote (300Mm/11.8In-15Pcs)

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Amazon.com: Servo Extension Cable 3-Pin Male to Female 60 Core Lead Wire Cable Connectors Control Board Remote (300Mm/11.8In-15Pcs) : Toys & Games

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A micro servo motor is a small electric motor specially designed to control movement precisely.

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A micro servo motor is a small electric motor specially designed to control movement precisely. It consists of a motor, gearbox, and control circuit, all housed in a compact body. The control circuit monitors the motor's position and adjusts the voltage and current to ensure it moves to the desired position.

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ELECFREAKS 360 Digital Servo With Wheel And Tire (EF90D) with wheel and tire is a kind of 360 deg analog servo. It is light and portable, a little bigger than 5 cent coin. It works at 3V voltage and uses pulse width to adjust the speed of the servo rotation, which also can be used to make small robot modules, mechanical arm modules, and intelligent car modules.

SPECIFICATION

DISPLAY

PACKING LIST

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ELECFREAKS 360 Digital Servo With Wheel And Tire (EF90D)

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ELECFREAKS 360 Digital Servo With Wheel And Tire (EF90D) with wheel and tire is a kind of 360 deg analog servo. It is light and portable, a little bigger than 5 cent coin.

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ELECFREAKS Octopus Rainbow LED Strip And GVS Conector -10 LEDs

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This is a colorful strip based on WS2812B beads, it can display the color RGB and support multiple cascades at the same time. Charcteristics Standard 3-pin GVS ports are easy to plug.Both ends are equipped with a connector and it supports multiple cascades.It can drive the micro:bit in 3.3V. Spe…

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The micro:bit Ring:bit expansion board is a simple PCB for the micro:bit. The micro:bit Ring:bit extends the micro:bit's 3 GPIO ports. We will use this module to convert the P0/P1/P2 port to the common GVS port. It can be loaded with 3 AAA batteries to drive the car or other components.

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Lesson resources for teachers

Planning and teaching with the micro:bit

Primary ages 7-11

Complete, editable computing units of work and resources with cross-curricular links for art, science, geography and more, curriculum-linked to England KS2 and Code.org elementary CS Fundamentals.
Search primary lessons
Secondary ages 11-14

Units of work with downloadable, editable resources covering computing fundamentals through to cyber security, cryptography and creative design projects, curriculum-linked to England KS3.
Search secondary lessons

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The BBC micro:bit: the pocket-sized computer transforming digital skills learning.

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The Pathfinders Institute is a signature professional development program for K-12 public school teachers in computer science and maker education that is hosted by the Foundation in collaboration with leading curriculum providers. It has been convened in-person, virtually during the pandemic and now offered year-round in a digital learning platform format. Come be a part of our growing community and experience the magic of Pathfinders here.

Past Pathfinders Institutes

Virtual Pathfinders Summer Institute 2023

The Foundation had a historic summer in 2023, welcoming the largest number of educators since program inception in 2018. We virtually welcomed 1,017 K-12 public school educators to 20 different PDs offered by 17 leading PD partners. Each educator participated in 40 hours of free, virtual, synchronous and asynchronous training, learning new knowledge to enhance their CS teaching in their classrooms. Educators were further supported with classroom supplies through a 2x match offer on DonorsChoose.org.
"I'm so thankful for the opportunity to learn... to refresh myself, and you made that possible. Because you made that possible, I get to turn around and give that to my students."- Jaime Barkley, Glencoe High School, Gadsen, AL.

Virtual Pathfinders Summer Institute 2022

The Foundation welcomed 570 educators at the virtual Pathfinders Summer Institute 2022, who received full scholarships to attend one of 14 virtual CS and Maker Education professional development courses offered on the Infosys Springboard/Pathfinders Online Institute from May - August 2022.
"The fact that I took these courses during the summer and plan on taking more courses through the (Pathfinders) Institute, shows my students that lifelong learning is important... it shows them the importance of education beyond the classroom."- Kelly Parker, Pathfinders Institute alumnus

Pathfinders Summer Institute 2022 - USVI

The Infosys Foundation USA hosted the Pathfinders Summer Institute USVI in partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands and the Georgia Institute of Technology - for over 60 educators from St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. They engaged in computer science and maker education curriculum from Chibitronics, BirdBrain and Micro:bit in a fun, hands-on, meaningful way. This program aimed to broaden access to digital skills while equally appreciating the unique aspects of the US Virgin Islands culture, an underrepresented group in the computer science and STEM fields. To read more, click here.

