Over the next three weeks, sixth-grade students in Tom Brazina’s class will be undertaking a Minecraft mapping project where they will be charged with representing a famous map projection in Minecraft.
“This project allows the students to practice what they learned during their mapping unit while reflecting on the impacts of science,” Brezina said.
Brezina said this exercise helps the students as part of the Middle Years Programme (MYP) sciences criterion.
As a part of the project, students build a map projection in the Minecraft education platform and write a five-paragraph research essay covering the history of the projection, how the projection was created and the mathematics behind it. They also share how the projection is used to advance society.
“Students will be using writing skills that they just perfected in English class, but with a scientific research focus,” Brezina said. “This project is extremely meaningful for the students. They have been talking about Minecraft all year, and it is extremely meaningful to me as an educator to see their faces light up while working on this project.”
During the process, students build valuable communication skills while putting working on something that they will be proud to present to classmates.
Click here to see photos of students working on the project in class.