**Important: This course is for Minecraft Java Edition for PC or Mac only and is NOT compatible with Game Consoles, iPads or any other devices. Basic understanding of Minecraft is required for joining the server and playing with other students on the teacher hosted server.

In this 4 week flexible schedule course, students will research ancient civilizations and rebuild then in the world of Minecraft. Flexible schedule means that there are no live meetings, but students are still expected to complete assignments or projects by specific due dates and also to interact with each other in the online classroom. This course uses game features in the world of Minecraft to provide a space for students to work together to gather resources, build awesome structures based on ancient societies, and document their discoveries and record the details of the adventures they experienced building their ancient civilization.

What this class will look like:

1. Each week, the students will be given a short narrative that identifies the developments taking place in their society. The students are provided research resources in the form of links to educational websites (National Geographic) to use to further explore the specific aspect of ancient society (landmarks, agriculture, military, and natural resources). 

2. Students are then asked a series of questions to answer about the importance of these aspects of early civilization. The questions will also help them think about how to incorporate these developments and principles into their own Minecraft Civilization. 

3. Students will log on to the Teacher hosted Minecraft server to work with their classmates to apply what they learned toward building their society and developing it in the image of the ancient civilization that they researched.

4. Students will post a diary entry with a picture of their settlement development. They will be able to explain how they incorporated the early civilization theme into their settlement and show off their creative work.

5. Students are expected to interact with each other in the online classroom by responding to at least 3 other students' comments.

6. Teacher will be active in the classroom to answer questions, help with creative ideas, encourage creativity so the students produce something they can be proud of!

Week 1 Objective:
Students will connect to the server using the instructions provided by the teacher. Students will complete a greeting challenge that will introduce them to their classmates. Students will then read the narrative context provided by the teacher about how civilizations are first created, their importance, and what aspects a civilization is made up of. Students then use the articles linked from National Geographic to learn more about how ancient Rome began.  The theme of this week is about natural resources, using the land to survive, and the importance of developing a group.

Week 1 Assignments:

1.) Read expositional context provided by teacher to understand the theme of the week.
2.) Watch linked (National Geographic) videos and read the articles about ancient Rome's early stages.
3.)  Answer 3 framing questions provided from teacher and send responses to the teacher.
4.) Use concepts learned in the research phase to develop the society to follow the early developments of ancient Rome.
5.) Students will provide a screenshot of their settlement and a diary entry to explain the developments in their society, how their society is stronger because of it, and what they think the next step should be in developing their civilization.
6.) Students will comment on two other students' work.
7.) Students will respond to two other comments

Week 2 Objective:
Students will read the narrative context provided by the teacher discussing the developments focused on agriculture and farming. Students will learn about the importance of agriculture through the provided materials and videos from National Geographic. The students will answer questions that frame the development and help the students think about how to incorporate these agricultural developments into their own society. The students will complete the development activity where they incorporate the lesson they learned into their server civilization.

Week 2 Assignments:

1.) Read expositional context provided by teacher to understand the theme of the week.
2.) Watch linked (National Geographic) videos and read the articles about ancient Rome's agriculture and food.
3.)  Answer 3 framing questions provided from teacher and send responses to the teacher.
4.) Use concepts learned in the research phase to develop and improve agriculture in the server society
5.) Students will provide a screenshot of their farm and a diary entry to explain their developments, how their farming has improved, and what they think the next step should be in developing their civilization.
6.) Students will comment on two other students' work.
7.) Students will respond to two other comments

Week 3 Objective:
Students will learn about trade, its importance in developing a civilization, and learn how to negotiate by identifying needs, and use these concepts to trade with the other members of their civilization.

Week 3 Assignments:

1.) Read expositional context provided by teacher to understand more about trade and how it is used.
2.) Watch linked (National Geographic) videos and read the articles about ancient Rome's markets and trading that occurred there.
3.)  Answer framing questions provided from teacher and send responses to the teacher.
4.) Use concepts learned in the research phase to negotiate with other players
5.) Students use the message board on outschool to initiate a trade with another student or provide a screenshot of what they traded for.
6.) Students will comment on two other students' post.
7.) Students will respond to two other comments

Week 4 Objective:
Students will learn about how ancient civilizations protected themselves. They will learn about what threats a civilization could face and how cooperation and teamwork can overcome many of these challenges.

Week 4 Assignments:
1.) Read expositional context provided by teacher to understand the threats that their civilization might face.
2.) Watch linked (National Geographic) videos and read the articles about ancient Rome's struggles with wildlife warring civilizations and more.
3.)  Answer framing questions provided from teacher and send responses to the teacher.
4.) Use concepts learned in the research phase to develop a strategy to keep their civilization and put this plan into action on their civilization server
5.) Students will provide a screenshot of their strategy and a diary entry to explain the developments in their society, how their society is stronger because of it, and what they think the next step should be in developing their civilization.
6.) Students will comment on two other students' work.
7.) Students will respond to two other comments
***Teacher will be active in the online classroom, provide feedback, encouragement throughout the week and will offer tips, encouragement, and other feedback to each student. ***