activities into your STEM and other technology lessons. Many teachers think of
science experiments when it comes to STEM, however, STEM is not just about
science. It includes the integration of math and technology as well.
Today’s post is about a pixel art STEM activity that integrates
students’ love for Minecraft with their love for Star Wars. It can be a
challenging activity and can take anywhere from several hours to several days to
complete. There is a potential for students to get frustrated with this
activity, so I recommend this activity for students in the middle elementary
grades and above.
This is an updated version of a blog post I wrote when Minecraft was still
in 1.9.
About Pixel Art
When students create pixel art in Minecraft, they are practicing a wide
variety of skills. These skills include:
- color recognition
- counting
- patterning
- geometry
- graphing and grids
- problem-solving
- following directions
- fine motor skills
- visual-spatial awareness
- eye-hand coordination
- using technology
- maintaining focus and concentration
- critical thinking skills
Materials Needed
This is a widely popular R2D2 design that has been passed around online
for years. If you happen to know who the original creator is, please let
me know so I can give them proper credit.
Directions
1. Print one grid per student. (Obviously, it needs to be printed in color.)
These can be printed on card stock and laminated, so students can mark their
progress and jot notes as they go and to be used year after year.
2. Once the students are logged into Minecraft, they need to
find a large, clear spot to build. Creative mode works the best for
this activity.
3. The students need to begin at the bottom of
the grid and count out the number of cubes and the colors they need. For
example, the bottom row in this pattern needs five black blocks, then two
white blocks, then seven black blocks, then two white blocks, and finally
five black blocks. Suggestion: use the different colors of wool to build the
structures.
4. The students place those blocks on the ground,
one next to the other.
5. After completing the bottom row, then
the students work their way upwards, counting and placing the number of
blocks they need.
My R2D2 pixel art sculpture… What do you think?
If you want to challenge your students, have them draw their own images on
grid paper and then build them in the game. Remember to provide ample time
for them to complete this activity. It took me about a half-hour to build my
R2D2 pixel art sculpture, so prepare for it to take longer with your
students.
Star Wars Children’s Books
get your students excited and ready to get started. It is also a terrific
way to wind down a lesson and put closure to it. In 2015 I compiled a list
of
ten Star Wars children’s books. Which of these books would you integrate into this pixel art activity?
Did you enjoy reading about this Minecraft activity? If so, check out these
blog posts for more ideas to integrate Minecraft into your lessons:
search words: Minecraft, Minecraft math, Minecraft learning, Minecraft education, Minecraft pixel art, graph art
