Hungary Creek

Time-Travel Thrills: Crafting Mesopotamian & Egyptian Theme Parks in Minecraft

Henrico Learner Profile (HLP) 6C Focus

8th Grade - History

SOL/Standard - WH1.3 

The student will apply social science skills to understand the ancient river valley civilizations, including those of Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus River Valley, and China and the civilizations of the Hebrews and Phoenicians, by

a)   locating these civilizations in time and place and describing their major geographic features;

b)   describing the development of social, political, and economic patterns, including slavery;

c)   explaining the development and interactions of religious traditions;

d)   describing the origins, beliefs, traditions, customs, and spread of Judaism; and




Learning Experience

In the context of their World History I curriculum, students delved into the foundational civilizations of the early river valleys, specifically Mesopotamia and Egypt. As part of their educational journey, they engaged in a dynamic multimedia project that allowed them to choose their medium, with a significant portion opting for Minecraft. Within this virtual environment, students applied their understanding of the historical context to collaboratively craft imaginative theme parks inspired by the ancient civilizations they studied.

This project was designed with a structured rubric, offering guidelines while maintaining flexibility to nurture students' creative autonomy. By synthesizing their knowledge of Mesopotamian and Egyptian societies into the construction of theme parks, students exercised collaboration, critical thinking, historical analysis, and creative expression. Through this immersive educational experience, they deepened their understanding of the subject matter, honed their digital literacy skills, and fostered a sense of ownership over their learning journey.

What did the student(s) learn about this experience:

"This project showed me the collaboration and dedication needed for these kinds of group projects. It is better to work together to work toward one shared goal with little milestones along the way. This worked out much better than working separately and only thinking about ourselves. " - Abby

What did the teacher enjoy about this experience:

"What I loved most about this project was getting to help students come up with fun and authentic ideas to creatively display what they had learned about Mesopotamia and Egypt! I never sit down in class, and I really enjoyed bouncing from group to group, helping the students come up with creative names and ideas for each aspect of their theme park!" - Mr. Manning

Additional Pictures, Media & Artifacts

Student presenting his learning at the HCMS Winter Wonderland of Opportunities Curriculum Fair. 

hcms_minecraft_1_20240123_1280x720_1857kbps_145s.mp4

Video of students explaining their ancient civilizations theme parks.

Student explains his theme park. 

Thank you to the innovators who helped make this experience possible: