Arduino for Beginners Worksheet Pack

Introduction to Arduino

An Arduino is a small, affordable computer board that you can program to control electronic components — LEDs, motors, sensors, buzzers, and more. It's the bridge between software (code) and the physical world (hardware).

Why Arduino for education?

• Affordable: An Arduino Uno clone costs R150–R300 in South Africa
• Beginner-friendly: The Arduino IDE (software) is free and simple
• Huge community: Thousands of free tutorials and project ideas online
• CAPS-aligned: Supports Technology and Natural Sciences outcomes

Worksheet 1: Know Your Arduino Uno Board

Board Anatomy

Learn the key parts of the Arduino Uno:

| Component | What It Does | |-----------|-------------| | USB Port | Connects to your computer for power and uploading code | | Power LED | Green light that shows the board has power | | Digital Pins (0–13) | Send and receive ON/OFF signals. Pin 13 has a built-in LED | | Analog Pins (A0–A5) | Read analogue sensors (like light or temperature) | | GND Pins | Ground — the "negative" side of your circuit | | 5V / 3.3V Pins | Power output for your components | | Reset Button | Restarts your program from the beginning | | ATmega328P Chip | The "brain" — where your code runs |

Activity: Label the Board

Draw or print an Arduino Uno diagram and label these 8 parts from memory. Check your answers against the table above.

Key Terms to Know

• Sketch — an Arduino program (what the Arduino IDE calls your code)
• Upload — sending your sketch from the computer to the Arduino
• Pin — a connection point on the board for wires and components
• Digital — ON or OFF (1 or 0, HIGH or LOW)
• Analog — a range of values (0 to 1023)
• Breadboard — a plastic board with holes for building circuits without soldering

Worksheet 2: Your First Circuit — Blink an LED

What You Need

• 1× Arduino Uno + USB cable
• 1× Breadboard
• 1× LED (any colour)
• 1× 220Ω resistor (red-red-brown-gold)
• 2× Jumper wires

The Circuit

1. Connect a jumper wire from Pin 13 on the Arduino to the long leg (+) of the LED (via the breadboard)
2. Connect the short leg (–) of the LED to one end of the 220Ω resistor
3. Connect the other end of the resistor to the GND rail on the breadboard
4. Connect a jumper wire from GND on the Arduino to the GND rail

The Code

// Blink — makes the LED turn on and off
void setup() {
  pinMode(13, OUTPUT);  // Set pin 13 as an output
}

void loop() {
  digitalWrite(13, HIGH);  // Turn LED ON
  delay(1000);             // Wait 1 second
  digitalWrite(13, LOW);   // Turn LED OFF
  delay(1000);             // Wait 1 second
}

Understanding the Code

| Line | What It Does | |------|-------------| | void setup() | Runs once when the Arduino starts | | pinMode(13, OUTPUT) | Tells pin 13 it will be sending signals out | | void loop() | Runs over and over forever | | digitalWrite(13, HIGH) | Sends power to pin 13 (LED turns ON) | | delay(1000) | Waits 1000 milliseconds (1 second) | | digitalWrite(13, LOW) | Stops power to pin 13 (LED turns OFF) |

Challenges

1. Speed it up: Change delay(1000) to delay(200). What happens?
2. SOS pattern: Make the LED blink S-O-S in Morse code (3 short, 3 long, 3 short)
3. Multiple LEDs: Connect 3 LEDs to pins 11, 12, and 13. Make them blink in sequence like traffic lights

Worksheet 3: Reading a Sensor — Light Level

What You Need

• 1× Arduino Uno + USB cable
• 1× Breadboard
• 1× LDR (Light Dependent Resistor)
• 1× 10kΩ resistor (brown-black-orange-gold)
• 3× Jumper wires

The Circuit

1. Connect one leg of the LDR to the 5V pin
2. Connect the other leg of the LDR to Analog Pin A0 AND to one end of the 10kΩ resistor
3. Connect the other end of the 10kΩ resistor to GND

This creates a "voltage divider" — as light increases, the resistance of the LDR decreases, and the voltage at A0 changes.

The Code

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);  // Start communication with the computer
}

void loop() {
  int lightLevel = analogRead(A0);  // Read the sensor (0–1023)
  Serial.print("Light level: ");
  Serial.println(lightLevel);
  delay(500);  // Read every half second
}

How to See the Output

1. Upload the code to your Arduino
2. Open the Serial Monitor (magnifying glass icon, top right of Arduino IDE)
3. Set the baud rate to 9600
4. Watch the numbers change as you cover/uncover the LDR

Understanding Analog Values

• 0 = no light at all (completely dark)
• 1023 = maximum light (very bright)
• Typical indoor readings: 300–700
• Covering the sensor with your hand: 50–200

