Short description
Key concepts: sensors, plants, microcontrollers
Duration: 3 hours
Students create a garden that is able to provide both light and water to plants growing inside.
In this activity, participants design an attachment for a flower pot, complete with water sensors, irrigation pump, and red LEDs to help the plant grow. For the control of this “Programmable Garden,” participants will program a microcontroller (a simple computer) called an “Arduino” - the “brains” of the garden.
There is also a simplified version that does not use any programming. It is appropriate for younger students.