Two Heads are Better than One: Building Big

            In this week’s class, our students were taking their Minecraft building to the next level. They had completed their houses; now it was time to go bigger.

            The theme of the last two lessons is Building Big. The students examine examples of ancient and modern large scale architecture from all over the world, from the pyramids of Egypt and Cambodia to the buildings of Antoni Gaudi and Frank Lloyd Wright. Then, working in partners or independently, students build a structure designed to stand the test of time, something that represents who they are for posterity to remember.

            We saw some great collaborative work on these structures. Nicholas and Charles created a “massive mancave” with Nicholas using the keyboard while Charles used the mouse. Yating and Winnie made a two-level music studio with bright colored walls. Jason and Jason made a large diamond structure. Hayden and Wilson created their own version of a pyramid, experimenting with TNT to clear the environment for building. Matilda and Alda worked independently, with Alda digging a massive trench in the ground for her structure, and Matilda building an enormous temple with Dubai-esque proportions.

            Perhaps the best part of this Minecraft project is how collaborative it becomes. Even those working independently are bouncing ideas off each other. They’re breaking things down and iterating through their designs seamlessly. All the lessons of the past four weeks have led to this moment, where the group can work in teams.

Collaborative activities require the highest level of culture and team building to be successful. The fact that students feel comfortable working in teams shows how far we’ve come from day one, when we could only get two kids to talk!

            We’re looking forward to our grand finale for Module 1. Then on to Module 2 and a new set of students!

            We are so thrilled to have this new partnership with BCNC and its Red Oak After School program that brings us back to ARCK’s roots in the Josiah Quincy Elementary School.