SIH Level 6 - STEM Microbit

This book belongs to:

STEM Innovators Book Level 6 Copyright © 2024 Author: Erin Goodwin Editors: Asma Mahamedi, Hari Mukul Sagar and Rebecca McDowell ISBN: 978-981-17494-4-5 Published by: SKOOL21 PTE. LTD. - Singapore DUO Tower, Level 8 #831 3 Fraser Street, 189352, Singapore All rights reserved, first edition 2024.

No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

For permissions or inquiries, please contact: Email: info@skool21.org Website: https://skool21.org

02

Preface Welcome to the Future of Learning!

Get ready to explore, build, and imagine like never before! The SKOOL21 STEM Innovators series takes you on an exciting adventure through science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Whether you’re just starting out or already a curious creator, these books are designed to help you think big, solve problems, and invent new ideas that could change the world.

Building on a Strong Foundation: From learning how simple machines work to designing with 3D models, each book builds on the one before it. You’ll travel through time—learning about cool inventions from the Industrial Revolution and creating your own along the way. No matter your grade, there’s something new and exciting to discover.

Learning by Doing: This isn’t just about reading or watching—this is about doing. Each book comes with a STEM kit full of tools and materials so you and your group can jump into hands-on challenges. You’ll build, test, explore, and learn by making things with your own two hands!

Real-World Impact:

Your ideas matter. Every project in this series connects to real problems people around the world are working to solve—like clean water, sustainable energy, and protecting nature. These challenges are based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and your creations could help make the world a better place.

You’re Learning Like a Pro: The SKOOL21 STEM series is trusted by experts and based on international standards.

That means you’re learning the same problem-solving, teamwork, and design skills that real scientists and engineers use every day. You’re not just doing schoolwork— you’re getting ready to shape the future.

Embrace the spirit of innovation, ignite curiosity and empower the next generation of problem solvers with the SKOOL21 STEM Innovators series!

Happy Innovating!

03

Introduction to the Kit S#

Component

Image

S#

Component

1

Micro:bit board

20

Stepper Motor

2

Micro:bit T Type Shield

21

Motor Driver Chip

3

4-Digital Tube Module

22

74HC59 Chip

4

1602 LCD Display

23

Tempurature Sensor

5

Joystick

24

Triode

6

1-Channel Relay

25

1-Digit Tube Module

7

Sound Sensor

26

Dot Matrix

8

Steam Sensor

27

DC Motor

9

Ultrasonic Sensor

28

Passive Buzzer

10

Motion Sensor

29

Active Buzzer

11

Humidity Sensor

30

RGB LEDs

12

Specialized Power

31

Flame Sensor

13

Gas Sensor

32

Fan

14

Water Level Sensor

33

Tilt Sensor

15

Soil Humidity Sensor

34

Photoresistor Sensor

16

Stepper Drive Board

35

Adjustable Potentiometer

17

LEDs

36

Breadboard

18

Resistors

37

Alligator Clips

19

Battery Pack

04

Image

Table of Contents S. NO

STEM PROJECTS

SDG

PAGE NO.

I

THE LED PAD

07

II

SENSORS

09

III

LEDS

09

IV

CONTROL AN OUTPUT WITH AN INPUT

11

1

FREEFALL SIMULATOR

15

2

WATER LEVEL DETECTOR

24

3

ULTRASONIC SCANNER

33

4

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM MODEL

43

5

PREDATOR-PREY GRAPH SIMULATOR

52

6

BEE BLOWER

61

7

POSTURE ALARM

68

8

FRICTION CAR

77

9

TOXIC OR NOT? RADIO

85

10

POLLUTION MONITOR

94

11

WEIGHT PREDICTOR

104

12

MICROORGANISM MONITOR

112

13

THERMAL SERVO

120

14

GLOBAL IMPACT

129

15

ECLIPSE LIGHT TRACKER

137

C

CAPSTONE PROJECT

145 05

Intro to micro:bit The micro:bit is a programmable chip that can read in information from sensors and send power out to motors and lights with its pin connections.

