It’s 2019. So Why Do 21st-Century Skills Still Matter?
21st Century Skills

It’s 2019. So Why Do 21st-Century Skills Still Matter?

When tech giant Amazon announced its search for a second headquarters site, cities across the country scrambled to produce persuasive pitches. In ...
By Suzie Boss
Educators Share How Video Games Can Help Kids Build SEL Skills
Social-Emotional Learning

Educators Share How Video Games Can Help Kids Build SEL Skills

Paul Darvasi is teaching his 12th graders that if there’s something about themselves they don’t like, they have the power to change it. To do so, he’s ...
By Tina Nazerian
Can Designing Video Games Help Kids Gain Hard and Soft Skills?
Game-Based Learning

Can Designing Video Games Help Kids Gain Hard and Soft Skills?

Steve Isaacs has long identified as a gamer. And when he’s not spending time with some of his favorites—StarCraft and Hearthstone—he’s teaching middle ...
By Tina Nazerian
This District Rolled Out Minecraft and Teacher Collaboration Skyrocketed

This District Rolled Out Minecraft and Teacher Collaboration Skyrocketed

When Roanoke County Public Schools gathered educators for their first training in how to teach with Minecraft: Education Edition (M:EE), “you could ...
By Wendy McMahon
10 Tips to Start Teaching With Minecraft
Voices

10 Tips to Start Teaching With Minecraft

My students come from a small, rural community and lack a broad understanding of the larger world around them. This inspired me to seek out a game, or ...
By John Miller

Classroom Heroes

The stories below highlight some of the people on the frontlines of game-based learning—Minecraft Global Mentors. See how these innovative classroom teachers use Minecraft: Education Edition to create challenging, fun and immersive learning experiences for their students.

Christopher Stuart
Christopher Stuart

Christopher Stuart

Clemson University
South Carolina
Steven Isaacs
Steven Isaacs

Steven Isaacs

William Annin Middle School
New Jersey
Kyriakos Koursaris and Joana Simas
Kyriakos Koursaris and Joana Simas

Kyriakos Koursaris and Joana Simas

PaRK International School
Lisbon, Portugal

Minecraft Tutorials for Teachers

Whether you’re new to Minecraft or a longtime fan, browse these videos to find advice for playing the game in your classroom.

1. Select A Focus

Future-Readiness
Digital Citizenship
Social-Emotional Learning

2. Select A Learning Objective

Student-Led Learning
Critical Thinking
Creative Problem Solving

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Instructional Writing Task

The student becomes the teacher in this lesson. Pairing building skills with the ability to craft clear instructions for others to follow, it requires thoughtful planning and clear communication for a variety of audiences.

Head over to Minecraft: Education Edition to browse hundreds of other teacher-tested lesson plans.

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Climate City 2020

This climate-conscious challenge asks students to come up with new solutions to age-old problems. Critical thinking skills are put to the test as an oil-dependent city is transformed into one that uses alternative energy for a sustainable future.

Head over to Minecraft: Education Edition to browse hundreds of other teacher-tested lesson plans.

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Empathy Education With MCEE

Students must confront real-world concerns with thoughtfulness, compassion and creativity in this lesson. How will they respond to a call for help from eight Minecraftian families in need?

Head over to Minecraft: Education Edition to browse hundreds of other teacher-tested lesson plans.

2. Select A Learning Objective

Online Community Membership
Interaction & Collaboration
Self-Monitoring

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Empathy Village

This exercise is a great way to encourage reflection on what it means to be an active member of a community—whether real or virtual. Allow your students to explore their fears and hopes along with the desire to feel connected to others.

Head over to Minecraft: Education Edition to browse hundreds of other teacher-tested lesson plans.

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Create Fred The Human Body!

Students can take charge in this interactive exploration of human biology. Collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking—this is a one-stop shop for the development of critical skills.

Head over to Minecraft: Education Edition to browse hundreds of other teacher-tested lesson plans.

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Essential Agreement

Turn free play into a productive tool for self-reflection that promotes evidence-based reasoning. Before collaborative play can begin, consensus must be reached among players and an essential agreement drafted to ensure fair play for all.

Head over to Minecraft: Education Edition to browse hundreds of other teacher-tested lesson plans.

2. Select A Learning Objective

Self-awareness
Responsible Decision Making
Relationship Building

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Create A 'Dream House'

This reflective activity asks students to craft a special place to store their thoughts and ideas. They will use their full toolkit of self-identity resources to design a personalized "Mind Palace" that accurately depicts their inner selves.

Head over to Minecraft: Education Edition to browse hundreds of other teacher-tested lesson plans.

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Sensory Garden Project

This is an exercise in the responsible creation of learning spaces and engagement with a full community of stakeholders. Working to improve a portion of their school environment, students must consider how social and environmental factors influence design.

Head over to Minecraft: Education Edition to browse hundreds of other teacher-tested lesson plans.

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Gender Equality Community

An engaging exploration of diversity and equity, human rights and civic responsibility, this activity has students examine gender roles across all sectors of society. Ultimately, their collaboration should achieve equality for all members of their community.

Head over to Minecraft: Education Edition to browse hundreds of other teacher-tested lesson plans.
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