Rock, Paper, Scissors, Code!

Take paper-scissors-rock, sprinkle in code, a dash of probability, and suddenly students are running a full-blown logic circus disguised as a game.

Students begin by playing paper–scissors–rock to explore chance, then work together to design an algorithm for the game using a flowchart and pseudocode. They translate this plan into a Micro:bit program that uses inputs, variables, logic, and random number generation to produce a paper–scissors–rock result when shaken. After debugging and refining their code, they run repeated trials to test how random the Micro:bit’s outputs are, comparing predicted probabilities with observed results and discussing how sample size affects outcomes. Collaboration is woven throughout the lesson as students support one another in problem-solving and achieving shared goals.