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Minecraft - Energy - 8 lesson program

 

Lesson 1: Introduction to Energy Sources

Outcomes:

NSW: ST3-2DP-T, ST3-3DP-T, ST3-6MW-S, ST3-7MW-T, ST3-8PW-ST, ST3-11DI-T

Aus: ACTDIP019, ACTDIP020, ACSSU080, ACSSU097

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​Objective: Students will learn to understand different types of energy sources and their impact on the environment.

  1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Begin with a class discussion on energy sources (e.g., fossil fuels, solar, wind, hydro).

  • Use videos or an interactive presentation to show examples and their environmental impacts.

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  2. Main Activity (35 minutes)

  • Introduce students to Minecraft Education Edition and guide them to create simple structures representing coal power plants and solar panels.

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  3. Conclusion (10 minutes)

  • Have students write observations on the impact of each energy source in their Minecraft world using in-game boards.

 

Lesson 2: Renewable vs Non-renewable Energy

Outcomes:

NSW: ST3-2DP-T, ST3-3DP-T, ST3-6MW-S, ST3-7MW-T, ST3-8PW-ST, ST3-11DI-T

Aus: ACTDIP019, ACTDIP020, ACSSU080, ACSSU097

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Objective: Students will learn how to differentiate between renewable and non-renewable energy sources.

  1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Show comparison charts highlighting renewable (e.g., wind, solar) vs non-renewable (e.g., coal, gas) energy sources.

 

  2. Main Activity (30 minutes)

  • Split the class into small groups to explore different Minecraft biomes and brainstorm which renewable resources could be used in each biome.

  • Use in-game signs for students to document their findings.

 

  3. Conclusion (10 minutes)

  • Conclude with a group discussion on the findings and comparisons.

 

Lesson 3: Building a Solar Farm

Outcomes:

NSW: ST3-2DP-T, ST3-3DP-T, ST3-6MW-S, ST3-7MW-T, ST3-8PW-ST, ST3-11DI-T

Aus: ACTDIP019, ACTDIP020, ACSSU080, ACSSU097

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Objective: Students will a learn how to construct a solar farm and learn its energy benefits.

  1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Demonstrate step-by-step how to create solar panels in Minecraft using glass and Redstone blocks.

  • Explain how to set up Redstone circuits to simulate the energy transfer.
     

  2. Main Activity (30 minutes)

  • Have students build their own solar farms, connecting them to a small structure to mimic powering a building.

 

  3. Conclusion (10 minutes)

  • Discuss the potential energy output and benefits of solar energy in real life.

 

Lesson 4: Designing Wind Turbines

Outcomes:

NSW: ST3-2DP-T, ST3-3DP-T, ST3-6MW-S, ST3-7MW-T, ST3-8PW-ST, ST3-11DI-T

Aus: ACTDIP019, ACTDIP020, ACSSU080, ACSSU097

​

Objective: Students will explore wind energy by designing functional wind turbines.

  1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Introduce the concept of wind energy and show examples of real-world wind turbines.

 

  2. Main Activity (30 minutes)

  • Guide students in building wind turbines using wool and Redstone. Include rotating mechanisms using Redstone repeaters and pistons to simulate movement.

  • Allow students to test their builds and refine them based on functionality.

 

  3. Conclusion (10 minutes)

  • Review how wind turbines contribute to sustainable energy production.

 

Lesson 5: Investigating Hydropower

Outcomes:

NSW: ST3-2DP-T, ST3-3DP-T, ST3-6MW-S, ST3-7MW-T, ST3-8PW-ST, ST3-11DI-T

Aus: ACTDIP019, ACTDIP020, ACSSU080, ACSSU097

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Objective: Students will understand hydropower and create a working dam.

 1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Explain the principles of hydropower, including how moving water generates energy.

  • Demonstrate building a dam using Minecraft’s water blocks and Redstone to mimic energy generation.

 

  2. Main Activity (30 minutes)

  • Assist students in building their own dam structures, integrating water flow and Redstone circuits.

 

  3. Conclusion (10 minutes)​

  • Reflect on how hydropower works in real-life applications.

 

Lesson 6: Sustainable City Design

Outcomes:

NSW: ST3-2DP-T, ST3-3DP-T, ST3-6MW-S, ST3-7MW-T, ST3-8PW-ST, ST3-11DI-T

Aus: ACTDIP019, ACTDIP020, ACSSU080, ACSSU097

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Objective: Students will create a city powered by renewable energy.

  1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Challenge students to design and build a city that includes all the renewable energy sources they have learned (e.g., solar panels, wind turbines, hydropower dams).

 

  2. Main Activity (30 minutes)

  • Guide students to connect their energy sources to different city buildings using Redstone circuits to simulate power distribution.

  • Encourage students to collaborate and brainstorm city layouts that maximise energy efficiency.
     

  3. Conclusion (10 minutes)​

  • Discuss how their cities could function sustainably in the real world.

 

Lesson 7: Challenges of Renewable Energy

Outcomes:

NSW: ST3-2DP-T, ST3-3DP-T, ST3-6MW-S, ST3-7MW-T, ST3-8PW-ST, ST3-11DI-T

Aus: ACTDIP019, ACTDIP020, ACSSU080, ACSSU097

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Objective: Students will identify and solve potential challenges in renewable energy usage.

  1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Simulate different scenarios in Minecraft where energy sources face limitations (e.g., no sunlight, low wind).

 

  2. Main Activity (30 minutes)

  • Have students modify their renewable energy solutions to overcome these challenges (e.g., add backup batteries or hybrid solutions).

  • Encourage problem-solving and creative thinking.

 

  3. Conclusion (10 minutes)​

  • Hold a discussion on the real-world challenges of implementing renewable energy and potential solutions.

 

Lesson 8: Final Project Presentation

Outcomes:

NSW: ST3-2DP-T, ST3-3DP-T, ST3-6MW-S, ST3-7MW-T, ST3-8PW-ST, ST3-11DI-T

Aus: ACTDIP019, ACTDIP020, ACSSU080, ACSSU097

​

Objective: Students will present a sustainable city design and evaluate learning.

  1. Introduction (5 minutes)

  • Organise students into groups to present their sustainable city designs.
     

  2. Main Activity (35 minutes)

  • Each presentation should cover the energy sources used, the layout, and challenges they overcame.

  • Facilitate a class discussion where peers provide constructive feedback.

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  3. Conclusion (5 minutes)​

  • Reflect on the learning objectives of the program and how students can apply this knowledge beyond the classroom.

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