A Home From Home

Student Activities

Start by loading the Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family Robinson Minecraft world file found in the resources section.

In-Game Activity: A Home From Home

Use the map of the island to locate the site of Crusoe’s summer house and build it as accurately as you can, following his  description in the book.

Once it is built, prepare the ground nearby and plant and grow a range of crops using his seeds and tools.

Use the items in this chest to set up some kind of protective system for your crops to keep birds away.

Make a pumpkin pie to celebrate your harvest. (You will need pumpkins, sugar and eggs).

Now catch some wild animals on the island using whatever means you can, and keep them safe.

Extension Activity if time allows:

Take the mine cart rail back to Swiss Family Robinson Island and use the map to find the Underground cave/ grotto. This is located somewhere on the rocky shoreline near Tent House.

Find diamond in the rocks and dig down.

Using the description from the book to ensure you are accurate, turn the grotto into a house as the Family did.

NOTE: There may be a useful surprise hidden in the grotto…

Which shelter would you prefer? Why might it be useful to have more than one at a time?

FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES: Debate

Warm up by considering the following questions in relation to the extract:

• What will happen to Crusoe if the birds destroy the crop?
• How do you feel about what Crusoe does in this section of the text?
• Why does Crusoe hang the birds that he has shot on chains? What effect does this  have on the birds?
• Come up with at least three reasons why Crusoe is right to kill the birds.
• Come up with at least three reasons why Crusoe is wrong to kill the birds.

Hold a class debate where one side argues that Crusoe is right to take the action he does do  and where the other argues that they are wrong.

Write a persuasive letter to Robinson Crusoe explaining why his actions are wrong and the  consequences of them.