8-10 yrs old
Art and Design
Computer Science
Math & Economics
Design a pixel art image then break down the colors into fractions, discuss number patterns & unit fractions, then build the designs in Minecraft.
February 3, 2020
World File
Supporting Minecraft world file.
Engage NY Module
Related Engage NY Module link.
Opening Slideshow
Go through the pictures on the Opening Sideshow with your class.
The point of the slideshow is to teach how to build and explain the math models. Once you have figured this out you can build these models and project them on the board, while your students take notes and write the math in their notebooks. The pictures the student will work on will look like this.
Once you feel your students have discovered the concept of parts to a whole unveil the Big Idea:
“Fractions are Parts of a Whole.”
Pixel Design Prototyping: 20 minutes
To design their prototypes, have students click on the scratch link below to use this pixel art creator.
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/53198188/
Have a quick reminder about arrays and ask the students how many tiles are in the Pixel Art Creator. (Answer: 9x12=108 )
To use, the arrow keys move the cursor around and key on the keyboard stamp in colors. B is blue, Y is yellow, R is Red, Spacebar is black. There are a lot of colors in the program and you can see the full list by looking at the code in the script. Do this by clicking on the “See inside” button on the upper right hand corner of the screen and then the “Scripts” tab just to the right of the stage.
Alternatively, students can use Microsoft Excel to create their prototype by filling in the cells with different colors.
It should take students about 15 minutes to design their pixel art
Find your Color Fractions
Students will then find out what each colors fraction is by using the number of units used over the whole pixel art. Open the attached example, Pixel Pumpkin. The pumpkin will be.
1/108 is white
12/108 are gray
4/108 are green
2/108 are red
11/108 are yellow
34/108 are orange
44/108 are black
Next they will add their units to check if they are correct 1+2+4+11+12+34+44=108. Then check their work with a calculator.
Best practices: If they did not get the correct answer let them keep using the calculator, so they can focus more on finding their mistakes then just crunching number.
Build it in Minecraft: 20 Minutes
Now that they have their math and design they are ready to build their pixel art in Minecraft. To do this it is best to split the screens between Scratch and Minecraft like this so they can look at their prototype and use the cursor on to help count blocks while building in Minecraft. Then document and label.
Extra Activities
Debrief
Depth of Knowledge 4 The student did all of the following:
Depth of Knowledge 3 The student completed 5 out of the listed above
Depth of Knowledge 2 The student completed 3 out of the 6 listed above
Depth of Knowledge 1 The student completed 2 out of the 6 listed above