Learning objectives
Teach students about sustainability, build their green skills and help them to take real-world action in their school or local community.
In the Offshore Wind Power Challenge, students design an offshore wind farm, learning about sustainability, renewable energy, and the design process used in green careers. They must navigate the need for renewable energy balanced with the needs of people and marine life to see if they can power a coastal village.
They will use ‘Green Coins’ to pay for turbines, selecting their placement based on cost, seabed suitability, and the social and environmental impacts, including shipping channels, residents, and marine habitats.
Within the world, there are two core sections. Each section has a curriculum-linked lesson plan and teaching materials for students aged 11-14, to build on the learning within the gameplay:
- In the museum, students will learn about renewable energy and how turbines work. In the lesson, students will develop an understanding of the engineering design process, which links closely with the design and testing they will do in the world.
- In the design centre, they will design and develop their own offshore wind farm and assess their success in powering a coastal village. In the lesson, students will explore the perspectives of those involved in or affected by the development of an Offshore Wind Farm. They will consider real-world links and develop skills such as empathy.
In addition, the Taking Action Toolkit supports students to apply the agency and skills that they have developed by taking real-world action.
Teacher prep and notes
Each lesson pack contains a teacher guide, lesson slides and associated worksheets. Throughout the teacher guide, you will find background information on each topic as well as a glossary of key terms at the end.
The background information will reference facts and figures relevant the the UK. However, the themes and activities can be delivered regardless of geographic location.
Before you deliver this lesson, please view the two CPD videos on this page under 'External Resources'. These videos include guidance and tips on using Minecraft in your lessons, bringing sustainability to life, and facilitating these lessons in the programme.
If you encounter any issues, please visit the Minecraft support forum.
Guiding ideas
- Integrated into STEM and geography classrooms.
- Builds student’s knowledge and understanding of renewable energy and sustainability.
- Understand the diversity of job roles and green skills.
- Recognise and grow green skills.
- Build student agency so they feel empowered and able to take action - lessons use cooperative learning structures, where students work on tasks independently, in pairs and in groups. These cooperative learning structures build the core skills that they need for a changing world of work – and to be positive changemakers for biodiversity and sustainability.
Student activities
The Offshore Wind Power Challenge will help students understand sustainability, renewable energy, and the design process used in green careers.
Lesson activities include:
- The engineering design process – Students will understand that wind power is a source of clean energy and be able to design a wind turbine based on an idea from nature.
- Wind farm stakeholders – Students will consider and debate different perspectives on a proposed offshore wind farm.
- Taking Action Toolkit – This toolkit features accessible principles for how students can identify key issues that they care about, which affect their school/local community. They can work on projects that begin to create meaningful solutions for nature recovery with their peers.
Skills
- Citizenship
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Creativity
- Critical thinking
- Project Based Learning
Estimated time
1 hour
Supporting Files
- Offshore Wind Power Challenge lessonsStudents explore renewable energy, implement the engineering design process, and debate different perspectives on a proposed offshore wind farm.