Challenges

1. Night light: Add an LED. If lightLevel < 200, turn the LED ON. Otherwise, turn it OFF
2. Light meter: Map the light level to 3 LEDs (dim = 1 LED, medium = 2 LEDs, bright = 3 LEDs)
3. Data logger: Record readings every 5 seconds and observe how light changes over an hour

Worksheet 4: Motor Control Basics

What You Need

• 1× Arduino Uno + USB cable
• 1× DC motor (3–6V small hobby motor)
• 1× TIP120 transistor (or similar NPN transistor)
• 1× 1kΩ resistor
• 1× Diode (1N4001 or similar)
• External power: 4× AA batteries in holder
• Breadboard + jumper wires

Why You Need a Transistor

A motor draws more current than an Arduino pin can provide. The transistor acts like a switch — your Arduino controls the transistor, and the transistor controls the motor using power from the batteries.

The Circuit

1. Connect the 1kΩ resistor from Pin 9 to the Base of the TIP120 transistor
2. Connect the Collector of the TIP120 to one wire of the motor
3. Connect the other motor wire to the positive (+) terminal of the battery pack
4. Connect the Emitter of the TIP120 to GND (shared between Arduino and battery pack)
5. Connect the diode across the motor (cathode/stripe towards +) — this protects against voltage spikes
6. Connect the battery pack negative (–) to Arduino GND

The Code

int motorPin = 9;

void setup() {
  pinMode(motorPin, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  // Full speed for 3 seconds
  analogWrite(motorPin, 255);
  delay(3000);

  // Half speed for 3 seconds
  analogWrite(motorPin, 128);
  delay(3000);

  // Stop for 2 seconds
  analogWrite(motorPin, 0);
  delay(2000);
}

Understanding PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)

analogWrite() doesn't send a true analog voltage. It rapidly switches the pin ON and OFF — the more time spent ON, the faster the motor spins.

• analogWrite(pin, 0) = 0% — OFF
• analogWrite(pin, 128) = 50% — half speed
• analogWrite(pin, 255) = 100% — full speed

Challenges

1. Speed controller: Use a potentiometer (variable resistor) on A0 to control motor speed dynamically
2. Light-activated fan: Combine the LDR circuit — spin the motor faster when it's brighter
3. Timed sequence: Programme the motor to run a specific pattern (e.g., 3 seconds forward, pause, 3 seconds at half speed)

Worksheet 5: Safety Guidelines for Young Learners

Electrical Safety Rules

1. Never connect components while the Arduino is powered on — always unplug the USB cable first when changing your circuit
2. Never connect a wire directly from 5V to GND — this creates a short circuit that can damage the board
3. Always use resistors with LEDs — without a resistor, too much current flows and the LED burns out
4. Keep water away from all electronic components
5. Don't touch the bottom of the Arduino board while it's plugged in — the metal pins underneath can short on conductive surfaces
6. Use a breadboard — never solder in the classroom without adult supervision and proper ventilation
7. If something smells burnt, unplug immediately and tell the facilitator

Good Habits

• Tidy workspace: Keep wires organised and components in labelled containers
• Check twice, power once: Review your circuit before plugging in
• Ask for help: If you're unsure about a connection, ask before powering on
• Handle with care: Components are small and can break if forced
• Share equipment: Return components to the tray when you're done

Equipment Care Checklist

After each session, check:

• [ ] All Arduino boards returned and accounted for
• [ ] USB cables neatly coiled
• [ ] Jumper wires sorted by colour/length
• [ ] Components returned to labelled bags or trays
• [ ] Breadboards clear of leftover components
• [ ] Batteries removed from holders (to prevent drain)
• [ ] Any damaged components reported to facilitator

Where to Buy Components in South Africa

| Supplier | Website | Notes | |----------|---------|-------| | DIY Electronics | diyelectronics.co.za | Cape Town based, excellent range | | Communica | communica.co.za | Johannesburg, large selection | | Micro Robotics | microrobotics.co.za | Arduino specialists, educational kits | | RS Components | za.rs-online.com | Professional grade, bulk orders | | Banggood / AliExpress | banggood.com / aliexpress.com | Cheapest, but 2–4 week shipping from China | | Takealot | takealot.com | Search "Arduino starter kit" — some available |

Budget tip: A complete Arduino starter kit with breadboard, LEDs, resistors, sensors, and jumper wires costs R400–R800 and can serve 2–4 learners.

CAPS Alignment

| Grade | CAPS Topic | Arduino Connection | |-------|-----------|-------------------| | Grade 7 | Processing: Systems and Control | LED circuits, sensor inputs | | Grade 8 | Electrical circuits, input-process-output | Analog/digital sensors, motor outputs | | Grade 9 | Electronic systems, programming | Full projects combining multiple components |

This resource is provided free by M²P INNOVATION Hub. Print, share, and adapt for your classroom.