SIH Level 7 - STEM Microbit

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STEM Innovators Book Level 7 Copyright © 2024 Author: Erin Goodwin Editors: Asma Mahamedi, Hari Mukul Sagar and Rebecca McDowell ISBN: 978-981-17494-3-8 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

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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!

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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

12

Specialized Power Unit

31

Flame Sensor

13

Gas Sensor

32

Fan

14

Water Level Sensor

33

Tilt Sensor

15

Soil Humidity Sensor

34

Photorsister Sensor

16

Stepper Drive Board

35

Adjustable Potentiometer

17

LEDs

36

Breadboard

18

Resistors

37

Alligator Clips

19

Micro:bit Battery Pack

38

12V Battery Pack

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Image

Table of Contents S. NO

STEM PROJECTS

SDG

PAGE NO.

I

THE LED PAD

07

II

SENSORS AND CONDITIONALS

08

III

LEDS

10

IV

CONTROL AN OUTPUT WITH AN INPUT

12

1

SUNLIGHT FINDER

14

2

AI FITNESS TIMER

23

3

KEY CLASSIFICATION

32

4

DECOMPOSER POPULATION ANALYSIS

41

5

METAL OR NONMETAL?

50

6

THERMAL PARTICLE MODEL

59

7

ACIDS AND BASES

67

8

AI ANIMAL RECOGNITION SYSTEM

76

9

SMOKE ALARM

85

10

HUMIDITY MONITOR

94

11

TIDES

102

12

CIRCUIT CURRENT CONTROL

110

13

AI STORYTELLING DEVICE

119

14

EARTHQUAKE ALARM

128

15

SIMPLE MACHINES

136

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 book, to create up to 25 pin connections. The hub makes it easy to connect the ports to other devices such as motors and sensors.

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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. Click “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 “Intro Projects”.

3. Create the following code, which will program the LED pad on the micro:bit to write the message: I love your smile when the user presses the button “A” on the micro:bit. Use the simulator in the top left corner to preview what will happen when “A” is pressed.

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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 message appear 8. How can you add an exclamation point? Add the code and redownload to your device. Make sure to include the pause!

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SUNLIGHT FINDER Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

OBJECTIVES At the end of this activity the learner will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the following:

Next Generation Science Standards From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes MS-LS1-2 Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways parts of cells contribute to the function.

Cambridge Science Biology: Structure and Function 7Bs.02 Identify and describe the functions of cell structures (limited to cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, cell wall, chloroplast, mitochondria and sap vacuole).

ISTE Standards 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 Engineering Connection Create a device to identify the optimal location for full-sun plants using the light sensor.

Common Core For Mathematics Ratios & Proportional Relationships 7.RP.A.1 Compute unit rates associated with ratios of fractions, including ratios of lengths, areas and other quantities measured in like or different units.

For example, if a person walks 1/2 mile in each 1/4 hour, compute the unit rate as the complex fraction 1/2/1/4 miles per hour, equivalently 2 miles per hour.

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

Cambridge Math Number 7Nf.11 Understand how ratios are used to compare quantities to divide an amount into a given ratio with two parts.

Farmer

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Project 1: INTRODUCTION Plant and animal cells use different cell parts to create energy. While animal cells use mitochondria to break down amino acids into energy, plant cells use chloroplasts, which use sunlight, to generate energy for the cell through the process of photosynthesis. But just how much energy will a plant generate? This depends on the amount of light shines on the plant cell. For gardeners with 'full sun' plants—those that require at least 8 hours of sunlight a day—maximizing incident light is essential. Then they need at least eight hours of direct direct, intense light a day. The built-in light sensor on the micro:bit can help users find the best placement for plants to maximize the energy produced through photosynthesis.

Light for Photosynthesis and Energy

Cells, Photosynthesis, and Ratios

Supporting Affordable and Clean Energy Weak Sunlight

Optimized Sunlight

More sunlight captured → More energy produced

Plants typically need 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal photosynthesis.

(Source: Royal Horticultural Society, 2022)

Chloroplasts inside plant cells capture sunlight to produce the energy plants need to live. By measuring light intensity and understanding unit rates, you can help plants grow better!

DEFINE THE PROBLEM A gardener needs a device to identify the optimal location for their full-sun plants. Can your team help?

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Using sunlight wisely helps plants grow healthier and saves energy. You can support a more sustainable world by maximizing natural resources like sunlight!

MEASURE YOUR SUCCESS

Your project should: 1. Measure the light intensity 2. Alert the user with pitch, volume, and frequency when the light intensity is high

Your project 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

REQUIREMENTS Have you made a micro:bit account if you wish to save your code?

Have you ensured that your device has a USB port, or that you have the necessary adapter?

If you answered “yes” to all of the questions, then you are ready to begin this project!

If you answered “no” to any of the questions, you might want to review that section before beginning this project!

VOCABULARY

Chloroplast

A part of a plant cell that captures sunlight to make food through photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis

The process where plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to make food and oxygen.

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Light sensor

A device that detects and measures the amount of light.

Mitochondria

Parts of cells that generate energy by breaking down food.

Amino acid

A small molecule that combines to form proteins, which are essential for the structure and function of living things.

MATERIALS

USB cable

Micro:bit GETTING STARTED WIRE

Step 1. Take the micro:bit out of the package and connect it to your device with the USB cord.

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CODE

Step 1. Open makecode.microbit.org. First, we will learn how the built-in light sensor works.

Step 2. When the micro:bit is plugged in, create the following code. Hint: the colors of the commands can be matched to the corresponding color tabs on the left-hand side. Additionally, commands can be searched in the “Search” bar at the top of the tabs for quicker access.

Step 3. Pair your micro:bit with your computer by clicking the “...” to the right of “Download” and selecting “Connect Device”.

Step 4. After downloading the code, click “Show Data - Device” to print & graph the light sensor readings.

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Step 5. Create a program to alert the user when the light level exceeds a certain threshold using the built-in buzzer. Note that the code needs to be downloaded to display on the device. You can start with the following code, but update the threshold to find the maximum amount of light for your environment. Note that the simulator shows an incident light level of 128, so a chosen threshold of 130 allows the user to keep moving the sensor to try to find a brighter location.

CHALLENGE Create a code that will help the user find the best location for their plants to optimize the light reaching their chloroplasts. Consider pitch, volume, and frequency in your solution.

After downloading the code, power your micro:bit with the battery pack so you can unplug the USB cable and carry it around the room with you. Where is the best place for the chloroplasts to receive the most light?

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

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

SHARE AND IMPROVE Take turns presenting solutions with a partner. As you listen to your partner, consider which parts of their project effectively meet the goals. Offer constructive feedback on areas where they could improve. Record the feedback you receive.

Partner Feedback Design Strengths

Suggested Improvements

MATH AND SCIENCE CONNECTION 1. If the light sensor recorded that light was increasing at a constant rate of 3/4 lumens per hour and is currently sensing 2 lumens of brightness, how bright will it sense in 4 hours?

2. If there are 15 plants in a garden and ½ cup of water a day, how much water will be needed to water the plants for two weeks?

20

REFLECT

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

1. How could an optimal photosynthesis finder help target SDG 7: affordable and clean energy? Consider farmers and solar panel engineers in your explanation.

2. How might people in the career fields listed for this project also help contribute to the SDG Goal of Affordable and Clean Energy?

I can break problem.

down

a

I can develop a working prototype.

I can code my prototype to do what I want.

I can work with my team to accomplish our goals.

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

SAMPLE SOLUTION Note how mathematical equations, the purple bubbles that show multiplication, division, and addition, using the light level sensor reading were used to scale the desired output accordingly.

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