microbit for all (1)

Spark an Interest in STEM

We're working to get a micro:bit in the hands of every 5th grader in the DMV

Boolean Girl teamed up with the Virginia Tech Thinkabit Labs K-20 STEM Education and Workforce Development Programs to get a micro:bit kit in the hands of every 5th grader in the DMV (District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland). The goal of the program is to spark an interest in technology, computer science, and engineering. Starting in school, then at home, young learners get hands-on experience and make a connection between abstract ideas of coding and real world outcomes in hardware first in the classroom then at home. Students work with hardware and software together to design, build, and prototype physical gadgets. They work to iteratively to improve their gadget, along the way making and learning as they create. 

Micro:bit base kits are distributed to schools. Schools that can afford them might purchase them, at cost. Other schools will receive them as part of a grant or donation from corporations, individuals, and foundations that support STEM education for younger learners.  

Once kits are received by the schools, teachers can use them in a wide variety of subject-area activities and experiences across all grades. After using them in school, 5th grade students take them home and keep coding and building. Next year, new kits are provided to the school. 

The Kits

The micro:bit Base Kit, collaboratively designed and developed with the Virginia Tech Thinkabit Labs K-20 STEM Education and Workforce Development Programs, includes a micro:bit microcontroller and components to connect devices like lights and motors via an edge connector with access pins. 

We also offer a sensor kit and motion kit. The sensor kit extends the projects students can complete by adding additional sensors for measuring distance and light as well as devices like a joystick, LED light strips and an OLED monitor. The motion kit add motors and building blocks so students can create things like robots that move and roll.

The Projects

Coding and building for a single day in school can inspire kids to want to do more. Through micro:bit for All, inspired young learners can continue to explore STEM by taking the kits home. With the kits in hand, they can attend online and in person camps with Boolean Girl or the Virginia Tech Thinkabit Lab. There are also hundreds of great projects online. Check out our online projects or visit the micro:bit website for more ideas. 

 

 

Educator Support

Classroom teachers and other educators will receive training and support as part of the donation so they can introduce the kids to the micro:bit base kits. Additional support is available as a free service or at numerous local and online events supported by Boolean Girl and Virginia Tech’s Thinkabit Labs.  

We provide free curricula so students can learn at their own pace. Students are also encouraged to attend numerous local and online events supported by Boolean Girl and Virginia Tech’s Thinkabit Lab.  

 

Success Stories

Kathleen Fugle, STEAM Resource Teacher at Sleepy Hollow Elementary School in Fairfax, Virginia, received the Computer Science Educator of the Year award in 2024 from the Virginia Department of Education. Kathleen proactively brought computer science education to the Sleepy Hollow community, promoting it to students and inspiring them to learn. We worked with Kathleen and the Sleepy Hollow administration to help foster computer science and engineering through micro:bit for All. We delivered 73 micro:bits to the school for use by fifth graders for the year in three classrooms. At the end of the year, 67 students chose to keep their micro:bits to continue expanding their education on their own at home with guidance and free resources from Boolean Girl and other educational programs. 

Kathleen is an outstanding example of what teachers can do to bring computer science and other STEM educational opportunities to their classrooms outside of standard curriculum.

Want to be like Kathleen and bring micro:bit for All to your school? Fill out the interest form here.

 

Donors & Supporters

Rather than foot the entire bill for thousands of micro:bit kits, Virginia Tech’s Thinkabit Labs and Boolean Girl will partner with supporting companies and organizations. 

Donors, backers, supporters will be encouraged to donate to a general fund that will be used to supply kits to schools that request them. Corporate donors will be encouraged to donate to the general fund or to support distribution to a single school or across a district or region. A single school can be supported for as little as $5000. 


Each donated kit will be tagged with the donors logo so schools and parents will know who made this program possible.

To accelerate the rollout, kits will also be available for sale individually or in group batches at cost. Students, schools, clubs and nonprofits will have the ability to purchase their own kits, and custom logo support will be available to the purchasing organization.

Interested in donating to support micro:bit for All? Let us know.

Apply for micro:bit for All

Want to work with Boolean Girl to bring micro:bit for All to your classroom? Fill out our interest form below and we will get back to you.