Pathfinders Summer Institute 2021

The Infosys Foundation USA hosted its fourth annual Pathfinders Summer Institute from July 18-23, 2021! This engaging virtual professional development experience brought together hundreds of K-12 public school teachers for a week of computer science and maker education.

K-12 public school teachers from 46 states, who teach across multiple disciplines, came together in our virtual classroom to build new skills to bring back to their students. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming Pathfinders Institutes and we hope to see you in our virtual classroom soon!

Pathfinders Winter Institute 2021

The Infosys Foundation USA hosted its second annual Pathfinders Winter Institute virtually, February 12-15, 2021. While it was not in-person due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was an engaging virtual professional development opportunity that engaged 279 K-12 public school computer science and maker educators from 46 states. Of the attendees, 175 teachers were completely new to computer science, and 206 were from Title 1 Schools! To gain insight about what an in-person Pathfinders Institute looks like, check out our video to the right that recaps the 2020 Pathfinders Winter Institute, which took place in Providence, RI and hosted 250 teachers from 40 states for a week of hands-on professional development in computer science and maker education.

Pathfinders Online Institute

The Pathfinders Online Institute is a dynamic online learning platform that is part of the wider Infosys Springboard initiative bringing high-quality computer science and maker ed content for K-12 students, teachers, and families. Creating an account gives free access to high-quality resources such as professional development, live webinars and instructional resources from a variety of leading content developers. In addition to providing asynchronous content, the Pathfinders Online Institute is designed to encourage community among the 15, 000+ (and growing) users of the digital learning platform.

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Copyright © 2023 Infosys Limited

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Infosys Foundation USA brings Pathfinders Summer Institute 2023. Enroll free into 20+ virtual professional development courses aligning to K-12+ standards.

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Virtual Physical Computing Community
Greater Boston Chapter

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Computer Science Teachers Association Connect, Grow, & Share With CS Teachers-

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CSTA understands that teaching computer science is hard. That's why we're focused on creating a supportive environment for K-12 educators.

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Let’s ⛳️ !The 6gr @mrsheim301 Explo class #microbit mini golf games were good to go! This team created an obstacle to move ↔️ instead of 🔄 w/ a  lasercut linear gear ⚙️👍🏼 Catch our session on this very project at @masscue in 2 weeks‼️ #bmsed  #medfieldps @microbit_edu #makered

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Let’s ⛳️ !The 6gr @mrsheim301 Explo class #microbit mini golf games were good to go! This team created an obstacle to move ↔️ instead of 🔄 w/ a  lasercut linear gear ⚙️👍🏼 Catch our session on this very project at @masscue in 2 weeks‼️ #bmsed  #medfieldps @microbit_edu #makered https://t.co/uhunPy5M3Q

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Let’s ⛳️ !The 6gr @mrsheim301 Explo class #microbit mini golf games were good to go! This team created an obstacle to move ↔️ instead of 🔄 w/ a  lasercut linear gear ⚙️👍🏼 Catch our session on this very project at @masscue in 2 weeks‼️ #bmsed  #medfieldps @microbit_edu #makered https://t.co/uhunPy5M3Q

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
Let’s ⛳️ !The 6gr @mrsheim301 Explo class #microbit mini golf games were good to go! This team created an obstacle to move ↔️ instead of 🔄 w/ a  lasercut linear gear ⚙️👍🏼 Catch our session on this very project at @masscue in 2 weeks‼️ #bmsed  #medfieldps @microbit_edu #makered https://t.co/uhunPy5M3Q

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
Let’s ⛳️ !The 6gr @mrsheim301 Explo class #microbit mini golf games were good to go! This team created an obstacle to move ↔️ instead of 🔄 w/ a  lasercut linear gear ⚙️👍🏼 Catch our session on this very project at @masscue in 2 weeks‼️ #bmsed  #medfieldps @microbit_edu #makered

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https://csteachers.org/k12standards/interactive/

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https://iste.org/standards/students

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https://iste.org/standards/students

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Students want to share, showcase and be celebrated! 

