Block coding for kids: blink an LED
Free ($0) is the block builder and the Pico W simulator. Standard ($30/month) adds ESP32, Raspberry Pi, Makeblock, USB upload, and .py downloads. Premium ($50/month) adds online project saves.
A first project is the Blink an LED sample. It is Blockly for kids: a forever loop that turns the onboard LED on and off.
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Press Open Studio. The studio opens in this browser. No account is needed.
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Open Samples and choose Blink an LED.
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Look at the blocks. They repeat forever: set the onboard LED on, wait 500 milliseconds, set the onboard LED off, wait 500 milliseconds.
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Run the simulator. The Pico W pin view shows the onboard LED change.
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Want a faster or slower blink? Change the 500 on the wait blocks. The sample tips say 100 makes a quick strobe.
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To blink a real Pico W, use Chrome or Edge, plug in the board with USB, and press Connect Board.
The onboard LED block writes Pin("LED") in the MicroPython the studio shows. On the Pico W simulator, that light follows the board’s built-in LED pin.
More guides
- All guides
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- ESP32 block coding guide
- Raspberry Pi blocks-to-Python
- For teachers: Turtleblock in class
- Python for kids with blocks
- Build a robot car with blocks
- Makeblock Auriga block coding
- Pico W simulator: try blocks without a board
- Traffic light, button, and buzzer
- Block coding lesson plan for class
- Pico W virtual lab