Inspiring the next generation with Minecraft

Published

30 Nov 2022

Following a showcase at the Wiltshire STEAM Fair earlier this month, schools in the county are being encouraged to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics via Minecraft.

Inspiring the next generation with Minecraft

National Highways has teamed up with the world’s best-selling video game to translate the work we do into the classroom through series of games, which use some of our largest road improvement schemes as backdrops.

Students can see what it takes to build and maintain a road, learn about protecting and improving biodiversity, conserving heritage for future generations to enjoy, creating new technology to make our roads safer, and operating machines to build one of the world’s largest tunnels.

In the A303 Stonehenge - Through The Ages game, students complete tasks as they’re taken on a historical journey from the Mesolithic era through to the present day and the future with potential improvements to the current road.

The A303 Stonehenge - Biodiversity game uses a Minecraft model of a green bridge, where students can explore the biodiversity of the area by photographing the flora and fauna in the landscape.

Pupils from St Michael’s Primary School in Larkhill and the Avon Valley Academy in Durrington were part of the national pilot for the Minecraft experience, and the package was also presented to schools at Wiltshire Council’s Learning Resources Hub STEAM FAIR 2022 recently.

A303 Stonehenge Project Manager David Bullock said: "We want to inspire the next generation of talented engineers and scientists, on whom the country’s infrastructure will one day depend, and it was really pleasing to see the learning tool so well received at the STEAM Fair.

“With the help of Minecraft and the in-game activities, students will get first-hand experience of what would go into building significant infrastructure such as bridges and tunnels.

“In real life these are multi-million pound structures that are carefully designed and built by experts. These skills and expertise help to create infrastructure that keeps us all moving, whether going to work, delivering goods or keeping families and friends connected.”

Five Minecraft games have been developed, based on A303 Stonehenge, Lower Thames Crossing and the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet scheme. Each have lesson plans aligned to the national curriculum, showcasing skills, including archaeology, ecology, civil engineering, communications technology, and coding. Teachers with access to the Microsoft Education Edition can use in the classroom with their students aged 7-11 (key stage 2) and 11-14 (key stage 3) or during lunchtimes and after schools clubs using the Creative Modes where students can design and build.

Get more information about STEM Minecraft educational resources.

If your school would like to know more about the A303 Stonehenge scheme, please do get in touch on info@a303stonehenge.co.uk