Why are some spots on campus hotter than others—and how can we cool them down? Students begin this Micro:bits unit by exploring how the device works as a system: sensors and buttons (inputs) send information to the processor, and code controls what shows up on the LED display (output). By sketching and discussing Micro:bit features, students learn that coding is what turns sensor readings into data they can see and use.

 

In this unit, students program Micro:bits to measure and display temperature, then collect real readings from different campus locations (blacktop, grass, shade, walls). They extend their code to log data over time, compare how different materials heat up in sunlight, and use the radio feature to share readings between devices. Students also connect an external soil moisture sensor to gather another kind of environmental data and compare it with temperature.

 

Using their evidence, students end by designing and presenting a data-backed solution for a campus “hot zone”—like adding shade, changing surfaces, or increasing vegetation—to help create a cooler community.