This could be perceived as chaos…but it’s awesome chaos!

Todays minecraft class was the culmination of the last 10 sessions. 

The plan was for 20 grade 3 students to come over to work with the minecraft students and experience the adventures that they had designed especially for them. The adventures ranged in flavour and focus and included

• a parkour course
• a rollercoaster
• a treasure hunt 
• and even a pig race!

As a part of the project, the grade 5 students assumed the role of the teacher to help the younger students use minecraft and make their way through the experiences. This was to be done with the explicit guideline of not touching the keyboard or mouse. Additionally the “Teachers” had to remember that the “Students” would have little or no minecraft experience and be supportive to the students at all times.

That was the plan… What happened was a little different.

At the beginning of the session the students logged the computers into minecraft, moved their avatars into position. We then reviewed the expectations of the “Teachers” and what they would need to keep in mind when working with the grade 3 “Students”.

When the grade 3 students arrived we had 30 little visitors, and we only have 20 licenses of minecraft! Instead of having a 1:1 ration of grade 5 “Teachers” to grade 3 “Students” we had…not that so with a little on the spot improvisation we ended up with a few 1:2s and 1:3 groups to get the ball rolling.

The class, I must say in all honesty was loud, active and totally AWESOME, with just a hint of chaos!

The “teachers” stepped up to the challenge and showed an amazing level of patience with the “students” even when they kept accidentally destroying parts of the rollercoaster or kept missing some(most) of the jumps that were in the parkour course.

The lanuage used by the “teachers” was very supportive and encouraging throughout the activity and was noted by the younger students when we had a feedback session after the activity.

Given the subject was created to develop specific students social and emotional skills, this lesson and the 2 term subject itself, in my humble opinion was a complete success. Chaos and all!