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This lesson will help you integrate Minecraft Education activities to supplement your current novel study unit.
This Logics Academy Lesson, designed for Grade 4-6 teachers, will help you integrate Minecraft: Education Edition (M:EE) activities to supplement your current novel study unit. The activities are general enough that they will apply to any novel you are reading, yet specific enough to meet a variety of curricular expectations. Our team of Logics Academy educators will help guide you and your students through each of the activities, providing options for student reflection and sharing, leaving room for you to determine your own assessment techniques. Although this set of activities is designed for Grade 4 to 6 classes, it can be adapted for other grade levels by modifying the level of difficulty of the tasks.
➔ Create your Characters
➔ Creating a Foil with Pixel Art
➔ Assemble a Descriptive Setting
➔ Reflecting with a Book and Quill
➔ Build Battle: Re-create Your Favourite Scene
Plan to begin your novel study the way you always have and then when the timing is right for you, add a dash of Logics Academy Lesson to your lesson plan. You may choose to sprinkle the activities throughout the unit or save them all until the end. That’s totally up to you.
It is recommended, however, that the activities are completed in order as they build upon each other, but if you don’t have time for all 5, no problem! Perhaps consider using the later activities as Extensions, even after the formal novel study unit has been completed.
Refer to the following pages for a detailed description of each activity.
Suggested Materials (in addition to M:EE): none
In this video, students will meet the team of co-teachers that will be working with them throughout the novel study project and will also learn more about each of the 5 activities that will be covered.
Novel Study Intro
Suggested Materials (in addition to M:EE): Microsoft Word or pen and paper for brainstorming (Word is preferred as it would allow students to copy & paste)
In this video, students will explore the concept of Character and learn more about what a protagonist and antagonist are. After brainstorming some quotes from the protagonist and antagonist in your novel, students will dive into M:EE to learn more about slash commands and how to create NPCs (Non-Playing Characters). Students will then create their NPCs to ‘speak’ the quotes from the novel through speech bubbles. Students will also learn how to use Boards within M:EE to further explain their thinking.
Novel Study Activity 1
Suggested Materials (in addition to M:EE): Microsoft Word or 20x20 grid paper and coloured pencils for experimenting how their character can look in M:EE (A 20x20 table in Microsoft Word could allow students to change fill colours in the grid)
In this video, students will dive deeper into character development and discover what a foil is and how a foil interacts with its protagonist. Once students have had a chance to discuss who the foil is in their novel or even invent their own character that could be a foil, they will create that character in PixelArt in M:EE. Students will learn how to use the fill command in M:EE and the camera and portfolio features to further show their learning.
Novel Study Activity 2
Suggested Materials (in addition to M:EE): Paper or digital thesaurus to search for synonyms, Microsoft Word or pen and paper for brainstorming (Word is preferred as it would allow students to copy & paste)
In this video, students will learn about the traditional five senses and the way a character may experience some of them in addition to the setting of a novel and how it can create and drive the narrative. Students will choose a setting, brainstorm descriptive adjectives as they relate to the character’s senses, and place posters to type them out. Students will also build a setting of their choice, and use their descriptive words to express their creation.
Novel Study Activitiy 3
Suggested Materials (in addition to M:EE): Word Processor or Pencil/ Paper for planning, book to gather quotes
In this video, students will define and understand what a safe space is. They will choose a character from their novels and design a safe space for their characters, and add details to their safe space to show they understand their chosen character. Students will also write three journal entries using the Pen and Quill from the perspective of their character talking about how they have felt along their journey and what lessons they have learned. The final step in this activity will have students publishing their rough draft into a book, and then framing it with a lectern in Minecraft, so any visitors to their worlds can read through their journal entries.
Novel Study Activity 4
Suggested Materials (in addition to M:EE): Graphing paper to help plan build, Novel to gather quotes/dialogue
In this video, students will put together all of their knowledge and skills they’ve learned in the previous lessons to have a final build challenge. Students will use tools to build a pivotal or a favourite scene from the novel, in detail. They are encouraged to be creative as they build, adding in Minecraft inventory options like NPCs, Boards or even Redstone if they can. The final step in the activity is to have students describe on a board a detailed explanation of why the scene was vital in the novel or important to them. They are encouraged to take pictures with their camera and export their portfolio so they may share it with their peers.
Novel Study Activity 5
Description: Organize a reader's theatre performance where students act out scenes from the novel studied in the Minecraft activities. Assign roles to students and encourage them to interpret and embody their characters as they perform selected passages. This activity enhances students' understanding of character development, dialogue, and storytelling.