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Show students what to include - start/finish, flow of game, final hole, materials, captions to give meaning to pictures

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Plan on whiteboards for team members to show ideas, finalize on paper...

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Canva made this template possible!

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Presenting: Let's Golf ⛳️ powered by the micro:bit -

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Presenting: Let's Golf ⛳️ powered by the micro:bit -

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Video Examples of finished projects.

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6th Grade Explorations Class: Creative ...

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6th Grade Explorations Class: Creative ...

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Glue: Regular, Stick, Tacky, hot
Fasters
Paper Clips
Tape: Scotch, Duct, Masking, Washi, Electrical
String, Yarn
Cardboard Techniques: Tabs, L Brace
PipeCleaner
rubber bands
binder clips
twistie ties

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CONNECTING NEOPIXELS

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a messing-about primer to get you started

© 2021 Gary S. Stager, Ph.D.

NeoPixels are tiny, programmable, color-changing, LEDs manufactured by AdaFruit. NeoPixels make cool additions to micro:bit projects since they require little power, can be addressed individually or in groups, and can change color. They are especially popular in wearable projects and for creating interactive eTextiles.

Best of all, there are NeoPixels extension blocks available in Microsoft MakeCode. Although MakeCode makes programming the micro:bit easy, there is too little documentation about how to control the NeoPixels.

The WS2812 Integrated Light Source - or  in Adafruit parlance - is the latest advance in the quest for a simple, scalable and affordable full-color LED. Red, green and blue LEDs are integrated alongside a driver chip into a tiny surface-mount package controlled through a single wire. They can be used individually, chained into longer strings or assembled into still more interesting form-factors.
Popular NeoPixel accessory links
Connecting the NeoPixels to the micro:bit

Unless the NeoPixels are integrated into a board like the bit:booster, you will need to connect three wires to P0, P1, or P2, plus 3V and GND. The NeoPixel strips with alligator clips from Adafruit are super easy to connect because there are alligator clips already attached. Otherwise, you can figure out how to connect three wires to the micro:bit.

Adding the NeoPixel extensions to MakeCode

Go to https://makecode.microbit.org/

Click Advanced - Extensions

Type Neopixel or click on the button for the NeoPixel extensions (if it appears on your screen)

There should now be a new set of NeoPixel blocks in the MakeCode toolbox. These blocks will save with your project, but you will need to add them again for other projects.

Programming the NeoPixels

Once the NeoPixel extensions are installed, you may begin programming them with blocks specifically designed to control the LEDs. The first thing you need to do is tell MakeCode about your attached NeoPixel. This is initializing the environment (setting it up).

Count the number of LEDs in your NeoPixel gizmo.

Create an on start block.

Insert a set strip to NeoPixel at pin... block.

Change the pin popup to indicate which pin you connected the NeoPixels to.

Change the number in the with ___ leds field to the number of LEDs in your NeoPixels.

Leave the RGB format popup as it is unless you are using a NeoPixel that contains white LEDs.

Now, MakeCode will initialize the NeoPixel device whenever the program runs.

Note: If you connect more than one NeoPixel, MakeCode will automatically generate set blocks like the one above, but will name them strip2, strip3, etc... You also have the ability to rename the strips.

You might also wish to put some indication that a new program is downloaded to the micro:bit. I like to display an icon in the on start block. When troubleshooting, I change the icon.

Add some button control

Create the following program, predict what it will do, and download it to the micro:bit.

Press the A or B button and see what happens.

You can make a rainbow

Show rainbow from 1 to 360 lights each pixel with a different color of the rainbow.
Remember to specify how many LEDs are in your NeoPixel device.

What does the program do?

What happens if you shift pixels by another number?

Try to shift pixels by -1. What happens?

When you ask the NeoPixels to do something specific, like shift, rotate, or light a range of LEDs, you need to force the technology to show the strip with the strip show block in order to make the changes visible.
A slight variation to try

How is rotating pixels different from shifting them?

Try different values for rotating pixels. What happens?

Try rotating pixels by half of the number of pixels you have. What happens?

What happens if you reduce the number 360 in the show rainbow from 1 to 360 block in on start?

