Real Life Minecraft: What Can We Learn From Survival Mode? (FLEX)

***This is a flexible schedule class. No live meetings will be held.***

Minecraft can teach us many things: how to plan ahead, how to be prepared, and how to stay safe. In this flexible-schedule class, we'll discuss ways Minecraft can teach us to stay safe and protect ourselves.

Each Monday, the teacher will post a video for the students to watch. Each video will be 10 minutes long. After the video presentation, students will read questions presented by the teacher and write a written response. Students will have the opportunity to complete in-game tasks related to our lesson for the week, and they can post pictures in the classroom of those tasks to share with the other students.

Here is what learners can expect:
-Video lectures provided by the teacher
-In-class discussions
-Writing responses to questions
-Taking pictures of their gameplay tasks 
-Worksheets and handouts provided by the teacher

Week One: What is survival mode? What can we learn from this mode? Survival mode can teach your child a lot: how to be prepared, how to plan ahead, and how to be cautious. This week, the lecture will include tips and ideas for staying safe in survival mode during the game, as well as ideas for staying safe in real life. For example, what steps should your child take to stay safe if they're going camping? Each learner will watch the video, answer questions in the classroom, and then complete an in-game task in Minecraft. They can post a screenshot of their task completion or they can simply tell us about it.

Week Two: How can you fight monsters in the game? This week, we'll talk about some ways we can improve our gameplay by fighting different mobs. Students will learn about the different kinds of monsters and how to best fight them. Then we'll talk about how we can use those analyzing skills in real life. For example, when you plan how you're going to fight a monster, you're also learning how to think ahead. Students can use these skills in other ways, including planning their days, planning their homework projects, and so on. Students will receive an in-game task to complete before the next week. They can post a screenshot of their task in the classroom.

Week Three: How can you avoid dying in the game? What are some steps you can take? This week, we'll talk about how students can protect themselves in Minecraft. We'll talk about ways to gather food and keep our hearts up while in the game. Then we'll have an in-class discussion about staying safe. Learners will plant a garden in Minecraft this week and share a picture with the class. 

Week Four: Questions. This week is all about learner questions. If your student has something they have been wondering about Minecraft or a question we haven't answered, this is the week to share. I'll be posting messages for the students and answering their Minecraft-specific questions this week.

This class is designed for Minecraft players who are already comfortable with gameplay and who own a copy of the game. Please note that no copy will be provided, and I cannot offer technical support in this class. Your student must already know how to play Minecraft at a basic level in survival mode so that they can get the most out of this class. If you have any questions about the course content, please reach out to me. Thank you!