Games Galore
It’s impossible for kids to get bored when J.J. Ferrer’s The Art of Stone Skipping and Other Fun Old-Time Games (Imagine/Charlesbridge, 2013; Gr 3-6) is on hand. This treasure trove of things to do is jam-packed with everything from Sock Ball to Simon Says, Jump Rope to Jacks, Giant Steps to Ghost in the Graveyard. Children will also find basic intros to card games, yo-yo tricks, string games, juggling, and more. Encompassing endeavors appropriate for partner pairs or large groups, solitary amusements and simple crafts, indoor and outdoor pastimes, brain challengers and road-trip while-awayers, the activities are presented with easy-to-follow instructions, helpful tips, and try-‘em-out variations. Lively sketches, fun facts, and historical tidbits are scattered throughout, and the inviting layout will keep kids turning pages to seek out more ideas.

Nature’s Wonderments
As Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield point out in The Stick Book (Frances Lincoln, 2012; Gr 2-6), these time-proven playthings can be almost anything—“…a sword with which to fight off fierce dragons in the forest, a tracking stick to help you creep after secretive creatures, a wand to cast magic spells or a broomstick to transport you to other worlds.” Simple descriptions introduce stick-based activities, games, and crafts, all enchantingly illustrated with vibrant full-color photos of kids outdoors and in action. Coded for level of difficulty, the projects range from the very simple (make stick characters out of clay and found objects) to the more challenging (build a mini raft), and several activities are tailor-made for tickling imaginations (make a story-telling stick, or assemble a storyboard collage to represent a favorite book). Used as a starting point, these creative ideas can be adapted to suit various environments, from classroom to schoolyard to park.

Puppet Palooza
Always enjoyable to make, puppets have the added benefit of encouraging imagination, creativity, and self-expression through performance and dramatic play. In 10-Minute Puppets (Workman, 2010; Gr 2-5), professional puppeteer Noel MacNeal combines crystal-clear directions with an anyone-can-do-it approach to introduce 30 projects. Featured here are simple finger puppets, critters concocted out of socks and gloves, cutouts manipulated by sticks, shadow puppets, quick paper puppets, and a variety of easy-to-make theaters.

Full-color photos of kids and their creations are sprinkled throughout, the instructions include helpful drawings, and the book ends with suggestions for putting together and performing shows. With projects appropriate for preschool through elementary-age students, as well as suggestions for more elaborate detailing, this book can be used to accommodate a broad range of ages and abilities.

More experienced crafters will be enchanted by Diana Schoenbrun’s Puppet Play (Andrews McMeel, 2011; Gr 3-7), which presents 20 adorable characters made with recycled and reused mittens, towels, socks, and other items. Spanning from a superhero monkey to a wacky wizard, each project includes a difficulty rating, crisp full-color photos, and thorough step-by-step directions.

Scintillating Science
Helaine Becker’s Magic Up Your Sleeve (Maple Tree, 2010; Gr 3-6) blends directions for audience-wowing magic tricks with brief explanations of the scientific facts behind each and every show-stopping ta-da. Utilizing common household items, the offerings include cognitive and optical illusions, examples of math “magic,” and wonders based on physics and chemistry concepts. Other spreads focus on the history of magic, famous practitioners, and tips for putting on the perfect performance.

The breezy narrative tone and colorful digital cartoons keep the content light and the science easy to swallow. Invite students to polish up their magic wands, boggle their friends’ minds with their presentations, and use online and print resources to further investigate what makes seemingly impossible feats possible.

Mark Latno’s The Paper Boomerang Book (Chicago Review, 2010; Gr 5 Up) highlights devices that are “…a cinch to make, graceful in flight, and fun to fly.” A brief history is followed by clear step-by-step directions for making a “trainer” boomerang, instructions for holding and throwing it correctly, and tips for fine-tuning and troubleshooting (one model can be used indoors). Once the nuts and bolts are mastered, kids can test the effectiveness of various design tweaks and materials to perfect their boomerang’s aeronautics, and hone their skills with tricks and fancy throws. The text includes helpful photos and diagrams.

Educators and their students can delve into the chapter on boomerang theory and the physics of flight, follow up the author’s suggestions for experimentation (“Throw, Observe, Modify”), or further explore the history of these ancient tools and/or their current-day use in sports competitions (start with the United States Boomerang Association).

Sewing, Sticking, and Scrapbooking
In Sewing School (Storey, 2010; Gr 2-8), Amie Petronis Plumley and Andria Lisle place the emphasis on establishing skills, building confidence, and inspiring creativity rather than on achieving perfection. After covering the basics (threading a needle, simple stitches, etc.), the authors present an array of sewing projects, including perfect-for-cuddling pillows and animal “Stuffies,” tote bags and wallets, and personality-expressing wearable items. Each step is accompanied by a clear photo. Snapshots of charmingly less-than-perfect child-created projects are sprinkled throughout along with tips to help youngsters make each item their own. An introduction written for adults offers up helpful ideas for sewing with a group, and the required pattern pieces can be stored in a sturdy envelope provided at book’s end.

