Teaching students empathy or allowing them to develop empathy, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and other skills has never been easier. Using Minecraft Education Edition students can randomly select a family in Minecraftia that is suffering in some way and build them the exact living solution they needed. The project involves:
1. Researching family interests to better understand them
2. Brainstorming solutions for the family
3.. Critically and collaboratively (with peers and instructor) selecting the best solutions from the brainstorming
4. Implementing the solutions
5. Explaining why certain solutions where excluded and why others were implemented based on their selected family
Below are 8 families to get your class started. Feel free to develop your own and allow students to solve even more complicated cases. Minecraftia is filled with stories that tug at the heart strings and our students can show great empathy and other 21st century skills by aiding these families in a supportive environment.
Original Blog Explaining Project: http://www.bbtnb.com/blog/empathy-education-with-minecraft-education-edition
1. Researching family interests to better understand them
2. Brainstorming solutions for the family
3.. Critically and collaboratively (with peers and instructor) selecting the best solutions from the brainstorming
4. Implementing the solutions
5. Explaining why certain solutions where excluded and why others were implemented based on their selected family
Below are 8 families to get your class started. Feel free to develop your own and allow students to solve even more complicated cases. Minecraftia is filled with stories that tug at the heart strings and our students can show great empathy and other 21st century skills by aiding these families in a supportive environment.
Original Blog Explaining Project: http://www.bbtnb.com/blog/empathy-education-with-minecraft-education-edition
Adopt and Aid a Minecraftian Family in Need of Support
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The Enderson Family
The Enderson Family was struggling financially to get by day to day and that was when mom was a blacksmith and dad a librarian. Times have been really tough in Minecraftia and due to The Emerald Mine closing both parents have lost their jobs. There's one more thing. Mom Enderson is expecting a BABY GIRL any day now and she can't wait to talk horses and play in castles like princesses when the new baby arrives. The Enderson Family worked hard and still had to live in a one bedroom home for all of their son's life. Their son, named "Hmmm" (after his dad) is very talented at music and loves animals. They are thinking about naming their new baby girl "Hmmm" after her mom and grandmother. Here is some info about The Enderson Family in case you can help: - They are very capable hobby farmers - They need at least 4 bedrooms so grandparents can visit - They have always wanted a basement "Man Cave" or family lounge - Dad loves to read (He's a librarian!) - Mom loves the water and her son enjoys time swimming with his mom - Dad Enderson and his son enjoy science and making Redstone creations -They would love to watch the sunset as a family each night on a balcony together above any monster that may wish to cause harm. Can you help? Anything else you can think of to help this family is appreciated. |
The Freising Family
"Hmmm" pictured here is a dad with a wife, four kids and his mother all planning to live with him in the Arctic. It is cold, hard to walk around and the Arctic large open spaces. He has just lost his job with a major diamond company and can't afford to build a house big enough so that he can bring his family to him. If you can help please consider: - He loves Ice Fishing - His sons all need their own rooms - Grandma needs her own room and bathroom - Building them a way to get to the lake is important because walking is hard - It is almost always night time - Small but Tall houses (with small roofing footprints) help conserve heat -Everything needs to be above ground because the ground is frozen solid -When it snows on homes the snow stays for a very long time -Anything else that may help The Freising Family live comfortably in the Arctic safe from Polar bears! |
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The Sandusty Family
Dad Sandusty is serving as both Marine and Peace Keeper in The Middle East. He has been away from his wife, his six children (3 boys and 3 girls) and his two 89 year old parents for over one year and it is time to come home....but to what? Dad is a hero who has saved many lives protecting both sides in a dispute that has been going on for 200+ years. He has made a difference and now is looking forward to family time. Back home however, everyone is staying in a tiny house owned by his elderly parents. All the kids sleep in a damp basement (They don't like basements or the dark at all) while mom is on the couch in the living room and the one bedroom remains for grandma and grandpa. What is Dad Sandusty going to do? If you can help in any way here is what the family is in need of as well as some interests: -Dad loves to fish in the and providing him with a boat would really help -Dad also has seen enough sand so a cliffside view of the ocean with access to a dock and boat would help - Mom loves movies, theme park rides and sunlight - Mom also likes people a lot and chatting with neighbours walking by is a favourite activity - The 3 girls love kitty cats, movies, acting on a stage and playing Blocket Ball (a block form of basketball) -The 3 boys love to play BLOCKEY! (a block form of hockey) and a fake ice surface for them to play would be wild! - Mom wants a fence or wall around the yard to keep her 6 kids from straying too far.....especially near the cliff. |