Description: Conduct a creative writing workshop where students expand on the novel's storyline or create their own narratives inspired by the themes and characters. Provide prompts or story starters related to the novel and encourage students to develop their ideas through writing. This activity promotes literacy skills, imagination, and narrative development.
Description: Assign literary analysis projects that require students to delve deeper into the themes, symbolism, and motifs present in the novel. Students can explore topics such as character motivations, narrative structure, or social commentary and present their findings through essays, presentations, or multimedia projects. This activity fosters critical thinking, research skills, and textual analysis.
Description: Organize book club discussions where students gather in small groups to discuss different aspects of the novel. Assign specific discussion topics or questions related to character development, plot twists, or moral dilemmas for students to explore collaboratively. Encourage students to share their interpretations, ask questions, and engage in respectful dialogue. This activity enhances communication skills, empathy, and literary comprehension.
Description: Initiate an author study project where students research the life and works of the author of the novel studied in class. Encourage students to explore the author's background, writing style, influences, and thematic concerns. Students can create biographical profiles, analyze excerpts from other works by the author, or even write letters to the author expressing their thoughts and questions. This activity promotes research skills, literary appreciation, and cultural understanding.
Understanding of Characters:
4: Demonstrates a deep understanding of both protagonist and antagonist characters, accurately portraying their personalities, motivations, and conflicts.
3: Shows a good understanding of characters but with some minor inaccuracies or omissions.
2: Displays a basic understanding of characters but lacks depth or accuracy.
1: Shows little to no understanding of characters and their roles in the novel.
Craftsmanship and Detail:
4: NPCs are intricately crafted with attention to detail, accurately representing character features, attire, and expressions.
3: NPCs are well-constructed with moderate detail, capturing essential character traits effectively.
2: NPCs are rudimentary in design with limited detail, lacking accuracy in portrayal.
1: NPCs are poorly constructed with minimal detail, failing to represent characters effectively.
Conceptual Understanding:
4: Demonstrates a clear understanding of foil characters, accurately identifying and creating a foil character for the protagonist.
3: Shows understanding of foil characters but with minor conceptual errors or inconsistencies.
2: Displays a basic understanding of foil characters but struggles to identify or create a suitable foil.
1: Shows little to no understanding of foil characters and their significance in literature.
Pixel Art Proficiency:
4: Pixel art is expertly crafted, accurately representing the foil character's traits and role with intricate detail.
3: Pixel art is well-executed, capturing essential features of the foil character effectively.
2: Pixel art is rudimentary, lacking detail and accuracy in portraying the foil character.
1: Pixel art is poorly executed, with minimal effort or detail evident.
Sensory Descriptions:
4: Uses vivid and evocative language to effectively evoke sensory experiences, creating a rich and immersive atmosphere.
3: Descriptions are clear and descriptive, capturing some sensory details to establish the setting's mood.
2: Descriptions are basic and lack depth, providing limited sensory information to establish the setting.
1: Descriptions are vague or absent, failing to evoke sensory experiences or establish the setting effectively.
Setting Creation:
4: Constructs a detailed and immersive setting within Minecraft, effectively aligning with the descriptive narrative.
3: Builds a recognizable setting with moderate detail, capturing key elements of the descriptive narrative.
2: Creates a basic setting with limited detail, lacking alignment with the descriptive narrative.
1: Fails to create a coherent or recognizable setting within Minecraft, lacking detail and alignment with the narrative.
Character Empathy:
4: Demonstrates deep empathy with the chosen character's experiences and emotions, conveying insights with authenticity and depth.
3: Shows empathy with the character's experiences, offering meaningful reflections with some depth and insight.
2: Displays limited empathy with the character's experiences, providing superficial reflections with minimal depth.
1: Lacks empathy with the character's experiences, offering shallow or unrelated reflections.
Writing Craftsmanship:
4: Writes journal entries with clarity, coherence, and sophistication, effectively conveying character perspectives with nuanced language and voice.
3: Writes journal entries with clarity and coherence, conveying character perspectives with appropriate language and voice.
2: Writes journal entries with some clarity but lacks coherence or sophistication, struggling to convey character perspectives effectively.
1: Writes journal entries with limited clarity or coherence, failing to convey character perspectives effectively.
Scene Recreation:
4: Recreates the chosen scene with exceptional accuracy and detail, effectively incorporating Minecraft elements to enhance authenticity.