Featuring a stylish hot-pink handbag, cute-as-can-be piggy bank, ready-to-personalize smart phone holder, and more, Jolie Dobson’s The Duct Tape Book (Firefly, 2012; Gr 5 Up) presents 25 projects made from this versatile adhesive, which is available in a rainbow of colors and attractive patterns. Throughout, detailed instructions are supported with diagrams that help clarify each procedure. Full-color photos of finished products make these cleverly envisioned items all the more appealing, and kids will be able to apply the duct-tape-manipulating basics they learn to their own designs. Have youngsters search the internet for duct tape art and fashion sites to further investigate this fresh and fun form of self-expression.

Candice F. Ransom’s Scrapbooking Just for You! (Sterling, 2010; Gr 4 Up) introduces the fundamentals of this popular pastime, highlighting various techniques, providing useful layout tips, and discussing important design elements. The author’s tone is cheerful, as she encourages kids to personalize and add meaning to their creations with journaling, play with colors and textures, and just enjoy being creative. Attractively illustrated with sample scrapbook pages, the book invites browsing and will get kids itching to make their own works of art, and a section of projects including picture frames, mini albums, and more, will get them started.

Paper Pursuits: Make It or Fold It
Perfect for teens, Arnold E. Grummer’s Trash-to-Treasure Papermaking (Storey, 2011; Gr 6 Up) opens with a section about papermaking history, processes, and tools and then launches into the step-by-step process for transforming newspaper, wrappers, sales circulars, magazines, envelopes and other scraps into beautiful and unique finished products. Once they understand the essentials, kids can experiment with other techniques including pulp layering and painting, texturing, paper casting into shapes, and much more. A section of gift- (or craft-fair) worthy projects includes cards, mobiles, spinwheels, notebooks, ornaments, and other handsome objects, all presented with easy-to-follow directions and photos. Suggestions for variations appear throughout, encouraging crafters to be creative and adventurous.

Beginning with clear explanations of common techniques, Paul Jackson and Miri Golan’s Origami Zoo (2011; Gr 1-6) presents 25 fun-to-fold creations. The projects are organized from the “very simple” (a beginner-appropriate mouse, penguin, and more) to an “advanced” 43-step dinosaur that will challenge even experienced origami aficionados. Full-color photos introduce each elegant critter, and the lucid directions and large-size diagrams are accessibly laid out on clean white backgrounds, making each fold easy to comprehend and replicate. A packet of 60 sheets of origami paper in deep jewel tones is included to help group leaders get started.

Taking a similar approach, Jackson’s Origami Toys: That Tumble, Fly, and Spin (2010, both Gibbs Smith) provides instructions for creating interactive toys including a barking dog, wing-flapping bird, catapult, and glider. Consider making a connection between art and literature by sharing Tom Angleberger’s entertaining The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (Amulet, 2010), Nathaniel Lachenmeyer’s thoughtful The Origami Master (Albert Whitman, 2008), Kristine O’Connell George’s charming Fold Me a Poem (Harcourt, 2005), or Molly Bang’s magical The Paper Crane (Greenwillow, 1985).

“Can you teleport me?” “How do I fly?” “I need a sword.” “What are you building?” These eclectic exclamations are the sounds of a room full of teens playing Minecraft (www.minecraft.net). We play every other Wednesday in Chicopee (MA) Public Library’s computer lab, often filling all ten computers, and are occasionally joined by teens playing from home. They play freely, building whatever suits their fancies. As I’ve watched these teens discover skills in the game, I’ve been thinking about Minecraft’s potential for both structured and unstructured activities.

What is Minecraft?

Minecraft (sample pictured) is an open-ended, creative game where players roam a landscape made of different kinds of blocks that can be used to build just about anything. Clicking blocks breaks them and adds them to your inventory. Then you can craft items and place blocks to build structures. Animals and monsters, or mobs, also made of blocks, roam the landscape and provide resources and adversaries. The simple graphics, reminiscent of video games from 20 years ago, create an immersive environment in their blocky aesthetic. The game has a broad appeal—it’s as interesting and appropriate for eight-year-olds as it is for their parents and anyone in between.

Developed by Swedish programmer Marcus Persson, also known as Notch, and his company Mojang, the full version of the game was released in November 2011 after several beta versions. The object of the game, in as much as there is a specific object, is to explore, create, and survive. An individual license for the game costs $26.95. With one license you can download the launcher as many times as you want and multiple users can play single-player games simultaneously. In order to play multiplayer games, each user must have their own license.

Survival vs. Creative

The different game play modes place more or less emphasis on the creative and survival aspects of the game. In Survival mode, you need to eat food to recharge your health points (a series of hearts) and contend with enemy monsters. In order to have access to many of the specialized blocks that are available, you have to go out and find them hidden in the game’s landscape, sometimes venturing into underground caverns and dangerous other dimensions.

