Why You Need to Add Blocks Rock! to Your Classroom
1st Maker Space is excited to introduce Blocks Rock!, an innovative game designed for STEM education that helps students develop the critical thinking, problem-solving, and spatial reasoning abilities needed in today's technology-driven world.
Blocks Rock! presents an engaging and interactive method for educators to cultivate these essential skills among young learners. So let the building begin as we explore how Blocks Rock! can foster essential STEM skills while delivering loads of fun at the same time.
What Is Blocks Rock!?
Blocks Rock! is an exciting educational game that pits players against one another in a race to construct block structures faster than their opponents. Participants can select from two sets of cards or an interactive app, which provides more advanced difficulty levels.
Every player takes a card and attempts to replicate the structure depicted on it as quickly and accurately as possible before ringing the bell included in the game. Whoever does so first wins a point, and the competitor with the highest score at the end of all rounds is declared the victor.
How To Play Blocks Rock!
Now that you know what Blocks Rock! is all about, it’s time to dive into the exciting gameplay and explore how this versatile game can be tailored to suit different age groups and skill levels.
The beginner level is geared towards Preschool using STEM cards.
The intermediate level uses the deluxe game set to build color and shape-specific structures.
The advanced level uses the 3D companion app to extend the game with 52 additional structures.
Blocks Rock! is played by choosing a card from a deck, building the structure indicated, and ringing a bell when completed. A player wins the card and a point when the structure is completed successfully. At the end of the deck, the player with the most cards/points wins the game.
As you progress through various stages of Blocks Rock!, players will continue to hone their STEM skills through engaging gameplay experiences.
STEM Skills Developed Using Blocks Rock! In The Classroom
Blocks Rock! emphasizes the development of STEM skills, such as color and shape recognition, construction of structures, hand-eye coordination, spatial skills, and problem-solving.
Integrating technology through the app is a great way to add an extra layer of interactivity, allowing students to combine their creative and technological skills.
Engaging with this educational tool helps teachers provide their students with an opportunity for hands-on learning that will encourage them to explore new ideas and develop problem-solving skills in a fun and interactive environment.
Also, playing in a classroom promotes collaborative learning strategies among students who work together to solve problems, build structures, and achieve common goals.
Blocks Rock! Curriculum Developed By 1st Maker Space
After exploring the various STEM skills that can be developed using Blocks Rock! in the classroom, it’s crucial to understand how this game can become part of the classroom curriculum. To assist educators and ensure seamless integration into their lesson plans, 1st Maker Space has designed a comprehensive Blocks Rock! curriculum lesson.
The curriculum includes a comprehensive lesson plan to engage elementary and early childhood education STEM students in hands-on learning.
The 1st Maker Space lesson also provides opportunities for cross-curricular connection:
In math, students can design structures and calculate their area and perimeter.
Social studies lessons can be enhanced by studying famous buildings and encouraging students to recreate them using basic blocks.
Students can participate in a contest to create innovative designs that can be added to the Blocks Rock! app.
For language arts, students can exercise their creativity by writing a narrative set within the environment of their constructed designs.
Conclusion
Blocks Rock! is a perfect opportunity for elementary and early childhood education STEM teachers to engage their students in hands-on learning. This competitive and fast-paced game fosters greater spatial reasoning abilities, awareness, and strategy building while encouraging communication and teamwork between players.
The inclusive learning environment created by the game allows individuals with varying skill levels to participate, as educators can make adjustments to promote a more challenging or relaxed gameplay experience according to student needs.
