Commonwealth Games

Lesson Overview

Commonwealth Games

This is a unit designed to introduce the students (and staff) to Minecraft Education Edition with a learning focus on the Commonwealth Games.

Introduction

This unit was designed to incorporate research skills, planning and creativity in combination with the huge variety of skills required to work collaboratively in a Minecraft world.

Student Ages

8-10 and 11-13

Subjects

Geography and Mathematics

Skills

Citizenship, Creativity, and Project Based Learning

Lesson Plan

Learning Objectives

Geography

GE2 1 examines features and characteristics of places and environments

GE2 3 examines differing perceptions about the management of places and environments

GE2 4 acquires and communicates geographical information using geographical tools for inquiry

Mathematics

MA2-14MG makes, compares, sketches and names three-dimensional objects, including prisms, pyramids, cylinders, cones and spheres, and describes their features

MA2-17MG uses simple maps and grids to represent position and follow routes, including using compass directions

Guiding Ideas and Questions

What type of accommodation will house large numbers of people?

What facilities are required in an athlete’s village?

What sporting competitions are in the Commonwealth Games?

What sporting facilities are required for these sports?

Student Activities

• 
  Introduce the students to Minecraft Education Edition – use the students prior knowledge of Minecraft to stimulate the discussion. Demonstrate the Department of Education login process that all involved students will be required to follow.
  
• 
  Discuss the concept of Digital Citizenship, use the discussion to establish a set of criteria (rules) that all participants will adhere to when working in the world.
  
• 
  Guide all students through the MEE tutorial activities, using experienced Minecraft players to mentor new or inexperienced players (including teachers).
  
• 
  Brainstorm the Commonwealth Games with the students, use whatever recording format is suitable, (electronic, KWL chart, personal or group mind map).
  
• 
  Create a timeline for hosting the Commonwealth games beginning with the bid process and continue through each step including (but not exclusive to) planning, construction, staffing, transport and the staging of the Games.
  
• 
  Describe the initial Minecraft activity to the class which involves each student constructing a form of accommodation that can house a specified number of athletes from a designated country in an allotted area in the Minecraft World. The students will be asked to research relevant data related to the athletes that they are constructing accommodation for. The students will be encouraged to include food, recreation and training needs in their accommodation.
  
• 
  Provide students with the opportunity to plan their construction by making available a variety of materials for them to draft their ideas in preparation for entering the Minecraft World.
  
• 
  Using an interactive whiteboard, show each student or pair of students where their allotted construction area is, revise the agreed upon digital citizenship rules and allow the students to begin their construction using their draft plans as the starting point. This initial Minecrafting should ideally take place in the computer lab, with continued construction taking place on notebook and desktop computers available in the classroom. Where possible, access the computer lab to highlight work where appropriate and engage in explicit teaching.
  
• 
  After construction of the athlete’s village return to the original brainstorming information and create a list of sports that athlete’s will be competing in at the Games. Allocate a sport for each child or pair to research, with emphasis on information such as the type of facility required for the sport, equipment, high profile athletes and Australian athletes involved.
  
• 
  Using the information from their research activity, the students will be asked to design the facility required to host their allocated sport using a variety of materials that have been provided for them to draft their ideas in preparation for re-entering the Minecraft World and constructing the facility.
  
• 
  Using an interactive whiteboard, show each student or pair of students where their allotted construction area is, revise the agreed upon digital citizenship rules and allow the students to begin their construction using their draft plans as the starting point. Use notebook and desktop computers available in the classroom for the students to access MEE. Where possible, access the computer lab to highlight work where appropriate and engage in explicit teaching.
  
• 
  
  

Performance Expectations

• 
  understand the importance of digital citizenship and give examples of what it looks like in the context of a shared Minecraft world.
  
• 
  Describe the basic requirements for accommodation used for a group of athletes from a specific country.
  
• 
  Design and build an accommodation structure that fulfills the needs of a group of athletes from a specific country.
  
• 
  Describe the facility required for specific sporting events at the Commonwealth games.
  
• 
  Create the facility for the allocated Commonwealth Games sport.
  

Performance Expectations	7 – 10 marks	2 – 6 marks	0 – 1 marks
Digital Citizenship	High levels of digital citizenship and willingness to assist others	A basic level of digital citizenship, minimal communal support.	Little or no awareness or application of digital citizenship.
Accommodation construction	Construction includes all basic requirements as well as appropriate additional inclusions and high levels of aesthetic appeal.	Construction includes all basic requirements, with minimal innovation and aesthetic appeal.	Construction is basic with minimal detail.
Accommodation Design	Practical, innovative designs including all necessary features as well as extra design elements that enhance the overall structure.	Design meets all minimal requirements with little attention to enhancements.	Basic design, without inclusions of all necessary elements.
Facility construction	Construction meets and exceeds all requirements including dimensions, infrastructure and spectator facilities.	Construction meets basic requirements with minimal attention to infrastructure and spectator facilities.	Basic construction with no consideration for dimensions, infrastructure or spectators.
Facility design	The design of the facility is supported by research and includes all appropriate inclusions and extensions required in a world class facility.	The design of the facility displays some examples of research and an attempt to include some basic requirements for this type of facility.	Minimal or no effort reflected in the design of the facility.
Infrastructure inclusions	Every effort has been made to contribute to the overall infrastructure (transport, facilities, community services etc.)	A basic effort to contribute to the overall infrastructure.	No effort to contribute to the overall infrastructure needs.

External References

https://gc2018.com/ The official website of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

http://commonwealthgames.com.au/ Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) is a member-based organization, our members are the National Sporting Organisations (NSO’s) representing the sports participating in Commonwealth Games.

https://www.forteachersforstudents.com.au/site/themed-curriculum/commonwealth-games/facts/ This website is designed to provide a variety of information aimed specifically for students and teachers.

http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s4820446.htm A BTN website for providing background information on the Commonwealth Games.

Supporting Files

Main Stadium

Accommodation

Venue

Transport