Educational Benefits of Playing Minecraft 

We’ve all heard of Minecraft. The game of pixelated cubes where kids build and explore the world, braving monsters and the elements to survive. But did you know that this game can be a great tool to help your child learn? It can! Many classrooms worldwide have started to use this fun game to help engage students in active learning, so whether your family is playing this at a Minecraft-themed GameTruck party or at home, this game can be a helpful educational tool. Learning should be fun and exciting. What better way than a video game your kid loves? 

If you’ve never played Minecraft before, try playing it with your child. You can be an active member in their academic development by simply having fun playing a video game with them. Here are three skills that Minecraft helps teach kids. 

Educational Benefits of Playing Minecraft: math

Math

How many minutes until nightfall? Is there a way to divide our resources fairly among all the players? How do we build a town that’ll house everyone? These are all example math questions that kids have asked without realizing they’re learning. To be successful in Minecraft, they must practically apply general math principles. In an educational study of teachers using Minecraft for math instruction, 71% of teachers saw “improvement in student numeracy and computational thinking.” A Los Angeles teacher told ID Tech that his Minecraft Math program helped students grow 65%, going from 18% to 83% during end-of-the-year retesting. 

Educational Benefits of Playing Minecraft: history

History

Who wants to memorize a long list of historical dates, places, and facts? Very few people! This is where Minecraft can step in to save the day! You can import in-game, fully reconstructed versions of famous places and landmarks for kids to tour. They can engage in learning from anywhere in the world, creating fun memories with their friends as they learn history. Minecraft presents a fun alternative to memorizing historical lists by encouraging students to be hands-on with history through gaming. 

Educational Benefits of Playing Minecraft: Soft skills

Soft Skills

One way we as parents can prepare our kids for their future careers is by teaching them “soft skills.” They are useful for almost any profession. Soft skills include teamwork, problem-solving, creative thinking, and communication. Minecraft can help kids develop these soft skills in a fun, virtual environment. 

In a recent educational study of teachers who used Minecraft in the classroom, 98% of teachers said problem-solving was the top skill students took away from playing Minecraft in the classroom. From devising a plan to fend off monsters to building a secure farming compound, the numerous learning opportunities present themselves in engaging ways. Developing and nurturing soft skills are another educational benefit to playing Minecraft. 


With all of these benefits, it’s easy to see why teachers and parents use this video game as an educational tool. If you’ve never played before, consider giving it a try with your kids on your next free day! You may not be a teacher, but you can help them engage in active learning by having fun with them playing Minecraft. Give it a try! Book your Minecraft party with GameTruck today!

Looking for an awesome, private birthday experience that your gamer will always remember? Try GameTruck!

We make parties fun and easy. Check out our Ultimate Guide to Throwing the Perfect Bash

Family Fun for Everyone: Race into Sonic The Hedgehog 2!

Get ready for an exhilarating experience with Sonic The Hedgehog 2! In this article, we dive into the thrilling world of Sonic and his friends, offering exciting gameplay, engaging storylines, and endless fun. Discover why Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is the perfect choice for family entertainment and an adventure that will captivate both young and old alike. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 has been out for just over a month and thus far the reviews are showing some love. I took my kids to see it last weekend and was so happy I did. My kiddos were too, as they soaked up every minute of it.

(No spoilers here, just a few solid reasons why you should go see this awesome movie)

I wont ruin it for you with spoilers or plot reveals. Basically the movie follows our little blue pal Sonic as he races into adventure, this time with a side kick (or two). The objective, as it was in the games, is to defeat Dr. Egghead – hardly a spoiler there.

If you are thinking about taking your children to see this movie, do it. Here are 5 reasons why you should:

1. Nostalgia runs DEEP for Sonic

Is there anything better than the way things were when you were a kid? Well, when you were a kid, Sonic was a superstar in a video game franchise that rivaled Mario.

2. Your kids deserve to continue to get to know Sonic

Sonic is and was so much more than the fastest creature in the universe, he is also one of the coolest. This movie continues to drive that point home.

3. Family time is fun and healthy time, even at the movie theater

Spending time with your kiddos at the movie theater is a super cool way to have a shared entertainment experience. Even if you are watching something differently, you can still share your thoughts and feelings during and after.

4. It will give your kids a reason to beg you to dust off that old Saga Genesis

After the movie is over, just wait for the questions to pop about your playing days. I am always up for an excuse to bust out an old console, crack my knuckles, and educate the youth on what real game play looks like!

5. Everything is cooler on the big screen

You might be thinking, “I will just watch this when it comes out on streaming services.” If that sounds like you, change your mindset. Watching the drama unfold in a movie theater gives everyone a good experience that they’ll remember. There’s just something magical about the movies!

