BlockCraft World: Ancient Civilizations
BlockCraft World: Ancient Civilizations
- For Grades 3-5
- Tuesdays from to at 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
- No Class Dates: N/A
BlockCraft World: Ancient Civilizations immerses students in the exploration and recreation of historical sites and societies within Minecraft.
They'll dive into the achievements, architectures, and daily lives of ancient civilizations, understanding their contributions to modern culture. Through building pyramids, temples, and cities, students connect with history, developing a deeper appreciation for the past and its influence on today's world.
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About BlockCraft World: Ancient Civilizations
BlockCraft World: Unlocking Social Studies through Minecraft is designed to enhance students' understanding of geography, history, and societal structures through the immersive platform of Minecraft. This course integrates STEM principles with social studies, offering a hands-on, interactive approach to learning about our world and its diverse cultures and histories. Each module combines educational concepts with creative building projects to promote critical thinking, collaboration, and a deep appreciation for global diversity.
Each lesson is carefully structured to combine inquiry into the world around us with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. -
Focus Areas
Geography: Students will build and explore virtual replicas of Earth's landscapes and landmarks, learning about geographical features, climate zones, and cultural significance. This focus area enhances global awareness and mapping skills, bringing geography to life in an interactive, virtual environment.
Ancient Civilizations: Students will delve into the achievements, architectures, and daily lives of historical societies, understanding their impact on modern culture. This focus area connects students with history by building pyramids, temples, and cities, fostering a deeper appreciation for the past and its legacies.
Society Essentials: Students will simulate economies, government structures, and social systems, engaging in scenarios that mirror real-life challenges. This focus area promotes understanding of civic responsibility, economic principles, and social dynamics, encouraging active participation in community and governance.
Learning Outcomes
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Increase Geographic Literacy
Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the world's geography, including physical landscapes, climate zones, and cultural landmarks, by constructing and navigating these environments within Minecraft.
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Develop Historical Insights
Students will develop an in-depth appreciation of ancient civilizations by actively recreating significant historical sites and structures in Minecraft.
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Develop Civic Responsibility
Students build an understanding of civic responsibility, economic principles, and the complexities of social interactions, encouraging students to critically evaluate and debate real-world issues in a virtual setting.
Sample Lessons
These lessons offer a glimpse into the vibrant and dynamic world of BlockCraft Social Studies: Unlocking Our World through Minecraft, showcasing how students can explore social studies principles in a fun and engaging way. By navigating virtual landscapes, recreating ancient civilizations, and simulating societal structures within Minecraft, students will discover the interconnectedness of our global society.
Collapsible content
Mapping the World - Building Continents and Landmarks
Embark on a journey to map the world by building continents and landmarks in Minecraft! Students will learn about Earth's geographical features and cultural landmarks through hands-on construction projects, enhancing their understanding of global geography and mapping skills.
Ancient Wonders - Recreating Historical Marvels
Step back in time to recreate ancient wonders in Minecraft! Students will explore the achievements of ancient civilizations by building historical sites and structures. This lesson fosters a deeper appreciation for history and its influence on today's world through interactive and engaging projects.
Climate Zones - Understanding Weather Patterns and Ecosystems
Dive into the study of climate zones by building ecosystems in Minecraft! Students will learn about different weather patterns and their impact on various regions. This lesson enhances environmental awareness and understanding of ecological balance through creative gameplay.
Governance and Economy - Simulating Societal Structures
Explore the fundamentals of governance and economy by simulating societal structures in Minecraft! Students will engage in scenarios that mirror real-life challenges, learning about government functions, economic principles, and social interactions. This lesson promotes critical thinking and civic responsibility.
Cultural Connections - Building and Exploring Diverse Societies
Connect with diverse cultures by building and exploring societies in Minecraft! Students will learn about the cultural significance of different regions and their contributions to global heritage. This lesson fosters an appreciation for cultural diversity and encourages global citizenship.
Course Format
Our curriculum for BlockCraft World: Unlocking Social Studies through Minecraft blends the dynamic structure of afterschool programs with the proven 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate. Each phase is carefully designed to captivate and retain student interest, fostering a seamless and enriched learning experience.
Engage Phase: We spark curiosity with captivating visuals and thought-provoking prompts related to geography, history, and societal structures in Minecraft. This phase draws students into the subject matter by showcasing the fun and practical applications of social studies in a virtual world.
Explore Phase: Students embark on their educational journey with clear STEM objectives, supported by an environment that encourages experimentation and learning from mistakes. They begin to brainstorm and explore social studies concepts through interactive gameplay and simulations.
Explain Phase: Foundational knowledge is delivered, integrating concepts from geography, history, and social studies. Students learn about physical landscapes, historical events, and societal functions, understanding how these principles apply to their Minecraft projects.
Elaborate Phase: Students participate in hands-on projects, using Minecraft to simulate social studies principles and solve real-world challenges. This phase reinforces their learning through practical application and critical thinking exercises, pushing them to innovate and refine their skills.
Evaluate Phase: The journey culminates in reflection, where students assess their achievements and connect their learning to real-world applications. They showcase their Minecraft creations, explaining the concepts behind their projects, and reflecting on the problem-solving skills they've developed.
This structured yet flexible approach ensures every student benefits from a comprehensive, engaging, and reflective educational experience, turning innovative ideas into practical social studies understanding. Join us to explore the limitless potential of BlockCraft World and unleash your creativity!
Our Instructors Are Our Top Asset
At BAM!, our vision for innovative K-8 education extends beyond just curriculum; it encompasses the educators who bring that curriculum to life. Selecting & training our educators is a continuous and meticulous process, ensuring they are not just equipped with subject matter expertise but also the skills to inspire and connect with students on a personal level.
- 100% adult educators recruited from prestigious universities ( No CITs at BAM!)
- Highly refined interview and background check process
- Extensive training that goes well beyond curriculum & classroom management
- Ongoing year-round opportunities to teach in our summer camp. After-school, and structured recess programs.