Almost there.....

Last night, after an eye-popping, just-when you-thought-it-couldn't-get-any-better class, I went home to find my two children happily encsconced at the computer on MinecraftEDU building away and ready to share what they'd been working on.  I was pretty tickled to pull up presentations from class and share what others had done. Ben was already familiar with the MonsterLobe roller coaster-which he adores- and Joel's playground project was a winner as well and they spent time talking about what kind of playground they might create.  Both kids were as blown away as I was over Lexie's class's cells.  Kate even asked if the video with the student kicking open the gate into the cell was an infection happening!  That is such a powerful teachable moment, Lexie!  That's a keeper!
Both of them became immediately engaged in the idea of creating a Minecraft cell battling off an infection and started brainstorming ways they could do that!  Would the infection be Creepers? Would it be like another person breaking into the cell wall like in Lexie's video?  What would be the best way to show that?  Kate was intrigued with the science of cell biology and Ben, well, Ben was having an out of body experience coming up with battle choreography between good cells and infectious cells. Who would have what kind of armor and weapons.? Would TN be a possibility as well?  Not only were the possibilities endless, but they were darn engaging too!  The scientist and the warrior.
    We took a tour of the things they'd made in the world.  Both had added new things to the world. Of course none of them had anything to do with Harry Potter, but that's another blogcast for another day.  We visited Ben's new roller coaster, aptly named "The Death Drop" which consisted of a near vertical drop that managed to leap over a lava bed  and stop abruptly in a two block deep pit. It is the epitome of an ADHD crafting project-minimal amenities, if you don't set your mine cart just right, you get the vertical drop off the back. There's a pile of mine carts there in testament to that. Intense thrills that make you want more! Who knew a roller coaster could, or even should jump a lava flow?  Of course it's brutally short. After the lava jump the only thing to do is come to an abrupt halt.  Clearly this kid has not ridden a lot of roller coasters in his short, Alaskan life. The three of us spent time discussing and looking at real roller coasters and decided we could expand Ben's a little and make it more of a family project.  Kate wanted to go under water in a glass tunnel and then out again. She knew exactly how to do it too.  I don't know where she learned that multi-step sequence either.
At any rate, the three of us spent a few solid hours just enjoying each other's thinking and problem-solving.  Collaborative quality time in front of a computer?  Hmmmm..... This is not what I've read that children who spend a couple of hours in front of a screen are doing. I'll have to look into that.
    Kate got quiet at one point, and said, "Mom, I'm going to really miss MinecraftEDU!  I don't want this to end.  I love going in to see what other people have made and I really like the things I made too. This was so much fun, I just don't want it to stop."
Well, kiddo, neither do I!  Thank you for all your time, all of you! This has been fun!