Minecraft Multiplication

I went to a CUE Rock Star camp over the summer where I was introduced to the idea of using Minecraft in my teaching. Although the concept was very intriguing to me, my knowledge of Minecraft (and the desire to play it) was very limited. It took me a few months to contemplate how I would incorporate Minecraft into my teaching before I was willing to go for it. I found a YouTube video that gave me adequate background knowledge so that I felt confident enough to teach a lesson. I enlisted a Minecraft “expert” from my group of third graders to assist me while I taught the lesson.

My students already had some knowledge of what an array is because we sit in an array on the carpet a few times each day. We had recently connected it to multiplication when they did an activity representing multiplication equations using bingo chips and grid paper. During that activity I noted that several students could not accurately write a repeated addition equation for their array, so that was the focus for the Minecraft array lesson.

I listed out the steps that students were to complete during the activity. As I listed each step the expert demonstrated them on an iPad using Minecraft PE, which was projected. Student pairs were to complete the following steps:

1. type a multiplication equation on a sign
2. build an array that represents the equation using any type of block
3. add another sign with the repeated addition sign (some deleted the first sign and put both equations on the same sign)
4. check to make sure the arrays and equations match
5. take a screenshot that shows the text on the sign and the array
6. complete steps 1 – 5 again using a different equation
7. upload two screenshots to Google Classroom

Before student pairs began the activity they had to agree on how they would share the work. I also strongly emphasized the time period in which they should complete the task to prevent off task behavior. I also let students know that I was using this lesson as a test to see if they could stay on task and if I would be able to continue planning activities like this in the future. I said, “You’ll show me that you and your partner were on task the whole time by submitting your screenshots to Google Classroom by the end of our math time.” The lesson was a success. The only student that didn’t submit two screenshots didn’t finish it because she lost her array in her Minecraft world. The students loved using Minecraft to show their learning and very few “make sure you’re on task” reminders were needed. Here are a few student examples.