Overview
Our workshop introduces students to the fundamentals of electronics and sound through a fun and engaging theremin-building activity. Participants will learn to:
- Understand basic circuit components
- Use breadboards and microcontrollers
- Code sensors and generate tones
- Explore the science behind sound and frequency
The final product of the workshop (that each student will design by the end of the workshop) will be a theremin, a simple electronic instrument that produces sound without physical touch: like this.
Logistics
Duration: 2 hours
Age group: Grades 6-12
Materials provided: All components including microcontrollers, breadboards, and sensors
Number of facilitators: Up to 3 WaveMakers instructors
Expected attendance: Up to 30 students
Agenda
Duration: 2 hours
Part 1 (20 minutes): Welcome/Icebreakers, Lesson Introduction
- Introduce what a micro:bit is
- What we are going to be making with it (Theremin)
- Coding language (beginner language Scratch or Python) utilized and other introductory technical details
Part 2 (10 minutes): micro:bits, Breadboards, & Jumper Wires handed out
- Depending on attendance, students may be grouped into teams
Part 3 (30 minutes): Students design circuit on breadboard by following diagram on screen
Part 4 (30 minutes): Students write code using Scratch or Python to program the circuit to act as a theremin
Part 5 (20 minutes): Students test out the theremins they made
Part 6 (10 minutes): Closing
Guided Lesson
Students will follow the instructions from this video to build their own theremin.