What's included
1 live meeting
1 in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Additional resources (videos, etc.) will be posted in the classroom after the live session ends to help further your study of the animals introduced in class -- students are encouraged to view these and use the classroom board to ask any additional questions they'd like about the material.Class Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
>>>PLEASE READ BEFORE ENROLLING: 1. The live portion of this class is an hour-long, fast-paced, lecture-based presentation, with limited Q&A breaks as time permits -- you know your learner(s) best, so please consider if the session length and format is a good fit for them. 2. We will not actually be playing Minecraft together live in class. While individual students may choose to be on their games while attending class, this is NOT part of the class itself. Students are however encouraged to share in-game experiences on the classroom board before and after the live session!<<< In this installment of Minecraft Zoology, we will be looking at the two bear mobs currently found in the game -- pandas and polar bears! After meeting the cute cubey Minecraft versions of these critters, we will learn about their real-life counterparts, the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus). As both of these animals are part of the bear family (Ursidae), we will also check out their place in the bear family tree alongside their six living relatives. This single session will consist primarily of slides and multimedia content accompanied by lecture, but there will be opportunities to ask questions as time permits, and the classroom board can also be utilized before and after class to engage in discussion about the topic. Additional resources will also be posted in the classroom after the live session ends to help further your understanding and study of both the species and concepts introduced in class! Also, just FYI: I like using my Cool Science Words and exposing children of all ages to proper scientific terminology and nomenclature. I believe it's never too early for children to hear us using our "grownup" vocabulary. (That being said, of course I define these words when they first come up, and will provide supplementary vocabulary sheets in classes with a lot of subject-specific terminology.) Obligatory disclaimer to stay on the right side of Mojang's brand and asset usage: NOT AN OFFICIAL MINECRAFT PRODUCT. NOT APPROVED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH MOJANG. CLASS CONTENT PROVIDED UNDER EDUCATIONAL FAIR USE PRINCIPLES ONLY. :)
Learning Goals
Summary of in-game features of Minecraft bear mobs (spawning, behavior, breeding, etc.); basic zoology of the Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) and the Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus); taxonomy of the bear family (Ursidae)
Other Details
Parental Guidance
All my zoology classes are open to discussing animal anatomy, including the reproductive system, and natural behaviors and bodily functions, including mating, using proper scientific terms!
Supply List
Any supplementary lesson materials will be provided for free via the classroom, either as downloadable printables/files or links to online resources (web pages, videos, articles, etc.).
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
2 Degrees
Master's Degree in History from Lindenwood University
Master's Degree in Science from American Public University
I am a naturalist with a focus on zoology, and enjoy sharing my love of the animal kingdom with lifelong learners of all ages through various education and outreach activities both online and off.
[oh, and I've been playing video games since the first gen when they all used to look this pixelated... 😜]
I also have nearly two decades experience as a home education advocate, including homeschooling my own children from preschool through high school. I am a big proponent of flexible learning, individualized education, and supporting fellow neurodiverse learners, so please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or requests for additional resources. We all learn in our own way and time, but everyone should have the chance to learn about how cool animals are!
Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$14
per classMeets once
60 min
Completed by 26 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
1-6 learners per class