What's included
4 live meetings
4 in-class hoursHomework
We have optional bonus assignments beginning in Week 2.Class Experience
We are proud to offer this younger version of our Metrocraft program for 6-8 year-olds. In this class, our students create a small town in a virtual Minecraft-type world. In class 1, they learn the basics of how to use our Minetest program and use those skills to create their own house in Week 2. We complete group projects in class and learn about voting and making group decisions. We design and build a city farm in Week 3. We also learn about key civic buildings, giving students an inside look at fire stations, hospitals, police stations and libraries. In our final weeks, students vote on key rules and laws for the environment and safety as well as working in groups to construct some of the civic structures that we discussed in class. Week 1: The basics of Minetest, building & flying, inventory use. lesson on houses around the world, start your house! Week 2: Your Opinion, Your Vote. a meeting about our city farm, continue house construction, farm plans Week 3: All About Farms, group work on our city farm, Towns and Their Environment, rules and laws to help nature Week 4: Continued group work on our city farm, An Inside Look at Fire Stations, more on building techniques, What is a Government? Week 5: Work on city buildings, An Inside Look at Police Stations, more building techniques, An Inside Look at Hospitals. Week 6: Wrapping up our city, project, An Inside Look at Libraries, continuing work on city buildings, a class celebration!
Learning Goals
Students use a public version of Minecraft to create a small town while also learning the basics of voting and decision-making.
Other Details
Supply List
We use a public domain version of Minetest instead of Minecraft, which is better for this civics-based program for a number of reasons: 1) We find that the mobs, invisibility, withers, potions and the like in Minecraft makes for a not-so-realistic atmosphere. Minetest works better for a civics class as it is more realistic. 2) There are mods we put into Minetest to allow for more decorations, cars, signs and other items that makes it easier to say, design a business or decorate a home. Minecraft has mods available too but in order to run them on our server, everyone signed up for the class would have to download them all on their own computers, which is technically challenging for many families. Minetest includes them automatically. 3) Minetest is free which allows more students to participate in the class. Please note THIS PROGRAM DOES NOT GENERALLY WORK ON TABLETS. We provide instructions for how to download Minetest onto PCs, Macs and Chromebooks.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Not an official Minecraft product. Not approved or associated with Mojang.
Teacher expertise and credentials
Right Brain Curriculum is a Massachusetts-based education company offering engaging, project-based online learning programs. Our mission is to create outstanding, student-centered enrichment programs that allow children to experience real life in a fun, engaging learning atmosphere. Currently, we run four different versions of our Metrocraft class, a civics-based program that takes place in a Minecraft-like world.
Right Brain Curriculum is managed by Matt Bowling, Education Director and Savvy Reuben, Director of Teaching & Learning
Matt holds a Master's in Education Administration with Principal's license from UMass Boston as well as a Master's in Elementary Education from Northwestern University. He has served as a Director of Curriculum and Instruction in both public and private schools in the Boston area.
Savvy has more than ten years experience in education, working in private, public and charter schools in New York City and Boston.
Her education focused on teaching, curriculum planning, classroom management and a specialization in autism/intellectual disabilities. She attended Trinity College and Teacher's College of Columbia University.
She absolutely loves teaching and wants every class to be a unique, submersive, and positive experience where students feel free to be creative, take risks, and have a whole lot of fun while learning something new :)
Reviews
Live Group Class
$89
for 4 classes1x per week, 4 weeks
60 min
Completed by 12 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 5-8
4-7 learners per class
This class is no longer offered
Financial Assistance
Tutoring
More to Explore
PartyLord Of The FliesUs MilitarySocial Group AutismIntro To RoboticsStaffAlphabet And Phonetic LearningMineralsLittle Adventurers Travel And Explore The WorldBehaviorism Mental Make-up & Personality Studies Intro PsychologyHow To Get In The Zone & Reach Your Peak PerformanceDance Gymnastics100 Days ReadingLaw And Moot DebateLibrary