Ghost Hunt with the micro:bit

The Centre for Computing History is running a ghost hunt for children on Tuesday 27 October, and the twist is that the kids will be armed with micro:bits to find them. It's a Halloween-themed coding workshop aimed at children aged 9 and over — upper KS2 and KS3 — so it's a good shout for the primary and early secondary crowd. The session runs from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm, which puts it right in the middle of the half-term break.

The micro:bit is a pocket-sized computer designed for learning, and that's exactly how it's used here: the kids code it themselves and then use it to track down ghosts. It's a hands-on way to get them thinking about how code actually works in the real world, rather than just staring at a screen. The kits they use during the hunt stay at the museum, so they aren't yours to keep, though you can pick one up in the shop if they've caught the bug.

The venue itself is a computer and video game museum in Cambridge, home to a collection of vintage computers and consoles, many of them hands-on and interactive. Beyond the displays, it runs exhibitions, a learning programme, and a small shop, all drawing on the city's long history at the forefront of computing. At the moment, the museum is marking the 40th anniversary of the BBC Domesday Project, so there's plenty to see around the workshop if you've got the time.

It's £18 per participant, and children under 14 have to be accompanied by an adult, with accompanying adult tickets costing £12 — the normal museum entry price. Spaces are limited and booking is required, so you'll want to get on it sooner rather than later. The Centre for Computing History is at Rene Court, Coldhams Road, Cambridge, CB1 3EW.