Expo 2020 Dubai
As part of the Expo 2020 educational program, we have created 9 individual Minecraft worlds - each accompanied by a lesson plan - which deal with a range of topics from AI to sustainability.
Learning objectives
Lesson 1, Agent Action (Ages 6-10): - Gain understanding of different communication types (human-human, human-machine, machine-machine). - Learn basic coding skills using Microsoft MakeCode.
Lesson 2, Data Visualisation (Ages 6-10) - Gain understanding of the purpose of data. - Learn use of data visualisation to understand how to read data.
Lesson 3, Helping our Habitats (Ages 6-10) - Explore and understand the importance of protecting our natural habitats. - Learn about major habitat types in their country /region, including the plants, animals and climate.
Lesson 6, Daily Decisions & Opportunity Cost (Ages 11-15) - Understand what opportunity cost is. - Consider their own life decisions, and the social, environmental and economic impacts of the associated opportunity costs.
Lesson 7, AI and You (Ages 16-18) - Understand the difference between human and computer intelligence. - Learn about the opportunities and challenges of creating a computer than can think and react like a human.
Lesson 8, The Perfect Classroom (Ages 16-18) - Learn about new building technologies and materials. - Understand the importance of considering the needs of others when building a space for many.
Lesson 9, Circular Sustainability (Ages 16-18) - Learn about the importance of a circular economy/pattern when it comes to sustainability. - Consider their own practices and decisions in relation to circular or linear economic models.
Lesson 4, Masterful Migration (Ages 11-15) - Learn about the various impactful human migratory events that have occurred in their country or region. - Understand the economic, social and environmental impacts of the migration.
Lesson 5, Cultural Art (Ages 11-15) - Explore what art is from a cultural perspective. - Create their own art exhibit representing their family background and cultural/historical significance.
Teacher prep and notes
Each Minecraft world is accompanied by a lesson plan which gives an overview of the lesson, as well as detailed instructions for each stage.
Lessons are split into 4 stages:
Engage: introducing students to key concepts and information relevant to the lesson topic.
Explore: students will carry out research, usually inside the provided Minecraft world, and record their findings.
Learn: students will consolidate and reflect on their findings, in response to a set task or question.
Create: students will carry out a creative task that represents their learnings from the lesson - this is also usually inside the Minecraft world.
Guiding ideas
The 9 Expo lessons are split into 3 themes, Mobility, Opportunity and Sustainability.
Lessons are designed for the 6-10, 11-15 and 16-18 age groups - there is one lesson on each of the above themes for these age groups.
Each theme contains a range of topics - the Learning Objectives above outline the topic of each lesson, ranging from AI and machine learning, to cultural art and the study of migration.
All of the lessons link back to the Expo 2020 site in some form, whether as part of an activity asking students to build something new inside the site, or conduct research on some of the site's existing structures or exhibits. In addition to the learning objectives outlined above, the lessons provide a unique opportunity to familiarise students with the Expo event itself.
Student activities
Student activities are described in the Lesson Plans, which are downloadable here and from the 'External References' section.
Performance expectations
Performance expectations are described in the Lesson Plans, which are downlodable here and from the 'Externable References' section.
External reference
Share or assign
Skills
- Character
- Citizenship
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Creativity
- Critical thinking
- Project Based Learning
Estimated time
More than 3 hours
