Aimee Hughes

Compare and Contrast: Minecraft and Legos

Subject: Reading/Language Arts
Grade: 5th
Description: Students will learn the similarities and differences in the histories,
creation, and success of each Minecraft and Legos.
Duration: 3 class periods
Content Standard:
ELACC5RL3:Compare and Contrast two or more characters,settings or events in a
story
ELACCR5I3: explain relationships or interactions between two or more
individuals,events, ideas or concepts based on specific information in the text.
TAG Standard:

The student uses written, spoken, and technological media to convey new
learning or challenge existing ideas.
The student supports and defends his/her own opinions while respecting the
opinions of others.
The student responds to contributions of others, considering all available
information.
The student supports and defends his/her own opinions while respecting the
opinions of others.
The student conducts comparisons using criteria

Overview: The focus of this lesson is understanding the similarities and differences
between histories, creation, and successes using Minecraft and Legos to determine
which company will continue to grow and be successful. Students will investigate on
their own, teach peers what they have learned, and then apply their knowledge by
choosing their assessments.
Enduring Understandings: At the end of this lesson students will be able to

Find the history/creation of Minecraft and Legos

Find the successes of Minecraft and Legos
Find the future numbers of Minecraft and Legos
Compare the histories, creation, and successes of Minecraft and Legos
Contrast the histories, creation, and successes of Minecraft and Legos
Determine the future forecast of Minecraft and Legos

Aimee Hughes
Essential Questions:

What are the similarities and differences between Minecraft and Legos?
Which company has the qualities that would allow them to have a long
future/investor? Why?

Evidence of Learning:
What students should know:

Research skills for finding information on history, creation, successes for

Minecraft and Legos

What students should be able to do:

Research history, creation, successes, future projections for Minecraft and

Legos
Collaborate with students to explain their reasoning behind their information
Presentation skills to present to investors

Vocabulary:

invest
creation
future success

Procedure:
1. Day 1: Students will be divided into 3 groups: Minecraft (9), Lego Blocks
(9), Investors (9)
2. Students in Minecraft group will be given article, and links to read,
research, then taking notes on history, creation, successes, and future
outlook of the company. Within the Minecraft group they need to decide
how they will break it up (3 students study the history, 3 students study
the creation, 3 students study the successes) This will be the same set up
for the Lego Blocks group as well
3. The Investor group will break up into groups of 3 as well, and complete
readings on both companies (history, successes, etc). Taking notes on
notecards about what they read
4. Day 2: Minecraft and Lego Blocks group will be given choices as to how
they want to present to investor group. Will work within their groups to
have a clear presentation to present (by their groups of 3)- choices given
below.
5. Investors will come together and talk among each other the research they
found about each company (using their notecards), and their opinions as
to whom they should give more money to, to invest in their future.

Aimee Hughes
6. Make sure that Minecraft and Lego Blocks groups have 10 minutes at the
end of the period to come together as a whole group (Minecraft together
and Lego Blocks together) to be sure they have gone over with their group
members what they are presenting (not too much information
overlapping).
7. Day 3: Give groups time to set up: Have a tables set up in the back for
investors. Provide paper for them to take Notes on to help determine who
they should invest in.
8. Each group will present on Minecraft/Lego Blocks, based off of their
groups research.
9. In the end the Investors will have 10 minutes to discuss and come up with
a final decision to both groups.
Summarizing Activity:
Presentation to the Investors
Chart paper
Prezi
Other Website- Wiki,
webquest

Excel document
Publisher Flyer
Poster Board

Resources:
www.storyworks.scholastic.com October 2014 Issue
http://www.theverge.com/2014/10/8/6948869/this-is-lego-minecraft
http://www.wired.com/2013/11/minecraft-book/all/
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2012/08/minecraft_teachers_l
ove_the_game_but_as_a_parent_i_m_worried_my_kids_are_addicted.html
http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/the-creator
http://www.lego.com/en-us/
http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2013/10/features/building-success
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ist/?next=/innovation/how-lego-is-constructingthe-next-generation-of-engineers-37671528/
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-23572742

Handouts:

Aimee Hughes
Building Blocks Handout for everyone (especially for investors when scoring
presentations)

Aimee Hughes

How many
people were
involved in
the creation?

How did the

company get
started?

Is the brand
successful?

Why do
people like it
so much?

What is the
prediction of
future growth
for the
company?

Building Blocks

(www.storyworks.scholastic.com)

Minecraft

Lego Blocks

Simila
r

Differen
t

Aimee Hughes

Building Blocks

(www.storyworks.scholastic.com)- TEACHER NOTES of EVIDENCE

Minecraft
How many
people were
involved in
the creation?

How did the

company get
started?

Is the brand
successful?

Why do
people like it
so much?

What is the
prediction of
future growth
for the
company?

Lego Blocks

Simila
r

Differen
t

Evidenc
e

Aimee Hughes

Summary Assessment-Presentation
Chart Paper

Other website- Wiki,

Webquest

Excel spreadsheet

Prezi

Publisher Flyer

Poster board

*Choose one of the presentation methods to present to

the investors. If you have another way to present the
information, please let me know, and I will be glad to
consider it!

*Very important
In your presentation, you MUST mention the other side
(either compare or contrast).
*Example: The success of Minecraft can be seen in the
short term, because of the many downloads, BUT Lego
Blocks have continued to dominate the toy industry for
over 50 years. Lego Blocks will continue to stay for a long
time!