Lesson 1 · Tutorial Videos

Suggested Time: 4-6 hours

Lesson Plan

Learn about coding, circuits, and mechanical design as you make a box that “magically” opens when you walk up to it!

Classroom sets available. Contact us at info@barnabasrobotics.com to inquire.

We have different tutorial series based on the version of your Magic Box kit. Find the video that matches your kit, and start your magic box journey!

KIT-8-3 (3rd-8th Grade Version)

Block-based Coding using Button + IR Sensor Module.

Note: To watch, press the play button. To go to the next episode, just click on the right icon in the video screen.

Done with all the videos? Here are some additional challenges!

Code your box to open half way with the button, but fully open with IR sensor.
Code your box to open ONLY if both button and IR sensor are pushed at the same time.
Code your box to open ONLY if you push the button for more than 1 second.
Code your box to open only if you first press the button, then trigger the IR sensor in sequence.
Make an arcade game!
- Place the IR sensor inside the box so it can detect whether an object is present. Put a small object inside the box, such as a rock.
- Program the button so that pressing it opens the box.
- The goal of the game is to remove the object from the box before it closes. Use the IR sensor to detect when the object has been taken out. If the sensor detects that the object is no longer inside the box, program the LEDs to flash to indicate that the player has won.
- Increase the difficulty after each successful round by reducing the amount of time the box stays open.
- Continue increasing the difficulty with each level until the box opens so briefly that the game becomes nearly impossible to win.

KIT-8-2 (9th-12th Grade Version)

Text-Based Coding (C/C++) using Ultrasonic Sensor. Includes a deeper dive into circuits and breadboarding.

Note: To watch, press the play button. To go to the next episode, just click on the right icon in the video screen.

Done with all the videos? Here are some additional challenges!

Code your box to open half way with the button, but fully open with IR sensor.
Code your box to open ONLY if both button and IR sensor are pushed at the same time.
Code your box to open ONLY if you push the button for more than 1 second.
Code your box to open only if you first press the button, then trigger the IR sensor in sequence.
Make an arcade game!
- Place the IR sensor inside the box so it can detect whether an object is present. Put a small object inside the box, such as a rock.
- Program the button so that pressing it opens the box.
- The goal of the game is to remove the object from the box before it closes. Use the IR sensor to detect when the object has been taken out. If the sensor detects that the object is no longer inside the box, program the LEDs to flash to indicate that the player has won.
- Increase the difficulty after each successful round by reducing the amount of time the box stays open.
- Continue increasing the difficulty with each level until the box opens so briefly that the game becomes nearly impossible to win.

KIT-8-1 (Old Version)

Block-based coding using the Barnabas Noggin.

Note: To watch, press the play button. To go to the next episode, just click on the right icon in the video screen.