3: Recreates the scene with good accuracy and detail, capturing essential elements and atmosphere effectively.
2: Recreates the scene with moderate accuracy and detail, lacking some key elements or authenticity.
1: Recreates the scene with minimal accuracy or detail, failing to capture essential elements or atmosphere effectively.
ISTE Standard: Empowered Learner
Indicator: Students use technology to create, adapt, and personalize learning experiences that foster independent learning and accommodate learner differences and needs.
ISTE Standard: Innovative Designer
Indicator: Students use a variety of technologies within a design process to identify and solve problems by creating new, useful, or imaginative solutions.
ISTE Standard: Knowledge Constructor
Indicator: Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts, and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others.
ISTE Standard: Creative Communicator
Indicator: Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats, and digital media appropriate to their goals.
ISTE Standard: Global Collaborator
Indicator: Students use digital tools to broaden their perspectives and enrich their learning by collaborating with others and working effectively in teams locally and globally.
Common Core Standards: RL.4.3 (Grade 4), RL.5.3 (Grade 5), RL.6.3 (Grade 6)
Description: Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).
Common Core Standards: RL.4.6 (Grade 4), RL.5.6 (Grade 5), RL.6.6 (Grade 6)
Description: Compare and contrast the point of view from which different stories are narrated, including the difference between first- and third-person narrations.
Common Core Standards: RL.4.4 (Grade 4), RL.5.4 (Grade 5), RL.6.4 (Grade 6)
Description: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including those that allude to significant characters found in mythology.
Common Core Standards: RL.4.1 (Grade 4), RL.5.1 (Grade 5), RL.6.1 (Grade 6)
Description: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Common Core Standards: RL.4.7 (Grade 4), RL.5.7 (Grade 5), RL.6.7 (Grade 6)
Description: Make connections between the text of a story or drama and a visual or oral presentation of the text, identifying where each version reflects specific descriptions and directions in the text.
Curriculum: Ontario Language Arts Curriculum
Outcomes:
Grade 4: RL1.4, RL2.4, RL3.4, RL4.4, RL5.4
Grade 5: RL1.4, RL2.4, RL3.4, RL4.4, RL5.4
Grade 6: RL1.4, RL2.4, RL3.4, RL4.4, RL5.4
Curriculum: BC English Language Arts Curriculum
Outcomes:
Grade 4: E1, E2, E4, E5, E6
Grade 5: E1, E2, E4, E5, E6
Grade 6: E1, E2, E4, E5, E6
Curriculum: Alberta English Language Arts Curriculum
Outcomes:
Grade 4: CC4.1, CC4.2, CC4.3, CC4.4, CC4.5
Grade 5: CC5.1, CC5.2, CC5.3, CC5.4, CC5.5
Grade 6: CC6.1, CC6.2, CC6.3, CC6.4, CC6.5
Curriculum: Quebec Language Arts Curriculum
Outcomes:
Elementary Cycle 3 (Grades 4-6): Reading and Listening (3.1, 3.2, 3.3), Written Communication (3.4, 3.5)
Curriculum: New Brunswick English Language Arts Curriculum
Outcomes:
Grade 4: RW1, RW2, RW4, RW5, RW6
Grade 5: RW1, RW2, RW4, RW5, RW6
Grade 6: RW1, RW2, RW4, RW5, RW6
Curriculum: Newfoundland and Labrador English Language Arts Curriculum
Outcomes:
Grade 4: RE4.1, RE4.2, RE4.3, RE4.4, RE4.5
Grade 5: RE5.1, RE5.2, RE5.3, RE5.4, RE5.5
Grade 6: RE6.1, RE6.2, RE6.3, RE6.4, RE6.5
Curriculum: Manitoba English Language Arts Curriculum
Outcomes:
Grade 4: CC4.1, CC4.2, CC4.3, CC4.4, CC4.5
Grade 5: CC5.1, CC5.2, CC5.3, CC5.4, CC5.5
Grade 6: CC6.1, CC6.2, CC6.3, CC6.4, CC6.5
Curriculum: Saskatchewan English Language Arts Curriculum
Outcomes:
Grade 4: CR4.1, CR4.2, CR4.3, CR4.4, CR4.5
Grade 5: CR5.1, CR5.2, CR5.3, CR5.4, CR5.5
Grade 6: CR6.1, CR6.2, CR6.3, CR6.4, CR6.5