Free micro:bit Projects for Kids (No Board Needed to Start)

The BBC micro:bit is a pocket-sized computer with LED lights, buttons, a motion sensor and more. Kids program it to make games, gadgets and simple robots. The best part: you can start completely free, without buying one, because the coding website has a built-in simulator.

Suitable for ages 8 and up.

Get started (free)

1. Open makecode.microbit.org in a browser and click New Project.
2. You'll see a virtual micro:bit on the left. Everything you build runs there straight away.
3. Code with blocks (like Scratch) or switch to JavaScript or Python at the top.

If you have a real micro:bit, connect it with a USB cable and click Download to send your program to it.

Project 1: Scrolling name badge

• From Basic, drag show string "Hello!" into forever.
• Change the text to your name.

Your name now scrolls across the LEDs, again and again.

Try it: add show icon ♥ after the name, then a pause (ms) 500.

Project 2: Shake-to-roll dice

• From Input, add on shake.
• Inside it, from Basic, add show number, and put pick random 1 to 6 (from Math) inside it.

Click SHAKE on the simulator, or shake your real micro:bit, to roll.

Try it: show a picture of dots instead of a number, using show leds.

Project 3: Reaction game for two players

• on start → show icon ◇, pause 2000, then show icon ♦.
• on button A pressed → show string "A".
• on button B pressed → show string "B".

Two players each take a button, and whoever presses first after the diamond fills in wins.

Try it: add a random wait (pause with pick random 1000 to 5000) so nobody can guess when to press.

Project 4: Step counter

1. In Variables, make a variable called steps.
2. on start → set steps to 0.
3. on shake → change steps by 1, then show number steps.
4. on button A pressed → set steps to 0 to reset.

Clip a real micro:bit to your shoe or put it in a pocket and go for a walk. Or click SHAKE in the simulator to test it.

What kids learn

Events (on shake, on button pressed), random numbers, variables and sensor input. That's the bridge between on-screen coding and the physical world, which is exactly what robotics builds on.

Keep going for free

• MakeCode's home page has dozens of free tutorials that guide you step by step.
• Ready for robots? See our free guide to robotics for kids at home.
• Prefer typing code? Switch MakeCode to Python and try our free Python course.

CodingChamp's live classes build these same coding skills 1:1 with a trainer. See courses or book a free trial class.