Link: Creating a new world in Minecraft for students to explore - Merck.com

Periodic Odyssey is an element collecting game based in a professionally designed Minecraft World that will satisfy even the most ardent Minecraft enthusiast whilst being accessible enough for a Minecraft novice.

Periodic Odyssey has the potential to increase student familiarity with both those elements (and symbols) met in a typical school curriculum as well as those, such as the rare earth elements, that are integral to modern life. Students must place each collected element in a chest labelled with the correct chemical symbol. This reveals a book containing a small amount of real-world information (state and rarity of the element) and information relating to the Minecraft gameplay (extraction tool required and protective equipment needed for the in-game hazard level).

The game shows that the elements have very different properties that make some more hazardous than others but is clearly not intended as health and safety guidance (which should always be sought from CLEAPSS or SSERC in the UK).

The extensive background research on elements carried out by the developers has been integrated into the gameplay itself rather than being used as a superficial add-on. The designers are to be commended on their use of reliable sources (such as https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table) for their background research.

The game is divided into zones. Players earn protective equipment for collecting all elements in each zone. This enables players to collect more hazardous elements later in the game. Gaseous elements are collected in bottles from glass domes and metals found as ores are mined from underground.

Is Periodic Odyssey a useful tool to directly teach new chemistry content? The answer is probably no. This is an exploratory game that takes some time to fully complete. However, part of the game could be used in a more focussed way for example as an alternative to a more standard “research” type lesson to familiarise students with a specified range of elements (and their symbols) or to address broader issues such as sustainability and use of the rare earth elements in modern life (see Periodic Odyssey Lesson Plan review).

For simplicity of use and to aid game play elements are collected as elements even when found as compounds in the real world. It is important that this is not allowed to lead to misconceptions. The more the user delves into this Minecraft world the more it inspires thinking about the differences between this constructed world and real-life chemistry. The most powerful educational benefit of the game may come from use with the older end of the age range after students have been introduced to key chemistry concepts such as the difference between elements and compounds and the reactivity of metals. Students could be asked to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the Periodic Odyssey Minecraft world as compared with the real world. For example in the game, metals such as zinc are mined directly from the ground. Can students explain why this is not the case in real life? There is a real opportunity to challenge students conceptual understanding of chemistry through critique of how elements are collected in this Minecraft World.

It is to be hoped that if introduced in a focused way to this game by a science teacher some otherwise less motivated students may be inspired to explore the game further and increase their own chemical vocabulary and science capital. The resource would also be suitable for students who are being home schooled for those already familiar with Minecraft Education who are looking for a science-based game.

Even if not used in lesson time, the game provides a sound enrichment opportunity for 11 to 14 year-olds that may be highly motivational to some students due to the quest-like structure of the game.

Periodic Odyssey Lesson Plan

Sustainability of Earth’s Resources

Minecraft: Education Edition has produced a lesson planning template for Minecraft World developers and teachers to produce lessons that utilise that world. The lesson plans support teachers to integrate Minecraft educational experiences within their lessons. The template is well thought out and supports developers to produce well-structured lessons, containing key lesson elements.

A lesson plan for teaching about the sustainability of the Earth’s resources has been produced linked to the US’s Next Generation Science Standards. The US New Generation Science Standards have introduced a more process-based approach to learning and have been adopted by many states. Students are challenged to find the 17 rare earth elements that are located in one zone of the game. This lesson illustrates how Periodic Odyssey could be used in a more focused way as a classroom activity. The lesson plan is aimed at learners aged 11-13 and is underpinned by clear learning objectives drawn from the NGSS, suggested essential questions and teacher guidance.

The theme of the lesson is sustainability of Earth’s resources with students investigating responsible production and consumption of the earth’s resources over two one-hour lessons. Although three NGS standards are identified by the sequence, it mainly addresses just one: NGSS MS-PS1-3: Gather and make sense of information to describe how synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society. From an educational perspective, this one objective would be sufficient.

The first lesson comprises several learning experiences and makes extensive use ICT: several web-based interactive activities, articles and videos. Students are taken on a journey that considers how we use metals, where they come from and the impact of the environment. One engaging interactive then leads students through the processes required to return an open cast mine to a wildlife habitat. Links to the Global Goals (known officially as the Sustainable Development Goals) through the World’s Largest Lesson are particularly welcome. Most resources are age-appropriate although one article about semiconductor shortage is a difficult read and refers to manufacturing capacity issues rather than a shortage of raw materials.

The second lesson builds on the first through consideration of rare-earth elements and their uses, particularly those linked to semiconductors. The Unites States Geological Survey (USGS) article referenced would be a challenging independent read for target students, but it would be accessible and highly relevant if supported by the teacher. The BBC article about silicon, The humble mineral that transformed the world, is an excellent resource although extensive: teachers may prefer to select key learning from the article or provide students with questions that would support engagement. In the final part of the lesson students enter the Periodic Odyssey to search for elements found in everyday items with a particular focus on collecting the seventeen rare earth elements linked to the USGS article. Students record information about the elements using Minecraft tools: the camera and book and quill.

Suggestions are made for both formative and summative assessment activities although the suggestions for formative assessment could be improved by experienced teachers.

The two-lesson sequence works with or without Periodic Odyssey, although using Periodic Odyssey could potentially raise learner engagement, especially amongst some reluctant learners.