Before you continue
This is preview content for the 2026-27 academic year. Your feedback will help us improve these units.
Learning objective
- To program a product to respond to directional sensors and function as a compass.
Success criteria
- I can use conditions to program a micro:bit
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National curriculum
Design and technology
Evaluate
Pupils
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Cross-curricular links
Before the lesson
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Lesson plan
Recap and recall
Explain that the children will create a mind map to recall what they learnt about programming a pedometer. Hand out whiteboards and pens. Show the Presentation: Mind map. Read the slide aloud and allow time for the children to complete the activity.
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Adaptive teaching
Pupils needing extra support:
- Could have the instructions for using a compass modelled to support them in finding north and consequently the other directions.
- Could use the Resource: Programming a compass to support coding conditions step-by-step.
- Could use a visual aid showing compass points and their degrees to support accurate input of conditions.
- Could input only exact compass points (for example, N = 0°) to simplify the coding process.
- Could use a circular protractor with 360° to help them identify the correct degrees for each point.
Pupils working at greater depth:
- Should adapt variables and conditions independently to extend the compass to NE, SE, SW and NW.
- Should explain how inputting degrees in the ‘if’ section of the coded conditions results in the correct letters in the ‘then’ section.
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Assessing progress and understanding
Pupils with secure understanding can:
- Use variables and conditions in MakeCode to program
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Vocabulary definitions
-
code
A set of instructions that tells a computer or device what to do.
-
compass
A device that gives directions in relation to north, south, east and west.
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In this unit
Maintained by: Kapow Primary team
Last update: 20th April, 2026
Lesson 6: How did our expedition go?
Following, mapping and evaluating a simple route with compass points.
Lesson 5: Can we plan an expedition around school?
Becoming familiar with the eight points on a compass and planning a simple route referring...
Lesson 1: Tinkering with BBC micro:bit
Introducing the BBC Micro:bit and investigating what it does and how it works.
Lesson 5: Debug and evaluate
Exploring how to test, debug and improve a program to ensure it works as intended.
