Utilizing the computer program Minecraft, three Sidney Central School elementary students re-created the survival area for a 13-year-old boy from the book Hatchet.
Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, is about Brian Robinson, a boy who is on his way to visit his father. The plane he is in crashes and Brian is alone in the Canadian wilderness. He has to survive, wearing just a windbreaker and the hatchet he received as a present from his mother.
The three Sidney sixth graders – Zack Croft, Dakota Mann and Matthew Smith – each re-created the scene. They also, based on descriptions in the book, worked on trying to plot where the actual crash occurred to have a better idea on how to design their area.
Tauna LaBare, classroom teacher at Sidney, gave the students a list of items they had to create with Minecraft.
The students needed to design several items, and then place into their survival area. They weren’t just building randomly, however, as they needed to work from a list of things from the book, including the sunken aircraft, the L-shaped lake where Brian was surviving, a fish in the lake, a lean-to/tree-woven shelter, food storage area, a fire, and a ladder.
In total, LaBare gave 11 items the students had to design and build, based on the book. She said they spent class time, as well as free time, working on it – and each student went beyond, creating other aspects from the book as well.
The class started the project Feb. 7, and had about a week to complete it, working on the project for about 30 minutes per day.
“What I liked about the project is they helped each other, too. It’s teamwork,” LaBare said. “For them to sustain attention and get all the detail is amazing. I’m very impressed with them and they've been very independent.”
Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen, is about Brian Robinson, a boy who is on his way to visit his father. The plane he is in crashes and Brian is alone in the Canadian wilderness. He has to survive, wearing just a windbreaker and the hatchet he received as a present from his mother.
The three Sidney sixth graders – Zack Croft, Dakota Mann and Matthew Smith – each re-created the scene. They also, based on descriptions in the book, worked on trying to plot where the actual crash occurred to have a better idea on how to design their area.
Tauna LaBare, classroom teacher at Sidney, gave the students a list of items they had to create with Minecraft.
The students needed to design several items, and then place into their survival area. They weren’t just building randomly, however, as they needed to work from a list of things from the book, including the sunken aircraft, the L-shaped lake where Brian was surviving, a fish in the lake, a lean-to/tree-woven shelter, food storage area, a fire, and a ladder.
In total, LaBare gave 11 items the students had to design and build, based on the book. She said they spent class time, as well as free time, working on it – and each student went beyond, creating other aspects from the book as well.
The class started the project Feb. 7, and had about a week to complete it, working on the project for about 30 minutes per day.
“What I liked about the project is they helped each other, too. It’s teamwork,” LaBare said. “For them to sustain attention and get all the detail is amazing. I’m very impressed with them and they've been very independent.”