So, there you have it, a solid, family fun activity for you to do this weekend courtesy of your friends here at GameTruck. Sonic The Hedgehog 2 will bring you back, make you laugh, and put you in touch with your inner kid again. Watching with my children made me appreciate where my family is today and I know it will have a similar effect for you too.

Join Sonic and his friends in their epic journey by exploring the official Sonic The Hedgehog website. Get the latest updates, news, and insights into the Sonic universe.

Dive deeper into the world of gaming and entertainment with our article on “The Five Most Timeless Video Games of All Time” Explore the fascinating history and innovations that have shaped the gaming industry.

Nintendo Switch Sports | Sports for Your Whole Family

Nintendo Switch Sports was released on Friday and let me tell you, it doesn’t disappoint! If any of you played Wii Sports, the original game that came when you purchased your Wii back in the day then you will absolutely love Nintendo Switch Sports.

Photo of my kids playing Nintendo Switch Sports. (volleyball)

Nintendo Switch Sports was released on Friday and let me tell you, it doesn’t disappoint! If any of you played Wii Sports, the original game that came when you purchased your Wii back in the day then you will absolutely love Nintendo Switch Sports.

(And yes, if you’re not careful, you might even break a TV screen or two)

My two kids (ages 6 and 8) and I were up for close to 4 hours playing together, laughing, learning, and loving every minute of it! One of the coolest aspects of the game is a feature that usually sets Nintendo apart from the rest, anyone can pick up the controller and play.

Both my children had no trouble picking things up and even beating me in a few matches (something I do not let them do if I can help it). It’s awesome how this game puts every participant on equal footing and delivers excitement in the process.

Here is a breakdown of the games you can play and how the gameplay works in each game:

Volleyball

A classic take on a classic game. Volleyball makes you feel like you are out on a sandy beach in California. Using your single Joy-Con controller, you can use the bump motion to bump the ball to your opponent, where the CPU or a live person sets it (if a live person, they make the set motion) and then you can jump up by lifting your forearm up and spike it by slamming it down again. My children went wild for this game as they won a couple of matches together against me and the computer.


Bowling

This version of bowling is very similar to the Wii Sports version except the controller is much more steady, accurate, and reliable. It is highly recommended that you wear your wrist strap for every one of these games, but especially this one as it is very possible for the Joy-Con to fly out of your hands as you make the bowling motion. I really loved playing this with the kids and this was by far their favorite – I think we played 8 or 9 games together. Once they got the hang of it, they had the most success with this game (and talked a ton of trash to me as they threw strikes). I really loved how you could twist your wrist to make the ball spin and the ability to position your throw anywhere in the lane. That feature made it super realistic!


Soccer

We played all out 4 on 4 soccer, and it was as glorious as it sounds. This game was truly awesome! We didn’t have the leg piece where you can run and kick but even just using your hands made this feel like a real-life soccer match. You can choose how many players to play either 1 vs 1 or 4 vs 4 and then you use the Joy-Cons to kick the ball, head the ball and direct the ball where you want it to go. This game felt like Rocket League without the cars. Really also loved the golden ball (which doubles the number of points) and the celebration movements after scoring a goal.


Badminton

Grab your Joy-Con and swing it in the air like you just don’t care! This game requires patience, concentration, and supple wrists. With just a wrist flick you can really hit that birdie anywhere you’d like! I really enjoyed teaching my kids how to play this game that I used to play at Grandma’s house back in the day. Within minutes, they were flicking and slashing the bird back and forth on the screen which made for some interesting, fun, and exciting volleys. This might be the most underrated game of all the games in the pack.


Chambara

A fencing game where you can duel with others from a platform above the water. You can choose a single, non-electric charged sword, a charged sword, and two swords. You play by holding the Joy-Con like a sword and using it to block/thrust your way to victory. As a former actor and non-professional fencer (I learned to fence in a fight scene in an opera once). I had some previous knowledge of how the moves would work. My kids didn’t really stand much of a chance and after the third or fourth time they were dunked into the water, they were ready to move on. I really loved this game. It’s a different flavor and gives you a cool, motion-based sword game that normally you wouldn’t find on the Switch. The only downside is only 2 players can play at the same time.


Tennis

Last but not least, my kids and I played some doubles tennis. A few features that stood out to me here were the ability to power serve (which my daughter mastered quickly) and the ability to lob/backhand with ease. I found it fascinating how accurate the Joy-Con picked up on my wrist movements. By the end of the match, I was teaching my son the different ways to swing his arm/wrist. He was playing like a pro. This version of tennis is another game we played for over an hour (but seemed like 15 minutes).


So, to wrap things up, Nintendo Switch Sports is AWESOME. I highly recommend it for any sized family. Once you pick it up, you will be playing together and having fun for hours. This game would be totally cool as a birthday present, family fun night activity, or a reward for a job well done. Whatever the reason, pick this game up now. And if you have kids, play these games with them, and enjoy every single moment of it.

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