How To Connect Microbit To Scratch For Interactive Games
As coding platforms go, we love Scratch. One of the best things about it is that you can connect other hardware to it and build your own interactive games and robots. Liam uses microbit in his Tobbie II hexapod robot, and programs it using Microsoft’s MakeCode platform. To expand what he can do with it, we’ve learned how to connect microbit to Scratch.
You’ll need bluetooth activated on your device in order to communicate with the microbit.
Get the Microbit extension for coding options
To get Scratch blocks that are compatible with microbit, there’s an extension that’s very easy to get. Click the icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen, beneath the code menu categories. A list of extensions will appear – there are 11 extensions available currently for a range of products. Select microbit from the list to add it to your code menu.
With this extension added, you’ll be able to incorporate microbit blocks into your code before connecting the microbit.
Download Scratch Link
In order for Scratch to ‘talk’ to the microbit, you’ll need Scratch Link. You can find it here. We used the direct download option, which worked really well, but if you prefer to download via Microsoft, that option is there too. Once it’s installed, open it from your computer menu to activate it.
Connect Microbit to Scratch via Bluetooth
Once you’ve got the extension added, Scratch Link installed, and bluetooth turned on, you can connect the microbit.
You’ll be able to tell whether the microbit connection is active, because there is an icon in the top corner of the microbit extension. If it’s an orange circle with an exclamation mark, the microbit is not connected.
Start by turning on the microbit by connecting it to a battery pack or USB charger. Hold down the A & B buttons, and press the Reset button on the back to put the microbit into pairing mode. Then in Scratch, click the orange circle at the top of the microbit code menu, and look for the microbit to appear in the dialogue box. Click Connect, and it’s done.
A green tick in the corner of the microbit code menu means you’re good to go.
Some fun Scratch projects to try with Microbit
Liam has created a couple of quick games in Scratch that interact with microbit. Check out these cool projects to get started making your own:
- Jumping Cat
- The Hungry Dinosaur Game
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