Writing with a Purpose in Minecraft
Getting students to write is a challenge at all levels. Minecraft Education Edition can help make writing assignments more fun and meaningful by engaging students with material and inspiring their creativity. Explore several writing lesson ideas below that use a variety of Minecraft worlds that can be adapted to fit most grade levels.
Learning Targets:
Identify and explore several Minecraft Education Edition Resources that support writing.
Brainstorm ways to adjust Minecraft writing opportunities to work with different grade levels and content areas.
Utilize a variety of writing activities that support student choice and voice.
Important tips before using Minecraft Education Edition
Download the Minecraft Education Edition App on each device.
Headphones and a mouse are recommended.
Make sure students know their Microsoft login information. (Or create a free account)
If using trial logins, keep track of the 25 login opportunities per user to avoid running out.
Designate Minecraft experts in the classroom to provide support to new users.
Target: Identify & Explore Minecraft Worlds That Support Writing
Model Lesson
Lesson Objectives:
Write about ways to stay safe online.
Display safe behaviors in an online environment.
Write in complete sentences using correct punctuation.
Use text evidence to support claims when writing.
Teacher Notes for Lesson Delivery
Start the lesson by having a group discussion about rules that keep us safe in real life. Ex: Don't talk to strangers, don't cross the street without an adult, etc.
Show students the 6-page booklet and review writing expectations.
Launch the Minecraft CyberSafe world and model the first interaction as students follow along on their own devices. Include choosing the incorrect option and how to use the immersive reader.
As students continue in the world, distribute the writing booklets.
Circulate around the room to support students as they work.
Wrap-up options:
1. Pair students with a partner to reach each other's books aloud and then make corrections.
2. Read writing prompts and let students share their responses.
3. Ask students what was the most important safety tip they learned from the CyberSafe World.
Informative Writing
Option 1
About the 'Active Citizen' World
The 'Active Citizen' pre-made world can be found in the Minecraft Subject Kits library under History and Culture. This world provides engaging encounters with several Nobel Peace Prize recipients from around the world. (Note: this world does not provide the option to use the camera and book and quill.)
Writing topic: What do Nobel Prize Winners have in common?
Write an interview with one of the people from the Active Citizen world.
Write a diary/journal entry about a day in the life of one of the Nobel Prize winners from the world.
Write an opinion piece about which Nobel Prize winner from the museum is most deserving.
Write a children's book about what 'Nobel prize winners have in common.
Option 2
Minecraft World: Build With Bees
About the 'Build with Bees' World
The 'Build with Bees' world can be found in the Subject Kits library under Climate & Sustainability. This world provides multiple opportunities to learn about the role Bees play in the world.
Writing Topic: Protect the Bees
Create a 30-second radio spot for Bee Protection (Flip)
Design an infographic about Bees (Canva or Slide)
Write a blog post about Bee Keeping (Book & Quill)
Design an information brochure for the Bee Farm (Paper)
Write a Yelp review of the Build with Bees World Tour
Write a social media post about Bees.
Option 3
About the 'Extinction Safari' World
The Extinction Safari is a pre-built world that can be found in the Minecraft Subject Kits library under Climate & Sustainability. The world has two parts. The first part is a rollercoaster ride with station stops that have information about animals that are now extinct. At the end of the roller coaster is a Biomes Museum that provides a tour of the different Biomes of Earth, including an area that focuses on the impact of deforestation.
Writing Topic: Extinction and Adaptation
Create a guide to the Biome museum to help guests find what they are looking for easily.
Write a script and record it on Flipgrid to serve as an infomercial about human impact on species survival.
A modified version of this world can be used by visiting 'Comb's Extinction Safari'. I added teleport buttons to make navigating the world faster and included a Google form activity for an added layer of accountability and fun. Writing activities are included on the Combs Extinction Safari web page.
Narrative Writing
About the 'Narrative in Perspective' World
Locate this world in the Minecraft Literacy and Language Subject library under Additional Lessons.
In this world, students will interact with a non-player character who gives them activities to accomplish. They will have to find books with guiding questions and write in the books. The culminating written work will be a visitor's guide to the uncharted land written in second person.
Minecraft World: Setting in Narrative Writing
About the 'Setting in Narrative Writing' World
Locate this world in the Literacy and Language Subject library under Additional Lessons.
This world prompts students to answer questions as they travel through the world.
Writing Task: Write a detailed description of a Minecraft building/world. The description should give specific details that enable the builders to create the building based on the words. Once complete, exchange descriptions and then open a 'Blocks of Grass' world and build based on the written description. Use the camera to take a picture of the final product and add the picture to a Book with the description provided. Export and display in the room or on the class website.
Poetry Writing
About the Where I'm From World
This world is found in the Minecraft Literacy and Language Subject Library in Additional Lessons.
Students explore two types of poetry about where a person is from, then selects how he/she would like to continue in the world creating their own poem in Minecraft. Students who know how to build in Minecraft will enjoy this world.
Writing Task: Enter the 'Where I'm From' world and visit both poetry activities. Then exit the world and save. Students write their own poems about where they are from. Swap poems with a classmate. Reopen the saved world and build the classmate's poem. Have a gallery walk with the written poem and Minecraft poem displayed.
About the 'Six Room Poem' World
This world is found in the Minecraft Literacy and Language Subject library in Additional lessons. This is a great world to help students find their voice and focus on word choice. Before beginning this lesson, have the students select an item. It could be something they pull from a box, something you randomly assign, or something they pick on their own. As they travel through the maze of rooms, they will write about the item based on the Minecraft room topic. Make a copy of the Google Doc linked below to guide students as they move from room to room.
Writing Options
Target: Utilize a variety of writing activities that support Student Choice and Voice
Writing with digital media (Word, Docs, Slides, etc.)
Writing in Minecraft (Book and Quill)
Google Classroom Comments
MS Teams Channel Chats
Six Page Booklets/Paper
Nearpod
Canva
Flip