Introduction: Magic Wand With Makey Makey and Micro:Bit

About: Teaching English, STEAM and Robotics.

Hello!


This instructable will be about how to design an interactive magic wand that can make real MAGIC!
We'll be using the Makey Makey and the Micro:Bit to connect the real world with the digital one and cast some Harry Potter spells with our magic wand and make them happen... are you ready?!

It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities said Dumbledore... if you are willing to try it but you're not sure if you will be able to do it, remember that! You can do it, and it will be MAGICAL!✨✨✨

Supplies

Step 1: Turn the Chopstick Into a Magic Wand

First of all, we need to convert a normal chopstick into a magic wand, for that we will decorate the handle using a hot glue gun, after that we would paint it with acrylic paint and let it dry.

Step 2: Add the LED Light and the Copper Tape

Once the paint is dry, we would add a LED light at the tip of the magic wand.

As the LED lights have polarity, it is really important to remember to mark the positive and negative side, being the shortest leg the negative one and the longest leg the positive one.

We will use conductive adhesive tape to hold it to the magic wand. Leave some conductive tape at the end so that we can connect the crocodile clips of the Makey Makey to it.

Step 3: Connect Your Magic Wand to the Computer With the Makey Makey And... LUMOS!

Using the pins at the back of the Makey Makey, we will use the one named "Key Out" and one of the "Ground" so that we can use the full potential of the Makey Makey to light up a led light. We will use the jumper wires on our Makey Makey to connect them and connect two alligator cables to them and to the magic wand.

Make sure that the key out is connected to the positive side of the led light and the ground to the negative side.

We have connected two different alligator cables to the space key and to an earth space so that we will use them to light the led light.

And now, if you close the circuit touching any key and a ground, you'll see REAL MAGIC! Lumos!! =)

Step 4: Code Wingardium Leviosa! With the Micro:Bit Using Scratch

Connect the Micro:Bit to the device, see the following tutorial in case you need help: https://scratch.mit.edu/microbit.

Now you can add the code you would like. As we have thought of using the Micro:Bit to help Harry flying with his Firebolt, we'll be using the Wingardium Leviosa spell. Here's the example of the coding we have used, when we tilt the magic wand to the left, harry fill fly to that side and the Micro:Bit will display the name of the side he is flying.

You can use some washi tape to attach the Micro:Bit to the magic wand.

Step 5: IMAGINE!

And now it's your turn to imagine all of the different magic spells you could code your magic wand to do, here is a list of all of the Harry Potter magic spells to inspire you...


Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light