The pins can either be connected directly with alligator clips or can be inserted into a hub, such as the T-shield that comes with this kit, to create up to 25 pin connections. The hub makes it easy to connect the ports to other devices such as motors and sensors.

06

Lesson 1: The LED Pad

1. Navigate to makecode.microbit.org on Google Chrome, if possible, since it works best for connecting the device. MakeCode is the website for programming micro:bit. If you would like to save your code, “sign in” in the top right corner and continue with the email login of your choice.

2. Once you are signed in, click the “New Project” box and name it “LED test”.

3. Create the following code, which will program the LED pad on the micro:bit to write “H”, pause, then write “I”, pause in the “forever” loop.

07

4. Ensure your micro:bit is connected to your device with a USB cord, either directly to the USB-C port or to an adapter, if your device does not have a USB-C port.

5. Click “Download” in the lower left hand corner and then select “Connect Device”.

6. When the dialog box pops up, select your BBC micro:bit.

Note: If the device does NOT appear, disconnect and reconnect the USB cord. If it still doesn’t appear, look for the “Micro:bit” drive on your desktop. If you cannot connect the device with the dialog box, you can select “Download as File” and then drag the downloaded .h file into the micro:bit drive. You can do this each time you upload code. However, it is much more efficient to connect the device.

7. If you successfully connected your device, now select “Download” and it will send the code to your micro:bit. After waiting a few moments, you will see the letters appear in ½ second increments on the device.

8. Now try changing the value in the “pause” function to be longer. Click “Download” again and watch the timing of the program update. It is important to note that whenever you change the code in the program, it will not update the code running on the micro:bit until you successfully download it to the device.

08

FREEFALL SIMULATOR Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

OBJECTIVES At the end of this activity, students will understand the following: Next Generation Science Standards Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions MS-PS2-2 Plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object’s motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.

Cambridge Science Physics: Forces and Energy 6Pf.03 Use force diagrams to show the name, size and direction of forces acting on an object.

6Pf.04 Describe the effect of different forces on an object at rest and in motion.

6Pf.05 Recognise that the mass and shape of an object can affect if it floats or sinks.

ISTE Standards Knowledge Constructor 1.3.d. Build knowledge by actively exploring realworld issues and problems, developing ideas and theories and pursuing answers and solutions.

Innovative Designer 1.4.a. Know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.

Engineering Connection Use the micro:bit, fan attachment, DC motor, and classroom materials to create an upwards “wind tunnel”.

STEM Careers Connection This project includes tasks that reflect the work of professionals in the following careers:

Common Core Mathematics Ratios and Proportional Relationships 6.RP.A.3.D Use ratio reasoning to convert measurement units; manipulate and transform units appropriately when multiplying or dividing quantities.

Aerospace engineer

Air force member

Cambridge Mathematics Number 6Nf.13 Use knowledge of equivalence understand and use equivalent ratios..

Product designer

to

15

Project 1: INTRODUCTION All objects are subject to forces, even when they are stationary. For instance, a box on a table is acted upon by gravity, but it remains still because the table provides an upward force that counteracts gravity. Without support, an object will typically fall at the acceleration of gravity. However, inventions like parachutes allow people and objects to slow their descent by utilizing air resistance. When an object is suspended in the air or falling at a constant velocity, the forces acting on it are balanced. Freefall simulators enable inventors and military personnel to test and practice their parachutes. Additionally, when a micro:bit powers a DC motor connected to a fan, different objects can be tested to determine which weights can be perfectly balanced in the air by the combined force of the fan and its air resistance, known as the drag force.

The Problem of Waste in Parachute Design

Understanding Forces and Motion

Designing for Sustainability

Mass (g/kg) More surface area = more drag

Fan Force

Air Resistance (Drag)

Gravity

Over 300 million tons of plastic waste are produced globally each year, much of it from single-use items. Responsible design helps reduce this burden.

