ROM Minecraft

A Minecraft screenshot of a dinosaur dig site with exposed dinosaur fossil, tents, truck with crates, and a holographic recreation of an ankylosaur.

About

Minecraft: Education Edition is a game-based learning platform that promotes creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving in an immersive digital environment. For several years, the ROM has invited students onto its pilot Minecraft server to build meaningful, personalized learning across a wide variety of themes including science, resource use, community, cultural respect, and the cascading impacts of individual actions. We are very excited to introduce a new hybrid learning Minecraft program that can be run from your own classroom!

Virtual visits are coordinated with a ROM Educator at key progress points during the program, but the downloadable map and flexibility of Minecraft: Education Edition allows you to and your students to complete the in-game work according to your own classroom schedule.

Register for our Spring Info Session to learn how to participate in our 2025 Spring Guided Programs.

  • "Rocks and Minerals" covers math (coding) and science expectations for the Grade 4 Ontario Curriculum.
  • "Sustainable Style" covers math (coding) expectations as well as subjects related to Climate Change for Grades 3-8.
  • Teachers must watch the info session to participate the Guided program.

Places for up to 20 classes per term (Sept-Jan, Jan-June) are available at no cost on a first come, first served basis.

The Independent Programs are available any time in the Minecraft Lesson Library

For more information, please contact ROM Learning and be sure to include Minecraft in the subject line. (romlearning@rom.on.ca).

Sign up for our e-news to be notified about upcoming Minecraft special events and programs.

Special Events 2024-2025

Minecraft Guided Program Info Session - August 14, 2024 

Minecraft 101 for Teachers - August 21, 2024 - Register to view the recorded lesson

Minecraft Guided Program Info Session (Spring Term) - January 15, 2024 - Register here

Minecraft 101 for Teachers - January 22, 2024 - Register here

A Minecraft screenshot of a dinosaur dig site with exposed dinosaur fossil, tents, truck with crates, and a holographic recreation of an ankylosaur.

Monthly Museum Minecraft 2024-2025

These one-hour virtual programs cover a new theme every month, ideal for classes that don't have the capacity for an extended Guided program. These lessons are structured for grade 4-8, but we welcome younger grades keen to use Minecraft, or older grades with creativity and curiosity.

Live attendance is recommended but not required; all registered classes will receive a link to the session recording. During the live sessions, teachers will still have the ability to pause and rewind the lesson as needed to accommodate their own students' pace.

  • Building Community - September 23, 2024 - Register to view the recorded lesson
  • M.A.T.H. Mummy Mayhem - October 28, 2024 (Part 1) & October 31, 2024 (Part 2)
  • Indigenous Education Month: Manito Ahbee Aki - November 11 (Part 1), November 18 (Part 2), November 25 (Part 3) 2024
  • Computer Science Education Week: Timecraft - December 16, 2024 - Book Now
  • Computer Science Education Week: Escape Estate - December 18, 2024 - Book Now
  • Computer Science Education Week: The Show Must Go On! - December 19, 2024 - Book Now
  • The Science of Minecraft - January 20, 2025 - Book Now
  • Black History Month: The Hall of Innovation - February 10, 2025
  • International Women's Day: The Hall of Innovation - March 3, 2025
  • Earth Day Build Challenge - April 22, 2025
  • International Museum Day Coding Challenge - May 12, 2025
  • Indigenous History Month: Pacific Northwest Coast - June 2 (Part 1), June 9 (Part 2), June 16 (Part 3), 2025

New events will be announced here and in our School Programs newsletter..

A Minecraft screenshot of a path leading across a rural landscape toward a large volcano with lava pouring down the side.

Extended Programs

Museum Minecraft: Rocks and Minerals

Students will begin their journey in the Royal Ontario Museum’s research centre in the fictional world of Rocklandia. From there, they will travel to three different research sites to help ROM scientists with their studies of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

Along the way, students will encounter challenges blocking their path that they will need to code their way through with the assistance of Indigenous scientists and the Minecraft agent. After visiting all three research sites, students will return to the research centre and build their own museum to share their learning about rocks and minerals.

This program is designed for students to complete independently or in pairs. You will need to provide your own class devices and Minecraft logins.

A Minecraft screenshot of a sunken cargo ship with fish swimming around crane arms and broken cargo containers

Museum Minecraft: Sustainable Style: A Climate Change Resource

Program Structure:

  • Synchronous or Asynchronous Teacher Info Session Webinar. (1 hour)
  • (Optional) Synchronous or Asynchronous Teacher Minecraft 101 Training Webinar (1.5 hours)
  • (Optional) Synchronous or Asynchronous Teacher Coding Camp (1-1.5 hours)
  • Virtual Visit #1 with a ROM educator for program introduction. (45 minutes)
  • Independent class time to complete the escape room section of the world. (Approximately 2-4 class periods*)
  • Virtual Visit #2 with a ROM educator to answer content questions n preparation for the town remodel. (45 minutes)
  • Independent class time for students to complete sustainability activities and remodel the town (Approximately 6-8 class periods*)
  • Flipgrid town tours with ROM educator as co-pilot for feedback (Asynchronous, on your own schedule)
  • Final polishing of the town remodel. (Approximately 2 class periods*)


 

A Minecraft screenshot of an in-game guide standing next to the coding agent. Chalkboards in the background outline steps to creating a code to summon the agent, and indicate that the viewer is facing west.

Other Minecraft Content

Visit The Science of Minecraft to learn about the science behind Minecraft and show off your learning in a Minecraft Museum.

Learn More

Learn More

Visit the ROM Minecraft Wakelet to learn more about the historical use of Minecraft at the ROM, and to see the experiences of the pilot classes. Visit the current School Programs Wakelet to see the experiences of classes in progress.

ROM Minecraft is generously supported by the Barrick Gold Corporation.
 

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