>>>PLEASE READ BEFORE ENROLLING:
1. The live portion of this class consists of three 40 minute-long, fast-paced, lecture-based presentations, 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. [Also -- yes, this is the same class as the old version, just broken up into two days instead of one long single session, so if you took that one you don't need to do this one!]
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 first installment of Minecraft Zoology, we will be looking at three different flying animals found in the game -- the parrots, the bats, and the bees! After meeting the cute cubey Minecraft versions of these animals, we will learn about their real-life counterparts. As these are three winged animals from three different lineages -- birds, mammals, and insects -- we can also consider the evolutionary biology involved by learning a bit about convergent evolution vs. divergent evolution, and homologous structures vs. analogous structures.

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.)

PLEASE NOTE: we will not actually be playing Minecraft 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 (screenshots of encounters, builds, etc.)!

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. :)