NOVA ACADEMY / Projects

Small builds. Big moments of discovery.

The first time a light responds to your code, it stops being just a light. It becomes something you made happen. Explore examples from our learning pathway, and the questions that make each build worth trying.

Explore the builds

These are example projects for different learning stages. The activity a group works on depends on their age and experience; there is no single build everyone has to start with.

PROJECT 01 / AGES 09–12

Traffic light

Scratch
Arduino

What makes a junction work?

A familiar traffic light becomes a way to explore order and timing. Learners connect lights, write a repeating sequence and watch their instructions become something they can see.

WHAT LEARNERS PRACTISE

Sequencing instructions
Repeating with loops
Testing timing

traffic_light.nova ● EXAMPLE NOVA CODE

1  led red   = led pin 4
2  led green = led pin 3
3  
4  forever:
5      red on
6      wait 3 s
7      red off
8      green on
9      wait 3 s
10     green off

ONE MORE QUESTION

What happens if the red light stays on longer? Change the timing and explain the difference.

PROJECT 02 / AGES 12–15

Door alarm

Arduino
Nova

How does a machine notice something?

A button press is a small event with a visible response. Learners connect an input to a light and buzzer, then investigate what their program should do when the button is pressed.

WHAT LEARNERS PRACTISE

Inputs and outputs
Responding to events
Checking code and connections

door_alarm.nova ● EXAMPLE NOVA CODE

1  led status   = led pin 13
2  button door  = button pin 2
3  buzzer alarm = buzzer pin 6
4  
5  when door pressed:
6      status on
7      alarm tone 440 Hz
8      wait 500 ms
9      status off

ONE MORE QUESTION

Try a different tone or a longer pause. Which part of the code controls each change?

PROJECT 03 / AGES 15–18

Obstacle-avoiding car

Nova
Arduino C++

Can a robot choose another path?

A robot car brings sensing, decisions and movement into one build. Learners work together to explore how a distance reading can change what the motors do next.

WHAT LEARNERS PRACTISE

Reading a sensor
Making decisions in code
Testing a team build

avoid_car.nova ● EXAMPLE NOVA CODE

1  sensor eyes  = distance sensor pin 7
2  motors drive = motor pair pins 5 6
3  
4  forever:
5      if eyes reads under 20 cm:
6          drive turn right
7      else:
8          drive forward 70 %

ONE MORE QUESTION

Move an obstacle closer, then farther away. How does the turning distance affect the car’s behaviour?

Every build has a starting point.

Younger learners begin with stories, patterns and playful coding. Circuits, sensors and robotics come into the picture as their understanding grows.

Find a learning stage Explore our programs