The BBC micro:bit is an educational development board designed by the BBC and used within schools worldwide. With its own block programming environment and hundreds of fun plug-and-play electronic and robotic components, the micro:bit is incredibly easy for beginners of all ages which can make it a little confusing with what to get for it. Here are our top 5 add-ons for the BBC micro:bit
1) Inventors Kit for BBC micro:bit with 10 Experiments
Kitroniks inventors kit is an amazing way for beginners to learn how to construct and control electronic circuits and get into programming and hardware interaction. You don’t need any experience in electronics or programming as it also comes with a tutorial book with 10 fun and interesting progressively harder projects with easy to follow step-by-step instructions.
If you’re interested in music or want to expand your electronics knowledge further, the Noise Pack is a brilliant little expansion pack for the inventors kit which includes 5 more step-by-step guided projects including making an equaliser, constructing an amplifier and programming a musical instrument!
A smart home is what makes life more practical and playing with it is what makes life more interesting and this Smart home Kit by ElecFreaks is a great product for learning programming and electronics by making your home smarter with home-based projects with the micro:bit. The handy tutorial book will guide you through fun projects including voice-activated lights, opening doors and windows, measuring water levels. Many more projects that you can think of can be built with this kit and driven by a micro:bit!
Each of the components has been carefully selected and are commonly used in current home automation including: TMP36 temperature sensor, OLED Screen, Crash Block, Soil Moisture Sensor.
If you want a fun introduction to the world of robotics, The Kitronik:MOVE mini buggy kit is a fantastic way to start! With the custom code blocks, programming this robot is incredibly easy and sets you up for moving onto learning how to control it yourself with the servo blocks or Python.
This 2 wheeled robot comes with 5 individually addressable RGB ZIP LEDs and is suitable for autonomous operation, remote control projects via a Bluetooth application or being controlled using a second BBC micro:bit as a controller via the micro:bits radio functionality.
Add a pen through the centre hole and get it drawing a picture or expand it even further by upgrading it withBulldozer, Bumper, Tipper Trailer and Line Following kits
4) micro:bit Smart Science Internet of Things (IoT) Kit
The Smart Science IoT Kit by ElecFreaks is based on the loT:bit, a new breakout board including an RTC Timing and WIFI module which is compatible with science sensors such as the ultrasonic sensor, dust sensor, light sensor and water level sensor. You can gather data via the sensors and send data to the cloud with more stable and accurate data analysis. This kit includes everything you'll need to gather sensor data and create your own IoT projects!
While not a micro:bit or kit for it, the Kittenbot Meowbit by Seeed does contain an edge connector that allows access to most micro:bit expansion boards! Making learning fun for kids and adults alike through the use of gamification with this card-sized handheld console designed to allow you to code your own games using Makecode arcade or Python.
Take your games to the next level and be as creative as you like with Meowbits 1.8' full-colour screen, 6 x programmable buttons, buzzer, built-in light and temperature sensors, SD card slot (For external storage), and multiplayer connector!
Close Contenders
As there are many add-ons for the micro:bit we had a lot of close contenders for this list, some other great micro:bit products include
Newly updated with the Ring:Bit 2 board This is a great product for kids and beginners who are looking to get into programming or electronics, the shell can be assembled by hand while the micro:bit's "blocky" programming environment is brilliant for starting to learn Python and JavaScript meeting the needs and levels of all learners.
Featuring 15 capacitive touch pads, with 13 arranged as a single octave and 2 up down function buttons that can allow you to shift octaves. The :KLEF also features; an onboard amplifier circuit for extra 'more' and an onboard speaker.
The MI:power board for the BBC micro:bit brings real portability to your wearable projects. The stylish, lightweight PCB is designed to fit snugly against the BBC micro:bit and features a built in buzzer and 3V coin cell holder.