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Pass out a printed copy of the LED planner.

Discuss how each set of circles represents the  5x5 LED display on the micro:bit.

Color in the circles to show a mouth closed like in the example.

In the next set of circles, color in the circles to show a mouth open.

Draw a box around both and label it: Talking

Talk about other expressions you would show with a sequence of two displays so it will look animated. Don't forget to draw a box around both and label the expression.

** or you could keep it really simple and have the students draw 3-4 images to create an animation for their mouth especially if you're only having them programmed with the forever block.

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Go to Makecode.microbit.org

Start a new project. Name it Micro:bit Character or Faces -- give an overview of the makecode coding editor- simulator, coding blocks- (color coded, categorized, how to put on the workspace & delete)

We started with the FOREVER block and deleted On Start.

Discussed the purpose of the FOREVER block and how to build their images to run in a sequence and added pause blocks to control the speed.

Students should follow their images from their planner.

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You could add-on and decide to use different inputs for different outputs.  (Inputs: Buttons, Shake, Touch Logo, Sound, etc.) and have students add that to their planner.

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Made with ❤️ in Microsoft MakeCode for micro:bit.

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Direct flashing from MakeCode to micro:bit

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Materials: Plain White Paper, Scissors, Markers, Scotch Tape, paper clips or wire.
** Wax paper or any translucent materials work.
** Acrylic paint pens worked will with wax paper.

Make:  The face will tape directly over the micro:bit. Draw the eyes, nose and leave the mouth blank. This is where the LED display will shine through! Add other parts like arms, body, etc. and attach with paper clip or wire through the edge pins on the micro:bit.

** You can choose to make the character first or code first. It's up to your work flow.

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Thinking Spring 🌷 🐰 & introducing 6gr Ss to the #microbit with our animated  pictures of Spring! Part 1 make the pic on wax sandwich bag , glue to cutout cardboard frame & start planning the images. Next week learn to code it! #CSTA #K8CS #bmsed #medfieldps #makered https://t.co/oZCidfdSeK

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.original_text
Thinking Spring 🌷 🐰 & introducing 6gr Ss to the #microbit with our animated  pictures of Spring! Part 1 make the pic on wax sandwich bag , glue to cutout cardboard frame & start planning the images. Next week learn to code it! #CSTA #K8CS #bmsed #medfieldps #makered https://t.co/oZCidfdSeK https://t.co/X21POIbvZe

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Thinking Spring 🌷 🐰 & introducing 6gr Ss to the #microbit with our animated pictures of Spring! Part 1 make the pic on wax sandwich bag , glue to cutout cardboard frame & start planning the images. Next week learn to code it! #CSTA #K8CS #bmsed #medfieldps #makered pic.twitter.com/X21POIbvZe
— diane horvath (@techmonstah) March 22, 2023

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.data.text
Thinking Spring 🌷 🐰 & introducing 6gr Ss to the #microbit with our animated  pictures of Spring! Part 1 make the pic on wax sandwich bag , glue to cutout cardboard frame & start planning the images. Next week learn to code it! #CSTA #K8CS #bmsed #medfieldps #makered https://t.co/oZCidfdSeK https://t.co/X21POIbvZe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
Thinking Spring 🌷 🐰 & introducing 6gr Ss to the #microbit with our animated  pictures of Spring! Part 1 make the pic on wax sandwich bag , glue to cutout cardboard frame & start planning the images. Next week learn to code it! #CSTA #K8CS #bmsed #medfieldps #makered https://t.co/oZCidfdSeK https://t.co/X21POIbvZe

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
Thinking Spring 🌷 🐰 & introducing 6gr Ss to the #microbit with our animated  pictures of Spring! Part 1 make the pic on wax sandwich bag , glue to cutout cardboard frame & start planning the images. Next week learn to code it! #CSTA #K8CS #bmsed #medfieldps #makered https://t.co/oZCidfdSeK

