This page is dedicated to support teachers in the practical application of MinecraftEdu.
CLASSROOM
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Paleolithic/Neolithic Survival Rubric | |
File Size: | 81 kb |
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COLONIAL ECONOMICS SURVIVAL
Lesson Overview: Students are given the unique opportunity to live as some of America's first colonists. Students design and build their own settlements, incorporating historical accuracy with a touch of creativity and originality. Within this settlement, students create a local economy and establish their own way of life in the American colonies. In this lesson, students are actively engaged in the local economics of the colonies. Trading between local settlements, Native American tribes, and the "Lord Island Trading Center" occurs as students learn how colonists used and managed their colony's resources. The video below is a student example of their group's colonial settlement.
Lesson Overview: Students are given the unique opportunity to live as some of America's first colonists. Students design and build their own settlements, incorporating historical accuracy with a touch of creativity and originality. Within this settlement, students create a local economy and establish their own way of life in the American colonies. In this lesson, students are actively engaged in the local economics of the colonies. Trading between local settlements, Native American tribes, and the "Lord Island Trading Center" occurs as students learn how colonists used and managed their colony's resources. The video below is a student example of their group's colonial settlement.
Create a Colonial Settlement Project | |
File Size: | 68 kb |
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Colonial Economics Survival Log and Reflection | |
File Size: | 142 kb |
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CUSTOM NPCS MOD
COLONIAL ECONOMICS LESSON
Below is a tutorial on how the CUSTOM NPCS mod can turn a basic minecraftedu world into an interactive environment ready for student learning. Custom NPCS were used to create "Non-Player Characters" in our colonial settlement project and designed for students to learn the basics of economic principles..
NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBAL SURVIVAL
Lesson Overview: Students recreate native life in America, researching the different cultural groups spread across our map. Students utilize information from the text and in a group setting, identifying cultural aspects of a specific Native tribe of their choice. Students will then take that information and create a tribal settlement in the actual setting on the American landscape map previously created on minecraft. The group's identity will dictate their way of life, starting in basic survival and eventually developing a simulated culture representing their Native tribe of study.
Lesson Overview: Students recreate native life in America, researching the different cultural groups spread across our map. Students utilize information from the text and in a group setting, identifying cultural aspects of a specific Native tribe of their choice. Students will then take that information and create a tribal settlement in the actual setting on the American landscape map previously created on minecraft. The group's identity will dictate their way of life, starting in basic survival and eventually developing a simulated culture representing their Native tribe of study.
Native American Survival Rubric | |
File Size: | 60 kb |
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HANGING GARDENS CREATIVE
Lesson Overview: Students read the account by Diodorus Siculus, c.50 BC of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Wonders of the Ancient World and identify significant details a master builder needs to rebuild this structure on minecraft. Students do not see a picture of the Hanging Gardens prior to this project. Once completed, students will compare and contrast with a detailed page in our text showing the Hanging Gardens.
Lesson Overview: Students read the account by Diodorus Siculus, c.50 BC of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Wonders of the Ancient World and identify significant details a master builder needs to rebuild this structure on minecraft. Students do not see a picture of the Hanging Gardens prior to this project. Once completed, students will compare and contrast with a detailed page in our text showing the Hanging Gardens.
Hanging Gardens of Babylon Creative Rubric | |
File Size: | 83 kb |
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ONLINE
SUPPORT
TEACHER TIPS
Meet the creator of MinecraftEdu, Joel Levin
MinecraftEdu creator, Joel Levin, explains "TEACHER MENU"
STARTING A SERVER
The MinecraftEdu server establishes the classroom network allowing students to connect to the game together.
LEARN THE "CRAFT"
Students will rush your bookshelves if you have Minecraft: The Complete Handbook Collection book series. These books are guides to playing.
Learn how to play the game with online guides. Try playing on your own in Survival and Creative modes. Learning the "craft" will help implement this extraordinary learning experience for students and teachers.
Beginner's Guide
Basic Controls
Crafting Table Guide
Minecraft Glossary
Helpful Youtube Videos
Beginner's Guide
Basic Controls
Crafting Table Guide
Minecraft Glossary
Helpful Youtube Videos
TEACHER MENU
Once you've learned the craft, start building in "teacher mode" using the Teacher Menu option. The possibilities are limitless. Watch the video below on the Great Pyramid of Giza to learn more about Teacher Menu. Craft on!
Once you've learned the craft, start building in "teacher mode" using the Teacher Menu option. The possibilities are limitless. Watch the video below on the Great Pyramid of Giza to learn more about Teacher Menu. Craft on!
LESSON PLAN IDEAS
MinecraftEdu World Library
Check out the MinecraftEdu world library. There are many different lesson options across all subject areas, age levels, and world types. Lessons range from ecology to real life math situations to reliving history. My favorites?
Wonderful World of Humanities
Escape from Everest
Paleontology
Water Challenge
Battle of Gate Pa
Wonderful World of Humanities
Escape from Everest
Paleontology
Water Challenge
Battle of Gate Pa
Need more ideas? Here are some useful tips and helpful files.
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2014 Iowa 1:1 Prezi
Shane Wheeler and I presented this prezi at last April's 1:1 conference in Des Moines. This may be helpful to see the progression of MinecraftEdu as a educational tool in my classroom and others.
MINECRAFT IS AN AWESOMELY PRACTICAL PROJECT OPTION
LATIN AMERICA PROJECT
Top: Zane brings the class to Easter Island to see the giant heads first hand. In his re-creation, signs are placed in front of each head explaining important details regarding this unique human creation. The heads were built to scale.
Bottom: Faith inspires future divers with her re-creation of the Great Blue Hole in Belize. While it was difficult for her to demonstrate the depth of this unique geographical feature, she used a reduced scale to simulate the distance across this submarine sinkhole. |
ANCIENT EGYPT PROJECT
Top: Jackson builds his interpretation of the Great Pyramid of Giza using a quartz block to simulate the once shinny-white look of the polished limestone casing covering the pyramid. He also reduced the height and width of the pyramid, as one would reduce a fraction in math, to build in an appropriate scale.
Bottom: Jaden reinterprets the Statue of Ramesses II, using colored blocks to show what once might have been. Demonstrating her understanding of the Great Sphinx and how it was believed to be brightly painted, she chose to depict her statue in the same manner. |
4TH GRADE GEOGRAPHY PROJECTIn this project, 4th grade students at L-S were responsible for creating a minecraftedu version of major landforms and waterways. Under the direction of their teacher, Mrs. Jessica Winegar and Tech Director, Mr. Shane Wheeler, students demonstrated their understanding of geography by showing off their work via screencast. Check out the awesome way our students have interpreted the physical features of our world in 3D! |
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2013 6th and 7th PROJECTS
In this project, students were allowed the freedom to make project choices and determine what medium to use to share their learning. Those who chose Minecraft are highlighted in the "Minecraft Projects" video posted. The PDF "Ancient Greece Project" was designed for a 6th grade curriculum and includes project options, instructions, and a presentation guide.
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Does Minecraft really inspire our students to take education to the next level?
Your students are proof. Need to see for yourself?
Check out the Handy Gamer Youtube Channel. Handy Gamer is a current 7th grader at Lynnville-Sully and is the creator of the Temple to Poseidon in the 2013 Minecraft Projects video. MinecraftEdu has inspired this student to help teach others. Imagine the capabilities of your students, not just in the game, but in its real-world adaptation and application. Experience the past, survive the present, and build the future. |
Photo used under Creative Commons from Wesley Fryer