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Engineering in Minecraft: Build Electrical Inventions Using Redstone!

Explore making circuits and learn engineering concepts in Minecraft! Redstone is electrical power in Minecraft, used to build interactive electrical inventions. Works with any Minecraft version. (STEM/STEAM, Homeschool/Afterschool) #builder
Quantum Physics for Kids
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4.9
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Class

What's included

4 live meetings
3 hrs 20 mins in-class hours

Class Experience

This 4-session course introduces students to Minecraft circuit-building and engineering concepts! "Redstone" is a type of building material in Minecraft that can be used to create electrical circuits and inventions within the Minecraft world. It is included in all versions of Minecraft. We will learn how to use this Redstone material in the course!

We'll build a remote-controlled trap door, piston devices, a roller coaster that you can ride, a TNT cannon and various other electricity-powered Minecraft creations. The course will be held in Creative Mode, and each student will be working within their own self-created world. This course encourages the development of creative problem solving, planning and visualization skills. Through fun hands-on activities in Minecraft, students learn concepts related to electrical engineering and designing circuits. 

We'll be covering the fundamentals of Redstone engineering in this course. While this course assumes no prior experience with Redstone, basic knowledge of building, crafting and accessing the inventory in Creative Mode is required. (Please note that this is not a starter course on "how to play Minecraft" - students should already feel comfortable playing Minecraft on their own.) Any versions of Minecraft can be used for this course (including Java Edition, Bedrock Edition, iPad, Windows 10, Education Edition, Nintendo Switch, etc.) There are some minor differences between how Redstone functions in Java Edition vs. Bedrock Edition, which we will cover as well. Students will need to be able to access Zoom and Minecraft simultaneously, either by utilizing a second device, or by having both Zoom and Minecraft windows visible on the same screen. 

The course will teach the following topics:
Session 1: 
- What is Redstone? It's electricity in Minecraft! Redstone engineering consists of a power source, a transmission material, and a wide range of components that react to the current. 
- Comparison with real-life power sources, conductive materials and electrical components
- Building powered redstone lamps with redstone dust. Using different power sources to turn on the lamps (redstone torch, lever, button, pressure plate)
- Understanding the distance that the power can travel (in blocks)
- Understanding how Redstone power is distributed 
- Build a light-up dance floor with Redstone lamps and pressure plates
- Build a lamp post that lights up automatically at night using an inverted Daylight Detector

Session 2: 
- Using power sources: redstone block, target
- Building powered door, bell, fence gate and trap door
- Build a cannon powered by TNT, that fires a block of TNT
- Build an archery skills challenge course that triggers different Redstone contraptions

Session 3:
- How to hide Redstone Circuits
- Using transmission material: redstone repeater
- Building constructions with a piston and sticky piston
- Build a hidden staircase using pistons

Session 4:
- Building constructions with powered rail and activator rail
- Adding minecarts
- Building a powered roller coaster
- Build an amusement park featuring different Redstone-powered activities

Image Source: Screenshot from the Minecraft game
Learning Goals
The course focuses on hands-on experimentation with a wide variety of Redstone Power Sources, Transmission Material and Powered Components, which students can use to build their own Redstone creations. 

Session 1: 
- What is Redstone? It's electricity in Minecraft! Redstone engineering consists of a power source, a transmission material, and a wide range of components that react to the current. 
- Comparison with real-life power sources, conductive materials and electrical components
- Building powered redstone lamps with redstone dust. Using different power sources to turn on the lamps (redstone torch, lever, button, pressure plate)
- Understanding the distance that the power can travel (in blocks)
- Understanding how Redstone power is distributed 
- Build a light-up dance floor with Redstone lamps and pressure plates
- Build a lamp post that lights up automatically at night using an inverted Daylight Detector

Session 2: 
- Using power sources: redstone block, target
- Building powered door, bell, fence gate and trap door
- Build a Redstone cannon that fires a block of TNT
- Build an archery skills challenge course that triggers different Redstone contraptions

Session 3:
- How to hide Redstone Circuits
- Using transmission material: redstone repeater
- Building constructions with a piston and sticky piston
- Build an automated melon farm harvester and cane sugar harvester using pistons

Session 4:
- Building constructions with rails, powered rails and activator rails
- Adding minecarts
- Build an amusement park featuring different Redstone-powered activities
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
To participate in this course, students must have access to Minecraft for use during class time (any version of Minecraft is fine, including Java Edition, Minecraft Bedrock Edition for Windows, iPad, Nintendo Switch, PS4 or Minecraft Education Edition). Links to download Minecraft are listed under third party tools. Note: Education Edition can usually only be purchased by a school, so if your learner does not have Minecraft Education Education through their school, we recommend getting Minecraft Java Edition or Minecraft for Windows 10, or Minecraft for iPad, Nintendo Switch or PS4. Please note: A license of Minecraft is not included with this course.
Supply List
Students must have access to Minecraft (any version) for use during the class time. (Please note: A license of Minecraft is not included with this course). 

In addition, students will need to be able to access Zoom and Minecraft simultaneously, either by utilizing a second device, or by having both Zoom and Minecraft windows visible on the same screen. Students should already know the basics of using Minecraft, including the basics of how to use a crafting table and how to access their inventory.
Language of Instruction
English
Not an official Minecraft product. Not approved or associated with Mojang.
Joined June, 2020
4.9
1379reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
We're dedicated to introducing young students to the amazing world of quantum physics, technological innovation and design! We've been offering STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) classes and creating educational materials for students of all ages for over 15 years. We're excited to share this course content with more students through Outschool. 

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Live Group Class
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$17

weekly or $68 for 4 classes
1x per week, 4 weeks
50 min

Completed by 145 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
3-10 learners per class

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