VSTEAM Education Blog Advertise The Team
cart-plain-icon 0
profile-plain-icon
Contact Us

Code with Power: Micro:bit & Wind Turbines School Workshops

Provided by VSTEAM Education

Sustainable energy workshop: build a generator, code and measure electricity

Code with Power is a hands-on STEAM workshop from where students assemble a generator circuit and learn to code a micro:bit using blocks, JavaScript or Python. They will measure the voltage they produce live on a computer. A bonus challenge has them design wind blades to boost output, linking coding, engineering and sustainability. Get in touch to book a session for your class or year group.

Book This Workshop

Format

Primary: 3 sessions x 1 hr 30 mins
(30 participants per session)
Secondary/Higher: 3 sessions x 1 hr 30 mins
(20 participants per session)

Age Groups

• Y3 - Y13 • Higher Education • Adult Learners • Special Educational Needs (SEN)

View All Regions

Curriculum Links

  • Learn how a copper coil and magnets turn movement into electricity within a generator/motor.
  • Learn about basic electric components such as resistors and bridge rectifiers.
  • Link hands-on engineering to renewable energy and a resource-based economy.
  • Learn coding whilst having fun!
Microbit circuit with windmill generator

Code and Measure Your Own Electricity

  • Learn how to code a simple but effective programme to measure live electricity output on a monitor.
  • Compare idle readings with spinning readings.
  • Plot results on the micro:bit's LED display and on screen.

 

Watch it in action!

Wind Blade Challenge (Bonus Activity)

Design and experiment with blade shape to observe voltage generation.

Wind blade designs

Day Itinerary*

Primary, Secondary and Higher

* The activities may vary on the day depending on the length of the sessions and the age and ability of the participants.

Cost

Please contact us below to obtan a quote. Please kindly note that we charge for all events and are unable to offer free sessions.

Checklist

Requirements
add-plain-icon
  • We expect all usual staff, including Teaching Assistants (TAs) and any 1:1 support staff, to be present and actively help throughout the sessions.
  • The school must provide computers/laptops/ipads with access to the internet. Ideally, one device between two students. 
  • Please email us the make and model of your devices so that we can bring the right cables.
  • Please ensure all students have their login details ready on the day, as this will help us start promptly and save valuable time.
  • Compatible and unrestricted access to the website: https://makecode.microbit.org/
  • A computer/laptop with projector/interactive whiteboard or smart screen with sound enabled.
  • Guest WiFi username and password.
 
If Using Microsoft (Windows) or Chromebook Devices:
 
Must have an updated browser (Chrome, Edge, or Firefox) and USB port or bluetooth.
 
If Using Apple Devices (iPads/Macs):
 
Must install the app prior to arrival on all devices https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/micro-bit/id1092687276
Must have an updated browser (Safari) and bluetooth.
Event Days
add-plain-icon
British Science Week, Computer Science Education Week, Engineers Week
Available Regions
add-plain-icon

This service is available internationally

Anywhere in England

Anywhere in Northern Ireland

Anywhere in Scotland

Anywhere in Wales

Contact VSTEAM Education to book this workshop
Please note that we typically only deliver our workshops/events for groups of children, as our event day prices are per instructor per day, starting from £375 for a half-day. As such, they are not suitable for individual children. However, you can ask your child's school to contact us to arrange a workshop day (anywhere in the UK) or an after-school STEM club (if based in Essex, Cardiff or Manchester), typically priced at £10 per session per child. Read our guide for more information on our after-school clubs.
google-dir-img-icon
(If not found please enter manually below.)
Did you know we have many other Coding Workshops?

Explore our Coding with Botley, Python (with Gaming) or Raspberry Pi workshops or search all workshops here.

More Workshops
Book This Workshop