The Krampt Family
Four brothers and two sisters have been living in Mom and Dad Krampt's house now for their entire lives. Mom and Dad were recently lost in a random squid attack on their cruise ship. Now the grown kids want to move out but yet stay close. "Hmmm" (the eldest brother) has suggested that the two girls live together and the four boys live together. Maybe neighbors or maybe something cooler? They want to stay close to each other but have their own spaces. Is there a way for all 6 to stay close (and have family supper nightly) but also have their own living space? If you can help in any way here are the family needs and interests: -They each need some privacy -The boys love animals but the girls don't really like them -All 4 boys are hobby pilots who love to fly training airplanes -All girls love flowers of all types and sunbathing -All six kids LOVE the beach and if they could live on a beach by the ocean that would be incredible -One boy is still afraid of the dark -One boy really loves Halloween -Two girls love the color pink a lot - Anything else you think might help this fully grown family live happily ever after is appreciated |
The Quupidz Family
Awwww new love! The Quupidz Family are really just a newly married couple who have both been struggling their whole life with a terrible disorder. The Quupidz LOVE the backwards, the upside down and the completely abnormal. Trees upside down, houses that are backyards and backyards that are living places and even Lava Lakes! They love dark and cold instead of bright and warm and they even like gross animals instead of cute! This disorder is horrible but we are hoping that you can help build them a dream home experience that will make them finally feel at home. Here are their needs and interests if it helps: -Mrs. Quupidz loves to read books from back to front -Mr. Quupidz loves to take mud baths jumping in clean and getting filthy -They love living in mountains surrounded by flatlands or on flatlands surrounded by mountains. -They love opposites of "normal" -They stay up all NIGHT but sleep all day -They love bright / neon / abnormal colours -Their house can be their backyard and their backyard their house -Their house can be glass and their windows wooden -Their beautiful lakes are lava and their trees are upside down -Anything you can do to give The Quupidz Family the opposite of "normal" life they need is appreciated. The Stellarkin FamilyWhen they were young 5 friends stumbled upon strange creatures in the forest. They don't remember much about the day other than that it was the day their strange abilities began. The oversized growths on their heads give the friends super-human intelligence. But with this gift comes GREAT SADNESS. The Stellarkins DESIRE STRONGLY to live in space but first they know they have to try a year on Earth in space-like conditions. They need a BIODOME! Until they get to space the sadness will increase yearly and only a BIODOME will allow them to test if they are ready to live among the stars as they desire to do.
If you can help consider the following items: - They are not a real family but their oversized brains understand families better than we do - They need to live in a glass enclosed shape with tree and water bodies - They need extensive farming capabilities - They need light sources that don't require power - They need animals to eat - Underground they need an extensive water recycling system of channels or pipes - They still need homes to protect them from the elements in the BIODOME - Anything else you think they need is appreciated. Here are some examples to get you started: |
The Kanairy Family
Mom is left alone with two children after her husband was lost in a terrible mining accident involving a Griefer and TNT. Her oldest boy named "Hmmm" is very ill and spends most of his days playing in the backyard with imaginary friends. The youngest son, also named "Hmmm" can't even hop up on a one meter tall block. Mom is left unable to afford her home alone. She needs a home with: -At least 3 bedrooms -2 stories -A play room for rainy days with "Hmmm" -A basement office that Mom can work in -A safe and big back yard for "Hmm" -Pictures up in the house to remind the family of dad -A way for little "Hmmm" to get around the house avoiding one meter high blocks. -Lots of fresh air - A Tree House for the kids would be EPIC! -Anything else you think can help them 
The Coustoe FamilyThe Coustoe Family had their family home struck by lightning and they lost everything. Mom, Dad and adult daughter all now find themselves without a home. This presents a new opportunity. The family for some reason is obsessed with WATER (It might have something to do with lightning and fire destroying their lives). Dad Coustoe has actually said if his family could live UNDERWATER they would. Could this be your chance to help?
If you can help here are some things to consider and some family member interests: - Mom has said a family pet may lift spirits but is their an animal that can live under water? - Dad loves to read the newspaper but needs a way it can be delivered without getting wet. - The daughter has said she doesn't care where they live as long as it is not dark all the time. She loves light. - They all agreed when talking about living underwater that they would miss trees and green life the most (or do they have to miss it?) - It would be awesome to have a small island with some trees that the family could boat to if they miss the land - Anything else you can think of that would help the family is greatly appreciated. |
