SOLVE CODING PUZZLES TO SURVIVE THE NIGHT IN THE NEW MINECRAFT HOUR OF AI

This year, Minecraft Education and Code.org are teaming up to make AI learning an epic adventure. Our long-standing partner, Code.org, has evolved Hour of Code into Hour of AI, a global initiative that brings the excitement of coding and AI to millions of students. And now, with our new Hour of AI world, The First Night, students get to experience the thrill of Minecraft while discovering how AI and AI agents work and how to use them responsibly.

SURVIVE THE NIGHT—WITH AN AGENT BY YOUR SIDE!

Imagine stepping into Minecraft, facing the classic challenge: gathering resources, building shelter, and keeping the zombies at bay. But this time, you’re not alone!

Students will team up with the beloved, blocky Minecraft Agent who needs their help to learn, adapt, and survive. Through MakeCode and Python programming, they will teach the Agent to recognize patterns, classify resources, and coordinate mini-agent helpers, just like a real AI system.

GAME-BASED LEARNING FOR AI LITERACY

Research shows that 72% of students want guidance from trusted adults about AI. Hour of AI makes this easy, no deep technical expertise required. Students get to play, experiment, and learn by doing. In this tutorial, every puzzle is a chance to experiment, play, and see your Agent grow smarter with your guidance.

The Agent becomes a “thinking partner,” amplifying human creativity and problem-solving, while the player gets to be the teacher, showing your Agent how to spot acacia wood, build tools, and even fix mistakes (like forgetting to add a door before the zombies arrive!). The game is packed with “aha!” moments, like debugging your Agent’s code or watching mini-agents mine and build alongside you.

The magic of Hour of AI is in the role reversal: students become the experts, guiding their Agent through five essential survival tasks. The Agent starts out clueless, but with your help, learns to tackle challenges and avoid epic fails. It’s hands-on, creative, and sometimes hilarious - especially when your Agent builds a shelter with no doors and you have to save the day!

HOW TO JOIN THE ADVENTURE

Play the tutorial:

• If you already have Minecraft Education, open the app and click ‘Hour of AI’ on the home screen to choose a tutorial.
• If you don’t have a license, download the app and click ‘Try a demo’. Hour of AI is available as a free demo in Minecraft Education, which means it’s accessible to anyone, no license required.

Download educator materials:

• Visit our Hour of AI webpage to get free supporting materials including a Facilitator Guide and lesson plan.
• When students complete the Hour of AI, they will receive a certificate of completion. Download this certificate to print, as well as a fun badge.

Register for free community events:

• Join one of our Hour of AI Classroom Play-Alongs, where you can join classrooms around the world for a guest-taught Hour of AI live lesson streamed Microsoft Teams.

Mark your calendar for December 8, when millions of students and teachers around the world will celebrate Computer Science Education Week with tons of fun Hour of AI events.

READY TO PLAY, LEARN, AND SHAPE THE FUTURE?

Hour of AI: The First Night is just the beginning. For educators and students who want more, Minecraft Education’s AI Foundations program offers extended curriculum, teacher training, and an animated series for learners of all ages.

Join the global Hour of AI movement and show students that the AI-powered future is full of creative problem solving, collaboration, and fun. As the sun sets on your first night, the adventure and the learning have only just begun!