Do the twist

In this next program, we use the acceleration value (found in the Input tools) to send the pixels in one direction or the opposite when the micro:bit is tilted left or right.

Create the program above

Download it to the micro:bit

Tilt the micro:bit left or right

Be specific

You may use the set pixel color at block (found in the ... section of the NeoPixel blocks in the toolbox). This block allows you to specify the color of a specific pixel. Remember to use the show block to display the changes.

So random

Make the following modification to the program above.

After you insert the pick random variable and use the range 0 to your number of pixels - 1.

Download the program to the micro:bit.

Press button A repeatedly.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Imagine a 12 light NeoPixel ring. The following program turns it into a push button wreath.

Press A or B and see what happens.

Does the code make sense?

Within range

In this program, we want to define a range or region of LEDs in the NeoPixel as a variable in order to change that entire range at once.

We will use the set range block from the NeoPixel blocks in the toolbox. However, we want to set two different ranges of LEDs. So, for the second set range block, we will select the set range block a second time from the NewPixel block palette and MakeCode will add a new set range2 block to the workspace. Do it again and we'll get range3, etc... In other words, each time you request a set range block, MakeCode automatically creates a new variable.

Set range and its siblings takes two inputs - the LED position where you wish to begin and how many LEDs should be included in that range. For example, if I have a 12 LED NeoPixel that I wish to divide, I might try a program like the following.

What does this program do?

Challenges

Explore these new NeoPixel blocks in different ways.

Try new values.

Can you create numerical light patterns, like odd and even numbers or multiples?

What can you decorate with NeoPixels?

Be sure to share your MakeCode projects online so others can learn from them!

https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neopixel-uberguide/the-magic-of-neopixels

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Programming Neopixels with MakeCode and the BBC micro:bit - Invent To Learn

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NeoPixels are tiny, programmable, color-changing, LEDs manufactured by AdaFruit. NeoPixels make cool additions to micro:bit projects since they require little power, can be addressed individually or in groups, and can change color. Although MakeCode makes programming the micro:bit easy, there is too little documentation about how to control the NeoPixels.

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One Class period to put their code to use with the positional servo- learning a cardboard technique (gusset) and how to hot glue things together. Creative -simple & quick.

[Code Joy: Step by Step Intro Video ]

[CODE JOY: Tiny Drummer Teacher Guide]

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Mini Workshops help to build students skills in coding and construction. At this point, each student will work individually to gain the experience but are encourage to help and support each other.

Mini Workshop 1: Makecode- introduce the micro:bit and overvew of makecode.

Mini Workshop 2: Servo Motors

Mini Workshop 3: NeoPixels

Mini Workhsop 4:  Tiny Drummer

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Each student will have a copy to reference while coding.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Mini Workshop: MakeCode
Give overview of MakeCode
- Student's sign in with school google account
- New Project: name-Golf
- Give preview of the simulator, coding blocks and workspace
-- Start /Forever block - build images and string

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A Blocks / JavaScript code editor for the micro:bit powered by Microsoft MakeCode.

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Rate the game!

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Mini Golf Course with Circuit Playground and Crickit

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Use CRICKIT and Circuit Playground Express to create your own miniature golf game. This project can be built out of readily available household materials and uses MakeCode to control the obstacles which you must navigate your ball through.

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Next day: Servos! (positional and rotational (continuous)
[Google Doc guide]
-- Use robot as an example to discuss
-- reopen same project to learn about Servos
-- you'll need to add the extension Servos to get access to the blocks. Be sure to talk about Pins
--  Demonstrate how to attach the servos correctly to the ring:bit

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Create Groups and begin brainstorming if time.

Discuss Requirements:
-Putter
-Hole
-1-2 small obstacles
-Theme for your game

and Constraints:
-Materials: cardboard (2 copy top boxes), 1 small cup for hole, 1 skewer, specific length of tape??, hot glue
--Number of Classses in this rotation

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Finch and Hummingbird are sold by BirdBrain Technologies under license from Carnegie Mellon University.

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Aluminum foil was used to create a circuit to score a point.

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Introduce Mini Golf with: Code Joy Presents Robot Mini Golf Video

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Introduce Mini Golf with: Code Joy Presents Robot Mini Golf Video

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CodeJoy Presents: Robot Mini Golf Sneak Peek