8-10 yrs old
11-13 yrs old
14-18 yrs old
Dramatic Arts/Theater
Music
Reading and Writing
Students will collaborate to write, edit, produce, and perform in a Minecraft video. They will learn how to constructively work together.
December 21, 2016
Example of Minecraft Music Video
Here is an example of a Minecraft Music Video that I created with my students.
Minecraft Music Video Blog Post
Here is a blogpost with my reflections on the Minecraft music video I created with my students.
In this lesson, students will write and perform in a music video in Minecraft. They can either find a public domain song to use, or write and perform their own. Students will build the Minecraft world, create the skins, and collaborate together with arts and technology to create a live or recorded video.
What is a story and how do we write an effective one?
How to create a Minecraft world and skins to enact our story?
How do we translate our written script to an visual video?
How to choose music to match our story, or how to choose a story that matches our music?
How do we work together to create this project? How do we listen and critique other ideas without hurting feelings? (I highly suggest reading Liz Lehrman's excellent book "Critical Response Process" for how to help students (and ourselves!) give constructive feedback).
In this STEAM collaboration, students will be writing scripts, designing sets (worlds), designing costumes (skins), using audio and visual recording software, editing, acting (as a Minecraft avatars or real people), and designating roles to each other. For the music aspect, students can use already recorded music, perform published music, or even write their own.
This project is fun, creative, and open-ended. It brings many subjects together, such as music, technology, English, and theater programs.
Students will be expected to:
Delegate roles such as director, actor, writer, composer, cameraman, musician, technical support, etc.
Write their own script.
Design the Minecraft world and skins.
Act out the story in game, and possibly in the real world.
Use recording and film editing software such as Microsoft Expression Encoder or Final Cut Pro.
Possibly perform and/or write their own music.
Work together constructively and helpfully.