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Pico Board Explorer

Run the Pico Board Explorer Fullscreen
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About This MicroSim

The Raspberry Pi Pico W is the board that runs every clock in this book. Before you start wiring, it helps to know your way around it. This MicroSim shows a top-down drawing of the board with six labeled parts:

  • the RP2040 chip, the microcontroller that runs your program,
  • the USB connector for power and for sending programs from Thonny,
  • the BOOTSEL button used to install MicroPython,
  • the on-board LED that your first blink program controls,
  • the wireless module (the metal can and zigzag antenna) that adds WiFi,
  • the two rows of 20 pins where you attach displays, buttons, and sensors.

Click a part to read a two-sentence description and a "Used in this book for..." line. When you think you know them all, press Quiz me.

How to Use

  • Hover over the board to see the name of the part under the pointer.
  • Click a part to show its description in the box under the board.
  • Press Quiz me to hide the labels. The prompt above the board names a part; click it. A wrong click outlines the correct part in red so you can learn it.
  • After six questions you see your score and the list of parts to review. Press Explore (or Stop quiz at any time) to bring the labels back.

Iframe Embed Code

You can add this MicroSim to any web page by adding this to your HTML:

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<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/clocks-and-watches/sims/pico-board-explorer/main.html"
        height="582px"
        width="100%"
        scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Learning Objectives

By the end of this activity, students will be able to:

  • Identify the RP2040 chip, USB connector, BOOTSEL button, on-board LED, wireless module, and pin rows on a Pico W.
  • Recall the purpose of each of those parts.
  • Recall which later projects in the book use each part.

Grade Level

9-12 (Clocks and Watches with AI)

Duration

10-15 minutes

Prerequisites

  • Read the Raspberry Pi Pico section of Chapter 1.

Activities

  1. Explore (4 min): Students click every part and read its description. Ask them to point to the same parts on a real Pico W if one is available.
  2. Quiz (3 min): Students take the quiz and write down any part they missed.
  3. Retake (2 min): Students review their missed parts in Explore mode, then retake the quiz until they score 6 out of 6.
  4. Connect (3 min): Ask: which part would you use to install MicroPython? Which part do you need for internet time? Which part will a display connect to?

Assessment

  • Students score 6 out of 6 on the built-in quiz.
  • Students can name the part needed for each task: installing firmware (BOOTSEL), WiFi time sync (wireless module), and wiring a display (pins).
  • Students can explain the difference between the RP2040 chip and the Pico W board.

References

  1. Raspberry Pi Pico series documentation - Official board documentation, including the Pico W.
  2. RP2040 (Wikipedia) - Background on the microcontroller chip used on the Pico.
  3. Raspberry Pi Pico W datasheet - Board layout, pinout, and the wireless module.
  4. Getting started with MicroPython on the Pico - How the BOOTSEL button is used to install firmware.