Festive decoration

Step 1: Make it

What is it?

Turn your micro:bit into a festive decoration that shows a flashing star on the LED display as soon as it gets dark.

These two videos show you what you'll make and how to code it:

How it works

• The program uses the micro:bit’s light sensor to measure the light levels.
• It then uses an “if then else” logic block.
• If the light levels are less than 100, the micro:bit is instructed to show two icons – a large star then a small star with pauses in between – in a forever loop on the LED display. This creates the animation.
• A forever loop in a computer program is an instruction that repeats forever.
• If the light levels are more than 100, the micro:bit is told to clear the screen.

What you need

• micro:bit (or MakeCode simulator)
• MakeCode editor
• battery pack (optional but recommended)
• our set-up guide may be useful

Step 2: Code it

1# Imports go at the top
2from microbit import *
3
4while True:
5    if display.read_light_level() < 100:
6        display.show(Image('90909:'
7                           '09990:'
8                           '99999:'
9                           '09990:'
10                           '90909'))
11        sleep(500)
12        display.show(Image('00000:'
13                       '09090:'
14                       '00900:'
15                       '09090:'
16                       '00000'))
17        sleep(500)
18    else: display.clear()
19    sleep(500)
20   

Step 3: Improve it

• Adjust the threshold at which the animation plays to better suit your room.
• Instruct your micro:bit to play a festive sound on pressing button A.
• Make other festive projects such as a jukebox which plays festive tunes, or an alarm which comes on when Father Christmas arrives on Christmas Eve!