This week, the kids have started a new activity that has a little more freedom and a little more realism to it. I instructed them to build a house with their partner that is 12 x 12 x 12. They can use any block type that they'd like and once the basic structure is made, they can fill it and decorate how they wish. This morning, when they walked in I posted the question "How many block are needed to create your house?" on the board and just left it up. As I was greeting the kids coming in, I could hear students discussing it. Several of them were trying to figure it out in there head. My hope is that they start to develop a strategy for solving this on their own. Some might add 12 for each column, some might try to multiply. I just want them to explore the problem in their head so that when we do discuss it, they have some ideas.
These are third graders who are currently learning about adding 2-digit numbers. They do not know how to multiply and they have no experience with volume, perimeter, or area (I am aware of some issues that will be present when discussing the corners and how they relate to overall area and perimeter, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there). However, using Minecraft, they are beginning to develop these ideas and will later be able to connect their own strategies with standard formulas.
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