Minecraft Education has partnered with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to put a new spin on a classic educational game: The Oregon Trail.
Teachers can now use The Oregon Trail Experience to supplement lessons and curriculum related to language arts, science, math, geography, science (including climate and environment), social studies (government, politics, and civics), digital literacy, visual art, and tech. Most of the learning activities are recommended for all ages.
As students journey west across America, from Missouri to the Pacific, they’ll complete learning objectives in STEM, humanities, and fine art — problem-solving and strategizing along their travels. The “Level Up Learning” study (2014) from Joan Ganz Cooney Center found that nearly three quarters (71 percent) of teachers who use digital games reported that games have improved student learning outcomes, according to an email announcement from Minecraft Education.
The original The Oregon Trail game launched in the 1970s and has had a huge impact on educational software and its presence in schools. (You can read teacher Joshua Ducharme’s thoughts on the game and its life lessons here.)