(Source: UNEP, 2023)

Constant speed = Balanced forces

When the upward forces equal the force of gravity, the object floats at a steady speed.

DEFINE THE PROBLEM An engineer is conducting tests to better understand aerodynamics and freefall. They want to plan and execute an investigation to determine which object can float perfectly above the fan. Can you help?

16

Choosing better materials and testing wisely helps reduce waste in our world. Smart designs use fewer resources and last longer — that’s sustainability!

MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS Your freefall simulator should: 1. Use the fan attachment, DC motor, and classroom materials to create the upwards “wind tunnel” 2. Create a parachute with classroom materials that will travel down at a constant speed over the “wind tunnel”

Your freefall simulator must: 1. Use only the materials provided 2. Include design ideas from every team member

TEAM ROLES Work with your team to determine who will complete each role for this project.

Project Manager Resource Manager Project Communicator Project Tester

VOCABULARY

Aerodynamic

How air flows around objects to reduce drag and improve efficiency

Force

A push or pull that acts on an object due to the interaction with another object.

Balanced Mass Gravity

Equal The quantity of matter within an object The force of attraction that pulls objects toward the center of the Earth due to its mass.

17

MATERIALS

Micro:bit

DC motor

Fan

Meter stick

Small objects

String

Plastic bags

Alligator clips

GETTING STARTED WIRE Step 1. Attach the fan to the prong of the DC motor.

Step 2. Connect the black wire to the GND pin on the micro:bit using the alligator clip.

Step 3. Connect the red wire to the 3V pin on the micro:bit using the alligator clip.

Step 4. Hold the motor in the air.

Be careful not to get your fingers caught in the fan! Also ensure the black and red wires do not touch each other at the exposed metal ends.

18

Step 5. Create a force diagram. First, draw an image of a small box with a small parachute above it suspended in the air with an arrow going down to represent the force of gravity and an arrow going up to represent the force of the fan. Since the mass is the same in both cases, air resistance will be an important aspect of your parachute, which will depend on how much surface area is being blown up by the fan. Add an arrow up to represent the drag force.

FORCE DIAGRAM

CHALLENGE Use cardboard and other classroom materials to create a small stand that will hold the fan facing upwards while it spins. Choose a small object and test different plastic parachute designs by holding it high above the fan and letting it drop. Measure its speed by recording how far down the meter stick it falls every 3 seconds. Which design allows your object to descend to the ground at a constant speed, indicating that the forces are balanced?

DESIGN AND PLAN Create a sketch for your solution to the challenge.

19

TEST Go back to Measure Your Success and check the boxes. Does your project meet all the criteria and constraints?

SHARE YOUR SOLUTION

Design Strengths

Suggested Improvements

MATH AND SCIENCE CONNECTION 1. Why do you think there was no coding for this project?

2

2. If gravity is 9.81 m/s , and there are 3.28 feet in a meter: a. What is the ratio of feet to meters?

2

20

2

b. Use the ratio from part a to find gravity measured in ft/s .

3. If the mass is measured in grams and there are 1000 grams in a kg, how many kg is the object you found that could float?

4. If the width of a post-it is measured as approximately 2 inches with an imperial ruler and 5 cm with a metric ruler, what is the ratio of inches to cm?

21

REFLECTION Sustainable management and use of natural resources

1. How can using aerodynamic designs help promote responsible consumption and production?

2. How might aerospace engineers, Air Force members, and product designers use freefall simulations to improve aviation, safety, and technology?

3. Self-reflect on your work on this project.

I can analyze a problem and break it into smaller parts.

I can develop a working prototype.

I can program my model to solve the challenge.

22

Try to model and print the solution yourself. If you are having trouble, look at the images below for guidance.

SAMPLE SOLUTION The images below show a stand for the freefall simulator and a plastic bag parachute.

23