MInecraft Maths – Surface Area and Volume

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Games based learning has been a hot topic in the last year or so and one of the most popular games in educational use has been Minecraft. Although there has been some debate about the value of learning outcomes, many students would agree that Minecraft is a fun way to learn about surface area and volume. This YouTube video, “Minecraft Math – Surface Area and Volume” describes how to calculate the surface area of rectangular prisms and challenges the viewer to calculate the surface area and volume of a huge tower of TNT blocks! Another YouTube video, from the same user, demonstrates the “Volume of Prisms and Pyramids” in Minecraft and offers a challenge to calculate the area of a prism with a pyramid on top.

We spent last lesson looking at the volume and surface areas of various patterns of ‘minecraft’ blocks. Our assumption is that each Minecraft block is 1m x 1m x 1m – a cubic metre. Next lesson I would like you to create your name in Minecraft blocks and measure the volume and the surface area of your construction. Start by using the first letter of your first name. It should be a minimum of five blocks high and three blocks wide. Make sure you take a screenshot of your construction and send it to me by email.

More about Cartesian Co-ordinates

Learning Intention:
To understand how cartesian coordinates are used on maps and in mathematics to describe locations and linear equations. Also to understand the relationships between co-ordinates that are reflected across the x and y axis.

Success Criteria:
Students will be able to draw up a cartesian plane, correctly locate and plot coordinates on the plane, as well as be able to identify where points exist using cartesian coordinates. They will complete the games and activities above and identify what they have learnt from each of the interactives.

Maths is Fun – Cartesian Co-ordinates

Shodor Interactives – General Co-ordinates

The links above take you to several activities to help you learn about Cartesian coordinates. Go to the first activity (Interactive cartesian co-ordinates) and plot three points to form an equilateral triangle in one quadrat. Write the co-ordinates down in your book, then reflect the triangle into each of the three other quadrats. List the plotted points in your book. What do you notice about the relationship between the plotted points?

Now. draw a shape of your own choice in one of the quadrats – it could be a simple polygon, a star, heart or more complicated original design. Then write down the co-ordinates of it’s vertices (in order). Reflect the shape into each of the quadrats and write down their co-odinates. Give a partner your list of co-ordinates and see if they can determine the shape you have created using the co-ordinates given.