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In this lesson, students will explore the Minecraft Space Center and experience their first day of training as new space explorers. This lesson will expand on the Fundamental Coding concepts of sequences, events, loops, and conditionals while focusing on conditionals and If-Else loops.
Welcome to this Minecraft: Education Edition lesson! Before you begin, take a few moments to let us know your thoughts or feedback on how we can improve this lesson in order to better enhance the learning experience that is delivered in your classroom!
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Click and watch this teacher preparation video to help you understand how to teach this lesson.
Check out the YouTube link of the video for your reference: https://youtu.be/UYwBPMfCdvU
Start Here: Teacher Preparation Video
Design a program (code) to solve problems based on specific instructions
Develop the use Conditionals (If/Else) and While Loops
Create programs that include sequences, events, loops, and conditionals.
Decompose (break down) problems into smaller, manageable subproblems to facilitate the program development process.
Debug, (identify and fix) errors in an algorithm or program that includes sequences and simple loops.
Communication
Critical Thinking
Design Process
Reinforce the use of Operators
Teach to use If/Else Conditional Block
Teach the use of While Loops
Teach to use Agent Inspect Block
Teach to use Agent Detect Block
Activity 1: Mercury, Finding a Crater (While Loop + If Conditional)
Activity 2: Mercury, Locating a Sample (While Loop)
Activity 3: Venus, Finding the Surface (While Loop)
Activity 4: Venus, Helping the Agent (While Loop + If Conditional)
Activity 5: Virtual Gathering (Bonus)
Question 1: A While Loop continues until...?
Answer 1: A condition has been met.
Question 2: What is a Conditional?
Answer 2: An action that occurs if something specific happens. Ex: IF you eat all your vegetables THEN you can have dessert.
Question 3: If we are looking for a specific block what do we use?
Answer 3: Agent Detect.
Question 4: In MakeCode, the conditionals blocks are found in which Toolbox drawer?
Answer 4: Logic.
Question 5: In your own words, explain what this example of code does.
Answer 5: While inspecting for blocks down, the Agent needs to move forward until it finds a gold block.
Question 6: What is the difference between these two example of code?
Answer 6: The first example uses a conditional loop that allows the Agent to keep moving forward until it no longer detects a block to the right. The second example uses a repeat loop that will automatically stop after 20 repetitions.
Question 7: Based on this example of code, do you know how many steps the Agent needs to move forward?
Answer 7: No, it is unclear. The Agent will be moving forward until it reaches the gold block.
Question 8: Why are "While Loops" useful in coding?
Answer 8: Answers may vary. While Loops are useful as they will repeat until the goal is accomplished or the condition is met.
Check out the Tips & Tricks video playlist that will help you and your students better use Minecraft: Education Edition in the classroom:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkh9rrdH-ARER03ojhFYtmoFDVuACYJLa
More videos added periodically so make sure you check often for more content!
Click and watch the student pause and play video with your class, pausing and playing as needed. This will help your students understand how to navigate through this lesson and Minecraft world and complete the activities located within them. Enjoy!
Check out the YouTube link to this video for your reference: https://youtu.be/y_ytlhHnARU
Student 'Pause & Play' Video