Minecraft GEMs

Google AI Fellowship 2025 Project

My lessons were designed around the Sphero Indi robot, focused on introducing young students to computational thinking and digital technologies through a Minecraft-themed lens. In this context, Sphero Indi robots were referred to as 'Mine-carts.'

NotebookLM was used for initial lesson plans, and Gemini (GEMs) was used to develop a 'Minecraftify Lesson Planner.'

Gamification: In this context, it is the integration of Minecraft to Minecraftity lessons, where elements of this game is woven into learning activities using other digital tools, in this case using Sphero Indi robots. Each Level had a scenario or quest, for example Level 1 was set in the Nether and students' goal was to find the Nether portal to escape!

Gemini helped me link the coloured tiles used to programme Sphero Indi (Mine-carts) to Minecraft characters. The Energetic Creeper (green) tile speeds up the Sphero Indi Mine-cart, while the Cautious Bumblebee (yellow) tile slows it down. To exit Level 1, students had to programme their Mine-cart to land on the face of the Enderman!

This hands-on, discovery-based approach allowed students to act as "Redstone Engineers" and build skills in algorithmic thinking, debugging, and problem-solving within engaging scenarios and Veo hook-in videos.

After the successful first lesson, I provided feedback to the Gem from students and myself to further augment my ideas. Level 2 was set in the Jungle Biome. Where students would learn about the next coloured tiles, need to avoid the vines, find the Ocelots, Pandas, collect bamboo, and if they get hungry, to survive, eat some watermelon or coco pods!

Levels 1 & 2 Scenario Quests

Elizabeth_Kazmierczak_Level 1_ The Nether Expedition_

Level 1: The Nether

With Sphero Indi you get all coloured tiles in the blue case. Only leave the Creeper (green) and Bee (yellow) tiles. Level 1 – The Nether – Students were Redstone engineers, but get stuck in the Nether! This Level focused on learning the functions of the green and yellow tiles.

Elizabeth_Kazmierczak_Level 2_Jungle Biome_

Level 2: The Jungle Biome

Students will now venture from the Nether to a Jungle Biome. In the Mine-cart (Indi) blue case add back the Axolotl (pink tile), the Allay (blue tile), Redstone tile and Obsidian (purple tile). Level 2 - The Jungle Biome - students need to chart a path to find ocelots, and pandas, and gather bamboo to build a house. But beware—the jungle is full of twisting vines and obstacles!

Coloured Coding Tiles Indi Sphero Elizabeth_Kazmierczak_

Minecraftify the Tiles

Sphero Indi uses an assortment of coloured tiles for programming the robot. This was an opportunity to work with the Minecraftify Gem and develop tiles that would link with Minecraft characters or blocks.

To view other variations of coloured tiles click here. I asked Gemini to put these into a slide format so I could use this information to create the slide deck.

Veo Video Content

The most exciting part was providing Gemini with a prompt to create a variety of 'hook-in' video snippets in Veo. A variety of prompts were tried when I was first exploring the use of Veo. Students enjoyed watching these and thought they looked realistic.

snippet 8.mp4

Movie test.mp4

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