In Creative mode, you can fly, literally by double tapping the space bar, but figuratively as well, because you have instant access to every kind of block and most items in the game. This allows you to focus on the design and creation of structures immediately. Hostile mobs can’t damage you in Creative mode, and you don’t need to eat at regular intervals to maintain your health. The satisfying challenge of Survival mode makes for a better adventure game experience, while the free-form chaos of Creative mode lends itself well to art projects and tasks where building is the priority.

Multiplayer servers

While you can experience the game on your own in a single-player world, the multi-player experience is superior because it opens up the opportunities of cooperation and community and is more fun. A world begins to take shape with common goals, or sometimes conflicting ones that require discussion and compromise to resolve.

For the technologically minded, hosting your own server is free and relatively easy. But for those of us who are still a little wary of networking specifics, there are a few other options. You may already be acquainted with students who have the networking knowledge you lack. Getting a lesson in setting up a Minecraft server from an experienced teen player could be a valuable learning opportunity for both parties. You can pay for hosting by a third party company, such as Minecraft Box (minecraftbox.com), Servercraft
(servercraft.co), or Redstone Host (redstonehost.com). These services usually charge between $7 and $15 a month for a basic server for 1–15 players, but may cost up to $50 per month to support up to 100 players. Or, in a school or library setting, you can purchase MinecraftEdu’s (minecraftedu.com) suite of teaching tools for a one-time fee. Included in this bundle is a point-and-click interface for hosting your own server. Be aware, however, that only MinecraftEdu users can connect to a server hosted with MinecraftEdu’s server tool.

Minecraft and Education

MinecraftEdu is a group of teachers working to make Minecraft more accessible for learning environments by providing discounts and institutional orders, as well as tools to make it easier to use the game in the classroom. In addition to the server tool, MinecraftEdu comes with a tutorial world that teaches players how to navigate the game’s controls and introduces many features of the world. The power to write notes and determine student privileges, including where they can and cannot build, are ideal for introducing specific learning goals in the game. The ability to save and access various maps would be helpful for anyone running multiple Minecraft groups. MinecraftEdu is still in beta, but it promises to make playing Minecraft in classrooms and libraries easier and more conducive to learning.

The breadth of things educators are doing with Minecraft is staggering and the potential is there to do even more. Some things you might do with it in classrooms include:

Computing basics: Use Minecraft to introduce basic computing skills such as logging in, creating a password, using a keyboard and mouse, following directions and typing.

Models: Minecraft allows educators to create structures for students to interact with. From a three-dimensional model of a cell to a replica of an historic building, anything is possible. A history class might recreate an ancient civilization and enact what it would have been like to live there. Students could interact with an instructor-built model, or they could work collaboratively to build one.

Economy: Many servers operate on a city planning model, where a village is laid out and users take different jobs. There are game models that introduce an economy into play.

Mapping: Minecraft maps exist on a Cartesian coordinate plane. You can access your coordinates by pressing the F3 key (or Function F3 on some computers). By collecting and charting coordinates from a variety of locations in the game, students could map their Minecraft landscape.

Mechanisms: Redstone circuits and mechanisms introduce technology into the game landscape and might attract students interested in engineering and teachers working with STEM curricula. Work with circuits and pistons to create a trap to keep zombies out of your house, or a train to carry you across the game’s landscape.

Machinima: In conjunction with screencasting software, Minecraft lends itself to machinima storytelling. You can change the point of view of the game from first person to third person with the F5 key. If you toggle your display so you can see your avatar from the front, you could act out a scene.

Inspiration from books: Create a replica of a favorite fictional building or town in Minecraft, or better yet, a whole map. Imagine Hogwarts or Middle Earth made of blocks.

Playing Around

In the largely unstructured setting of my public library Minecraft group, teens have discovered the game’s potential at their own pace. We had a few weeks where several people tried their hands at making pixel art, representing 8 bit characters using colored wool blocks. We now have a landscape full of video game characters.

Claiming territory and creating personal structures has been another popular activity. In our server world, we have a variety of buildings. From the complexities of redstone circuits to the peculiarities of hanging vines on stone walls, the teens have learned a lot about the game’s mechanics in building on their own.

Minecraft is versatile and fun. Played simply as an adventure game it is a satisfying activity for kids of all ages. When it comes to using it for educational or other structured activities, it has a growing number of possibilities to explore. Try it for yourself at www.minecraft.net.

How Educators & Authors Use Minecraft

Joel Levin, The Minecraft Teacher: www.minecraftteacher.net.

Andre Chercka, Digital Game Based Learning: www.gamebased.tumblr.com.

Massively Minecraft Network: a community for educators, parents, researchers, and volunteers: www.minecraft.jokaydia.com (requires sign up).