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Lesson 3 of 8
  • Year 4

Using Micro:bit inputs and outputs

I can identify and use inputs and outputs on a Micro:bit.

Lesson 3 of 8
New
New
  • Year 4

Using Micro:bit inputs and outputs

I can identify and use inputs and outputs on a Micro:bit.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A Micro:bit has inputs such as buttons, a compass, sensors and a microphone.
  2. A Micro:bit has outputs such as an LED display and a speaker.
  3. Designers make choices over which inputs and outputs to use.

Keywords

  • Input - something that goes into a system

  • Output - something that comes out of a system

  • Program - a sequence of instructions that can be used to control electrical components

  • Coding blocks - language used to write instructions to a computer

  • Components - different parts of a product

Common misconception

Micro:bits are not computers.

Micro:bits are small computers that have many different functions.


To help you plan your year 4 design and technology lesson on: Using Micro:bit inputs and outputs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Having a class set of micro:bits available for pupils to handle will help with the explanations of input and outputs.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Laptops/chrome books with access to tinkercad website.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these is a computer aided design application?

Micro:bit
Component
Correct answer: Tinkercad
Coding blocks

Q2.
What does this coding block control on a micro:bit?

An image in a quiz
Push buttons A and B
Touch button
Correct answer: Light Emitting Diodes

Q3.
Coding a micro:bit takes place in which area of Tinkercad?

Correct Answer: Circuits, circuits

Q4.
Match the Tinkercad keywords to the definitions:

Correct Answer:workspace,area where objects are created and changed

area where objects are created and changed

Correct Answer:code editor,area where codes are created and changed

area where codes are created and changed

Correct Answer:coding block,language used to write instructions to a computer

language used to write instructions to a computer

Q5.
How many LED lights are on the micro:bit display?

24
Correct answer: 25
26

Q6.
Micro:bits are micro...

conductors
connections
Correct answer: controllers
contacts
Q2 Tinkercad/Autodesk screen shots reprinted courtesy of Autodesk, Inc.

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is an input?

Correct answer: Something that goes into a system
Something that is in the system
Something that comes out of a system

Q2.
Which of these is not an input component on a micro:bit?

An image in a quiz
compass
Correct answer: speaker
microphone

Q3.
What is an output?

Something that goes into a system
Something that is in the system
Correct answer: Something that comes out of a system

Q4.
Which of these is an output component in a micro:bit?

An image in a quiz
push button
Correct answer: LED display
touch button
Q2 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation - microbit.org Q4 © Micro:bit Educational Foundation - microbit.org