8-10 yrs old
11-13 yrs old
Climate & Environment
Science
Technology
Enumerate different methods to generate electricity, give their pros and cons and roughly explain how they work.
April 7, 2020
LUMEN Power Challenge World
Minecraft world file.
Tables 1 & 2 and Quizz
Full lesson and supporting materials.
In this map, students will discover various ways to generate electricity. At the end, they will be able to:
1. Enumerate different methods to generate electricity, give their pros and cons and roughly explain how they work
2. Distinguish renewable energy sources from non-renewable sources
3. Identify locations suited for renewable energy sources
4. Understand how electricity is transported from sources to consumers
5. Give examples of how energy can be stored
Context
To provide context for this lesson, the topic of renewable energy has to be introduced. To do this, use the video(s) in the external references, the vocabulary in Table 1 (in Supporting Files) and the following questions that can be asked to the students:
Preparation for the game
Now the students are familiar with the topic, they can start playing the game. Let each student enter the world in Minecraft Education Edition (single player is recommended).
In this world, students start at an information board that tells them there are 5 challenges around the town, marked by red beacons (vertical light signals). They can be completed in any order. One of the following approaches is suggested:
When completing a challenge, students will get an in-game notification and the beacon at the starting place will turn green.
Challenge 1: Fixing the offshore wind turbines (15 min.)
The students need to follow the river by boat and go to the offshore transformer platform near the wind turbines. There, an information board explains how wind turbines are used to generate electricity. After pressing the button they receive an elytra which they will use to glide to the top of each wind turbine to repair them.
Challenge 2: Fixing the solar panels on the roofs of the houses (10 min.)
The students need to find a way to the roofs (by using the tree, ladders, or stairs inside the houses) and repair the damaged panels by right-clicking them. In this case, the panels are damaged by a storm, but an alternative way to think about it is to clean the panels, because dust blocks sunlight. An information board explains the advantages of solar panels.
Challenge 3: Preventing the nuclear reactor from overheating (15 min.)
After pressing the button inside the nuclear power station, the students receive instructions to raise the fuel rods, repair the heat sinks, supply coolant, dispose nuclear waste and repair the pipes. Encourage the students to read the information board about nuclear power stations.
Challenge 4: Fuelling the generator of the off-grid house (15 min.)
The sign at the house on the island tells the students to search for coal at the coal power station (hint: coal pieces can be found in boxes at the coal piles at the left of the coal power station). The information board at the coal power station provides educational information.
Challenge 5: Clearing out the hydroelectric dam (15 min.)
A panel provides educational information about hydroelectric dams. The sign tells the students to clear out the channels inside the dam. These can be accessed via the top or bottom.
Final quiz in the brick factory (5 min.)
By pressing the button in the factory, a quiz starts. It consists of 13 multiple choice questions to test the student’s knowledge (see annex). To unlock the quiz without completing all five challenges first, the player can teleport to it by typing the command /tp 1179 68 60 in the chat window.
By completing all five challenges and reading the information boards at each of them, the students should have learned the following:
Challenge 1: Fixing the offshore wind turbines
Challenge 2: Fixing the solar panels on the roofs of the houses
Challenge 3: Preventing the nuclear reactor from overheating
Challenge 4: Refuelling the generator of the off-grid house
Challenge 5: Clearing out the hydroelectric dam
Final quiz in the brick factory
Students should be able to complete this test successfully (see annex in Supporting Files.)
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