Did you know we’re going back to the Moon? With Artemis missions, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon using innovative technology to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before! After collaborating with partners, NASA will establish its first long-term presence on the Moon. Then, they will use what is learned about the Moon to take the next giant leap; sending the first astronauts to Mars!
To celebrate this historical event, Minecraft Education is partnering with NASA and the Challenge Center to bring the incredible and captivating Artemis Mission worlds into Minecraft. Help students make history with the groundbreaking Artemis Mission, taking on the seemingly impossible goal of reaching the Moon and creating a survivable base for research and habitation to launch the next era of space exploration.
Yes, it is rocket science
Minecraft Education is a platform that enhances creativity, problem-solving, self-direction, collaboration, and other life skills. In the classroom, Minecraft complements traditional subjects like reading, writing, math, science, and history and offers more than 200 hours of standards-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) content, including a K-12 Computer Science progression and in-game coding and chemistry features.
Given the educational benefits of Minecraft Education, it made sense to partner with NASA and bring the Artemis missions to life. With the use of Minecraft, educators, and scientists can engage students with virtual, hands-on experiences exploring rockets, learning about space science, and discovering the challenges of living on the Moon.
To the Moon and beyond
NASA has a long history of moon landings, starting with the Apollo missions in the late 1960s and early 1970s. More recently, NASA has been focused on the Artemis program, which aims to send the first woman and next man to the Moon. Moon bases will play a crucial role in future missions to the Moon, serving as a starting point for further exploration and as a test bed for developing technologies that will eventually allow us to live and work on the Moon.
In this series of STEM-themed Minecraft worlds, students explore the fascinating world of space and discover what it takes to become an astronaut. Along the way they will meet the scientists and engineers who make space missions possible and tour their blocky labs. As they immerse themselves in these missions, students will learn all about Newton’s Three Laws of Motion and get hands-on with rocket science as they design their own moon rocket and test their creation with a thrilling launch from Cape Canaveral!
Artemis: Rocket build
The first Minecraft Education mission focuses on the Artemis rocket, with students exploring and building their own. This helps students to better understand the complex science behind rocketry and to develop a deeper appreciation for the amazing work being done by NASA and other space agencies. By taking part in this Minecraft Education mission, children will be able to develop a range of important skills, such as teamwork, communication, and collaboration.
Artemis: Return to the Moon
The second Minecraft Education world is a thrilling experience for students as they embark on a journey to the Moon aboard the Orion space capsule. With coding missions to complete while in orbit around the Moon, children will learn the basics of coding in a fun and engaging way. In addition, for the first time, the world features collaborative coding. This helps develop coding skills and teaches collaboration and communication.
Artemis astronauts flying to the moon in Orion space capsule in Microsoft Education.
Get ready for lift-off
In addition to the exciting new Artemis Missions, Minecraft Education offers tons of engaging content aligned to Computer Science standards, as well as free teacher training.
Anyone can teach coding with Minecraft. It’s as easy as 1-2-3…lift off!
- Get set up: Before introducing coding to students, build your own foundation. Simply download and install Minecraft Education onto your device, try a demo lesson with Hour of Code, and explore training opportunities. Minecraft: Education Edition offers more than 25 hours of free online trainings designed for educators to teach Computer Science.
- Teach with Minecraft: Once you’ve explored the basics on your own, you’ll be ready to teach coding lessons. With 200 hours of CS content for all levels and abilities, you’re sure to find what you need. Each lesson includes educator resources, rubrics, and Minecraft files.
- Find your community: Visit the Community page to join Minecraft: Education Edition’s global community of educators and peer mentors. Meet and learn from passionate educators, gain access to new lessons and teaching resources, find upcoming events, and bring immersive learning to your students.
Join us on this incredible journey and inspire the next generation of scientists and space explorers. Bring space exploration to life and get ready for lift-off with Minecraft Education!
