Plants are phototropic, where they bend and grow in the direction of the source of light present. In this activity, you are building a potted plant model using the 5×5 LED matrix of the micro:bit for light-sensing and controlling the servo motor’s movement. The leaves are built as a lever design pushed and pulled by the servo motor, measuring the amount of light present to look.

Please note this resource was tailored for US schools and may require adjustments to suit UK schools.

🇬🇧 Teacher Notes

Overview and Objectives

Materials

Preparation

Build the plant's pot

Make the top of the pot then attach

Click a connector to the bottom of the pot

Bend connectors for a beam then attach inside the pot

Lock connectors of the beam in place

Assemble the micro:bit, clip, and servo motor

Connect to computer using USB cable

Start a new project on Makecode

Add Strawbees extension

Pair the micro:bit

Zero the servo motor

Turn on the Robotics board

Attach servo and micro:bit to vase

Find the movement range

Make the plant more or less sensitive to light

Lock a straw on the servo arm

Make the linkage

Slide a linkage end through the center of pot then connect other to the servo motor

Attach connectors to the linkage in the center

Build support beams for the leaves

Slide pairs of support beams on the pot's edges

Create another set of beams then click together for the leaves

Close the tip of the leaves

Click the leaves onto the support beams

Click each leaf to the linkage

Shine a light to test your plant!

Build

STEAM Classroom Robotics - micro:bit

United States

Expressive Robotics

Light

Plants

Make a Light Sensing Plant (micro:bit)