{"id":2010,"date":"2023-04-18T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/education\/blog\/2023\/04\/18\/six-classroom-ready-resources-for-earth-day\/"},"modified":"2024-05-31T16:33:13","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T23:33:13","slug":"six-classroom-ready-resources-for-earth-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/education\/blog\/2023\/04\/six-classroom-ready-resources-for-earth-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Six classroom-ready resources for Earth Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Earth is home to an amazing biodiversity that sustains life in our delicate and changing ecosystems. That\u2019s why over a billion citizens come together on April 22nd to celebrate Earth Day<\/a> and address the challenges that threaten our planet. This year\u2019s theme\u2013Invest in our Future\u2013serves as a call to action for people across the world to engage in measures that slow down melting ice caps and rising global temperatures<\/a>. Scientists and Earth Day organizers alike believe that each one of us can take small steps that make a lasting, meaningful difference to our planet\u2019s long-term sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Celebrate our Earth throughout April by exploring climate-focused Minecraft worlds, live Flip events, and Reflect check-ins that will excite students of all ages to critically think about their global impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students love Minecraft Education because it allows them to explore new worlds and create habitable environments for creatures big and small. Educators love Minecraft because it delivers engaging, problem-solving experiences that include ready-to-go challenges, lessons, and resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nancy Woods and colleagues at John Dewey High School in New York City capitalized on their students\u2019 interest in Minecraft by creating a sustainable urban design challenge<\/a> that dovetailed with a cleanup project at a local estuary. Students recreated a model of their creek in Minecraft and then worked on different virtual solutions that would better protect the estuaries. The students\u2019 work sparked the NYC Department of Education to launch a \u201cBattle of the Boroughs\u201d competition to design green city solutions in Minecraft Education!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Minecraft is used to engage students in envisioning and building a greener city. Programs like Battle of the Boroughs … give students a voice and a cause. This is so important as we prepare students for the future, and for jobs that our cities need: in renewable energy, climate resilience, green building, and sustainable transit.\u201d<\/p>\nNancy Woods, Educator, John Dewey High School<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Minecraft Education\u2019s Earth Day resources and lessons are equally engaging and inspiring. Each one includes real-world connections and opportunities to address sustainability issues that affect our world. Ready for more? Check out Minecraft Education\u2019s Climate & Sustainability Kit<\/a> to see additional collections that make environmental education come alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Minecraft Education is excited to offer a series of live, virtual classroom workshops to celebrate Earth Week featuring our Frozen Planet II Minecraft worlds<\/a> created in partnership with BBC Earth. Running from April 18-27, each workshop will guide students through one of the five unique, immersive worlds, Frozen Ocean, Peaks, Lands, Worlds, or South.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students will be immersed in a 75-minute experience where they will learn about the remarkable animals of our frozen planet and the impacts of climate change on their habitats. They will have the opportunity to protect their polar bear cubs, hunt as a killer whale, and gather nectar as a bumblebee. Play as eight different animals and learn what it takes to survive and thrive in the harsh conditions of the global cryosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRemake the Earth in Minecraft Education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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1. Join Minecraft Education for Earth Week 2023 live workshops! <\/h2>\n\n\n\n