Additional Labs
The Hands on Labs use only the parts that come in the base kit: a Pico, a breadboard, a 30-pixel LED strip, and two push buttons. The labs on this page go a step further. Each one needs one extra part that is not in the base kit.
Pixel says...
Finished the base labs and hungry for more? Add one small part and your Pico can sense the
world around it. Let's light this up!
The Additional Labs
| Lab | What you add | What you learn | Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brightness Control | A potentiometer (a knob that changes resistance) | Read a knob with the Pico and use it as a dimmer for the whole strip | 01-brightness-led-strip.py |
| Photoresistor | A photoresistor (a part that changes resistance with light) and a fixed resistor | Read the light in a room and build a nightlight | 02-photoresistor-test.py, 03-photoresistor-bar.py, 04-photoresistor-nightlight.py |
Where the code lives
The programs for these labs are in their own kit folder,
src/kits/moving-rainbow-extras/,
separate from the base kit. The folder has its own config.py. It holds every base-kit setting plus the pins
for the extra parts, so save it on your Pico in place of the base kit's config.py.
The folder also has an upload-code.sh script that works the same way as the
base kit's script.
Why are these separate?
The base kit is built to cost about $15 and still teach the big ideas. Each part you add costs a little more and needs a little more wiring. Keeping these labs separate means every student can finish the Hands on Labs with only the base kit.
Both extra parts are common, low-cost electronics components. The Purchasing Guide shows where the base kit parts come from, and it is a good place to start shopping.
Ready first?
If you have not done the base labs yet, start with Lab 01: Blink the Onboard LED and work up. These additional labs will be waiting for you.