City Planning - Survival Roads

CCSS.Math.Content.5.OA.A.1 Use parentheses, brackets, or braces in numerical expressions, and evaluate expressions with these symbols.
CCSS.Math.Content.5.OA.A.2 Write simple expressions that record calculations with numbers, and interpret numerical expressions without evaluating them. For example, express the calculation "add 8 and 7, then multiply by 2" as 2 × (8 + 7). Recognize that 3 × (18932 + 921) is three times as large as 18932 + 921, without having to calculate the indicated sum or product.
CCSS.Math.Content.5.MD.A.1 Convert among different-sized standard measurement units within a given measurement system (e.g., convert 5 cm to 0.05 m), and use these conversions in solving multi-step, real world problems.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.OA.B.3 Generate two numerical patterns using two given rules. Identify apparent relationships between corresponding terms. Form ordered pairs consisting of corresponding terms from the two patterns, and graph the ordered pairs on a coordinate plane. For example, given the rule "Add 3" and the starting number 0, and given the rule "Add 6" and the starting number 0, generate terms in the resulting sequences, and observe that the terms in one

Guiding Ideas

Start by exploring these questions with your class:

How can we find out how many meters are in a kilometer?
How can we find out how many blocks we would have to gather to build a road that is 0.2 kilometers long?
What do decimals mean in measurement?
How can algebra help us build a road?

Student Activities

Begin by loading the attached Minecraft world for Survival City Roads. It is recommended that students work in small groups of 3-5 people. For additional instruction setting up, visit our Minecraft Helpdesk article on How To Set Up a Multiplayer Game.

Step 1) Survey the Land

Open the world and have students explore the world and figure out where they would like there road to go. This should not take long and students can also talk about what kind of biomes and land structures they see.

Step 2) The Worksheet

Hand out the worksheet and work with students on how to write equations for each step. Begin with the problem of how many blocks we need to collect to build a road that is 0.2 kilometers long.

1 meter of the road will be made out of 2 whole blocks and 3 slabs. 1 whole block can be crafted into 2 slabs so slabs are a ½ a block.

Blocks could equal 2 times meters.

Slabs could be equal to the product of 3 times meters divided by 2

At the end of the worksheet the students must compare their equation to a fictional characters equation. The characters equation is correct so you can use that to help you understand how to write the equation for a road. (m=200 meter)

R= (2xM) + (3xM)/2

Step 3) Get the Blocks

Now that the equation have been written and solved, your students will now know they need to gather at least 700 blocks to build a road that is 0.2 meters. Students will get into groups of four and chose to be a lumberjack, a miner, or a sandman. Click the buttons on the NPC named Jude Washington and get your gear.

Lumberjacks collect lots of:

wood
flowers dye
dirt

Miners collect lots of:

Stone or all kinds
Ores
Gravel

Concrete Workers collect lots of:

Sand
Gravel
Sandstone
Dirt
Flowers

Step 4 Build Roads

All teams will be called to their village and groups will begin to make their 0.2 kilometer roads. The jobs are Block Placers, Slab Pavers, Land Levelers

Land Levelers:

Make the land in front of the road flat:
- a) Use shovel to dig out bumps in the land that get into way or the road.
- b) Make sure the land is always flat at least 5 blocks wide, so the road will fit on it.
- c) Fill in the land with dirt if there is a whole or dip in the land.

Block Placers: