MINECRAFT is a great resource for Math class, as the entire world is essentially one big 3D graph. The game allows players to see their X, Y & Z positions at any time with the command F3 function. As a result, players can consider themselves points on a graph and create patterns and locate other points. Moreover, since each block is a defined measurement, it is easy to calculate measurements such as length, perimeter, area, and volume. Students can either count the blocks as they are exploring the world, or use the coordinates in order to find the correct measurements.
Additionally, almost everything in MINECRAFT is ordered by numbers. Each item stacks in bunches of 64. Varying amounts of different items can be combined in a number of patterns to create other items (ex: two iron slabs and a stick bundled on top of each other creates a sword). A free-standing water source flows horizontally for eight square in any direction unless it descends a vertical step, in which case the flow starts over again. Knowing how to understand numbers is a key component of being able to play MINECRAFT well.
Below are two examples of activities that you can do in a Math class using MINECRAFT!
Below are two examples of activities that you can do in a Math class using MINECRAFT!
Activity #1: Calculating Area, Volume and Surface Area
Key concepts
- Determining the volume, and surface area of regular and irregular 3D shapes
- Constructing 3D shapes
Grade 7 Measurement: Report on research into real-life applications of area measurements, determine the relationships among units and measurable attributes, including the area of a trapezoid and a volume of a right prism;
Grade 8 Measurement: Research, describe, and report on applications of volume and capacity measurement, determine the relationships among units and measurable attributes.
Activity
Students will construct a variety of 3D shapes in the game and calculate different dimensions, including: length, height, area, volume, and surface area. Each block will be considered to be 1cm3.
- A rectangular prism built of a single type of building material,
- A rectangular prism built of at least 2 different building materials. Calculate the surface area for each building material.
- An irregular 3D shape built of a single type of building material.
- An irregular 3D shape built of at 2 different building materials. Calculate the volume and surface area for each building material.
Activity #2: Understanding Coordinate Systems
Key concepts
- Understanding how to use coordinate systems
- Plotting objects/shapes on a coordinate system
- Transforming objects on a coordinate plane
Grade 7 Geometry and Spatial Sense: Describe location in the four quadrants of a coordinate system, dilatate two-dimensional shapes and apply transformation to create and analyse designs.
Grade 8 Geometry and Spatial Sense: Represent transformations using the Cartesian coordinate plane, and make connections between transformations and the real world.
Activity
All locations in the virtual world of Minecraft are represented by numerical coordinates. Students will be asked to:
- Locate specific coordinates in a pre-established virtual world.
- Construct buildings at a set of coordinates, that meet the described parameters.
- Rotate, flip, and slide buildings in the virtual world and consider the changes in coordinates.