Lagging – Using the micro:bit to play a game of Hot Potato

micro:bit - the next gen

In this video Leah, Sol, Cedric and Lok have fun with the BBC micro:bit mini computer, playing a quiz game called Hot Potato, using the randomised timer function.

Watch the video below with your class and then try out the activity yourselves. You’ll also find teacher notes on this page along with a link to a video on the Micro:bit Educational Foundation website that explains the activity.

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In this video Leah, Sol, Mo and Arul have fun with the BBC micro:bit mini computer. Leah starts off by introducing the micro:bit and explaining how the Lagging team will use it to play a quiz game called Hot Potato. Leah explains that the micro:bit is programmed as a timer with a randomised time limit. When a certain button is pressed the timer starts. She also shows us some of the code blocks used to create the program. Leah explains the rules of the game - each person has to give their answer to a quiz question and pass the micro:bit to the next person. When the time has run out the micro:bit will buzz, and whoever is left holding the micro:bit (hot potato) loses. Then the games begin and we follow the characters from Lagging as they play three rounds of Hot Potato and have lots of fun trying not to be the one left holding the micro:bit when the random timer goes off! Finally Leah suggests that we have a go at making our own version of the game.

Teacher notes

Before watching

Introduce the BBC micro:bit device and the MakeCode programming platform.

Discuss some of the different categories of computer games that they know about – puzzle games, maze games, simulations etc. Talk about quiz games, and the different ways they are scored. How do we know when we have won or lost?

Discuss what they think ‘random’ means.

After watching

Discuss what other games they know where something happens after a random amount of time – e.g. Musical Chairs, Pass the Parcel etc

Clarify what the rules of the Hot Potato game are:

The micro:bit is programmed to start a timer when a button is pressed
The length of the timer countdown will be a random number between 5 and 20 seconds
The team decide on a question with lots of possible answers – for example “Can you name a CBBC show?”
First player has to give an answer to the question and pass the micro:bit to the next player
Play continues until the timer runs out and the micro:bit buzzer sounds. Whoever is holding the micro:bit is out.

Generate a list of suitable questions with lots of possible answers – make a class list to be shared.

Visit the project page on the Micro:bit Educational Foundation website and work through the steps to:

Complete the coding project
Program the micro:bits to play the Hot Potato game
Play the game using the questions generated previously in small groups

After completing the activity

Discuss what you discovered during the project:

Was there enough time to make sure everyone has a chance to answer?
How can you change the lowest and highest time limits for the random timer?
What does Leah mean at the end when she suggests ‘elimination rounds’?

Extension activities

Try changing the higher/lower limit of the random number in the timer program
Turn the micro:bit into a more predicable timer with different buttons for different time limits
Use the A and B buttons to offer an easier (longer time limit) and harder version of the timer
Try recording a voice message saying HOT POTATO! that is played when the timer runs out
Try using the random number function in MakeCode to turn the micro:bit into a shakeable dice
Make a Hot Potato jigsaw puzzle using the MakeCode blocks printed
Create lists of Hot Potato questions that would be suitable for younger children
Create a cartoon character called Hot Potato and draw some of their adventures
Create a glossary of the key vocabulary used in the project – use words, symbols and pictures
Make a poster advertising a new TV quiz show called Hot Potato that uses a similar device

Suggestions for activities for children with special educational needs

Play the hot potato game with a real potato to develop confidence in the game play
Play the game with appropriate questions/familiar answers and a much longer time limit
Create some pictorial matching quiz questions (Which of these pictured animals are mammals?)
Create a visual dictionary for key vocabulary with pictures/symbols – drawn by pupils cut out or stuck on
Complete gap-fill descriptions and explanations about the project using word-banks of key vocabulary

Download as a PDF: Computing topics covered | Cross-curricular links and activities

Educational context

Random Numbers
A random number is a number chosen by chance from a set of numbers. It is not possible to predict what the random number might be – there is an equal chance that any of the numbers might be chosen. When we roll a dice there is the same chance of getting either a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 every time we roll it. We can therefore say that this is a random number.

You can watch Lagging on CBBC or on BBC iPlayer