Climate Futures by Minecraft Education

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Description

The Minecraft Education Climate Futures lessons offer educators an engaging platform to teach students aged 8-13 about climate change and sustainability. Developed in collaboration with the UK’s Met Office and Pathway Studios, these lessons align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing immersive experiences that highlight the impact of human activities on the environment. 

The collection comprises three distinct lessons:

• 1. Climate Futures: The Farm: Students investigate the agricultural supply chain, exploring how food production contributes to climate change. Through this, they gain insights into sustainable farming practices and their role in reducing environmental impact. 
• 2. Climate Futures: The Forest: Learners delve into the effects of deforestation over a century, understanding its implications on ecosystems and climate. The lesson encourages critical thinking about conservation and responsible resource management. 
• 3. Climate Futures: Transportation: This lesson examines the environmental consequences of various transportation methods. Students act as investigative journalists, exploring how transportation choices influence climate change and contemplating sustainable alternatives. 

By integrating these lessons into the curriculum, teachers can foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and empathy among students. The interactive nature of Minecraft allows students to visualise complex environmental concepts, making the subject matter more accessible and engaging. Furthermore, these lessons prepare students for future challenges by emphasising the importance of sustainable practices and encouraging them to envision and build solutions within the game environment. 

Incorporating the Climate Futures lessons into classroom instruction not only enhances students’ understanding of climate change but also empowers them to become proactive contributors to a sustainable future.

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How to use this resource

Using the guidelines and instructions, you must first download Minecraft Education and the Climate Futures lessons and resources. Teachers can use the accompanying PowerPoint presentations to introduce the Climate Futures topics. 

Encourage students to explore the scenarios, complete in-game challenges, and record their observations. Facilitate classroom discussions on discoveries, solutions, and sustainability strategies as students progress through the lessons. Discuss what students learned, the impacts of human actions, and ideas for sustainable practices. Reinforce key concepts by connecting them to real-world examples.

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The resources

The three Climate Futures lessons and accompanying resources can be downloaded from the Minecraft Education website here: Climate Futures.

If you are new to Minecraft Education and want to know how to get started, an introductory page is available here: Get Started – Educators.

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Learning Outcomes (Teachers)

• Elicit prior knowledge and further develop knowledge and comprehension of key Sustainability Citizenship key concepts, challenging established worldviews and values.
• Apply a range of suitable tools and frameworks to promote student Sustainability Citizenship.

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Green Competencies

• Embodying Sustainable Values: Valuing Sustainability; Promoting Nature
• Embracing Complexity in Sustainability: Systems Thinking; Critical Thinking; Problem Framing
• Envisioning Sustainable Futures: Futures Literacy; Adaptability
• Acting for Sustainability: Collective Action; Individual Initiative

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Creative Commons

The Climate Future lessons, resources and virtual world were created by Minecraft Education in collaboration with the UK Met Office. The Synapses Teacher Academy are not an official Minecraft Education partner and not associated with Mojang or Microsoft. Links to the Minecraft Education website are provided to support teachers grow, play and learn together.

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SDGs