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.text
Animated Snowman faces ⛄️ to introduce the @microbit to 6graders in my Coding Class. #creativecoding #microbit #makered #CSK8 #bmsed (Music by @pixabay )

# data[].attributes.wish_content.attachment_props.original_text
Animated Snowman faces ⛄️ to introduce the @microbit to 6graders in my Coding Class. #creativecoding #microbit #makered #CSK8 #bmsed (Music by @pixabay ) https://t.co/4Qrm0bfWKs

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Animated Snowman faces ⛄️ to introduce the @microbit to 6graders in my Coding Class. #creativecoding #microbit #makered #CSK8 #bmsed (Music by @pixabay ) pic.twitter.com/4Qrm0bfWKs
— diane horvath (@techmonstah) December 14, 2022

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props_source.data.text
Animated Snowman faces ⛄️ to introduce the @microbit to 6graders in my Coding Class. #creativecoding #microbit #makered #CSK8 #bmsed (Music by @pixabay ) https://t.co/4Qrm0bfWKs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
Animated Snowman faces ⛄️ to introduce the @microbit to 6graders in my Coding Class. #creativecoding #microbit #makered #CSK8 #bmsed (Music by @pixabay ) https://t.co/4Qrm0bfWKs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
Animated Snowman faces ⛄️ to introduce the @microbit to 6graders in my Coding Class. #creativecoding #microbit #makered #CSK8 #bmsed (Music by @pixabay )

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Start Here: Introducing the Micro:bit Computational Characters

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Start Here: Introducing the Micro:bit Computational Characters

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This is typically the first lesson used for introducing the micro:bit and show this video discussing what do you think the micro:bit can do?

Idea: Create a character where it shows different expressions using the LED display as the mouth.
Show: the short video clip on the website.
Discuss: What do you notice in the example?
How will you use the Micro:bit to create the animation?

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This week we’ve started the second round of online tinkering workshops with our friends at Cabaret Mechanical Theater. In this workshop, titled Computational Contraptions, we’re exploring the intersection between the digital and physical world, especially connected to automata and other kinetic sculptures.

But we wanted to go a little future to connect with the artists that we’re highlighting in the CMT workshop. Sarah suggested taking some inspiration from Peter Markey’s style of blocky characters for this intro activity. We found that the geometric style worked really well to turn the Micro:bit into a fun character.

The materials that we used for this project included paper, sharpies, 20 gauge galvinized steel wire and masking tape in addition to the Micro:bit board. I also used some scrap cardboard and magazines for collaged clothes, hats and hair for the characters.

For the first step, I cut a piece of wire about 6-8 in long. Then I threaded the wire through the little hole on the right side of the board next to the B button and looped it around the GND (ground) hole a couple of times.

Then I cut a little piece of white printer paper to fit in the horizontal space between the two buttons for the face as well as a larger piece for the body. These can be little rectangles if you want to follow the style of Peter Markey but they can also be all types of different shapes depending on what kind of creature or character you want to make.

For the first experiments, I drew a face with sharpies, attached it to the wire using masking tape and then arranged it so that the LED screen of the Micro:bit became the mouth of the character. You might need to bend the wire a bit so that the paper sits flush against the board.

November 12, 2020

microbit, animation, faces, automata, cabaret mechanical theater, computational tinkering, computational contraptions, expressive coding, makecode, sensors, buttons, LEDs, peter markey, kinetic sculptures, digital tinkering, digital pets

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Micro:bit Computational Characters — Wonderful Idea Co.

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This week we’ve started the second round of online tinkering workshops with our friends at Cabaret Mechanical Theater . In this workshop, titled Computational Contraptions , we’re exploring the intersection between the digital and physical world, especially connected to automata and other kinetic

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This student opted for a beating heart instead.

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Started by naming Spring animals and plants. Everyone choose one to create for their characters. Use wax bags and acrylic marker (10-15 minutes) to draw - keeping in mind that the image should fill the picture frame and is large enough for the micro:bit's LED display to show the animated expressions.

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