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Welcome to Dairycraft

There are a lot of fun and educational activities for your students to discover on Dairycraft. Check out our lesson plans and explore the world online via desktop or tablet.

Download the Dairycraft World

Free classroom fun right at your fingertips

Dairycraft is an online learning resource available for Minecraft: Education Edition from Dairy Farmers of Ontario. It’s designed to bring core concepts from the Ontario curriculum to life.

Dairycraft book image

Virtual

This virtual program can be used for synchronous learning in the classroom and at home

Image of four students' faces in a square formation

Collaborate

It encourages collaboration and creativity in your classroom

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Free

It’s a totally free platform that can be accessed with your Office 365 Education email

Find a lesson plan tailored to your grade

We’ve built the Dairycraft world, so you can explore all of the lesson plans within it. Each lesson begins in a different corner of the world, with lots of fun and educational activities to enjoy.

If you don’t have Minecraft: Education Edition, download here

Download the lesson plans below and get your classroom ready.

Dairycraft barn image

A day on the farm

  • Grade: 1
  • Subject: Science and Technology
  • Total time: 30 min

Resources

Download Lesson Download World

Overview

Students will investigate the different structures on a dairy farm, how they’re designed/built, and how the farmer uses them to produce dairy.

Curriculum Alignment

Designed for grade 1 science and technology curriculum, understanding structures and mechanisms strand.

Activities

Start: Barn
Game Play: 30 minutes

  1. The Farmer explains that there are many different types of jobs on the farm. He prompts players to visit all 9 of the remaining workers and gives players a compass. This compass will always point to the next worker that the player has not spoken to.
  2. Players can use a camera to take photos of the different farm workers for reference.
  3. Once the player has spoken to all 9 workers, the Salesperson will give the player a key. This can be used to drive the tractor.
  4. The player is then directed to drive the tractor to the pasture field outside the barn for the bonus task.

Overall Expectations

By the end of the lesson, students will:

2) Investigate structures that are built for a specific purpose to see how their design and materials suit the purpose.

3) Demonstrate an understanding that objects and structures have observable characteristics and are made from materials with specific properties that determine how they are used.

Specific Expectations

3) Understanding Basic Concepts

By the end of the lesson, students will:

3.2) Describe structures as supporting frameworks

3.4) Describe the function/purpose of the observable characteristics (e.g., texture, height, shape, colour) of various objects and structures, using information gathered through their senses.

3.5) Identify the materials that make up objects and structures.

3.6) Distinguish between objects (including structures) and materials found in nature (e.g., tree: sap) and those made by humans.

Student Expectations

Demonstrate an understanding of the purpose of different design structures, and the materials used.

Download the full lesson plan for the complete lesson and extra challenges.

Dairycraft processing plant image

How Nutrients Affect Your Body

  • Grade: 4
  • Subject: Health and Nutrition
  • Total time: 20 min

Resources

Download Lesson Download World

Overview

Students will learn about the 15 essential nutrients found in dairy, how they contribute to healthy development, and how they benefit the body.

Curriculum Alignment

Designed for grade 4 health and physical education curriculum, healthy living strand.

Activities

Start: Farmhouse
Game Play: 20 minutes

  1. The Farmer explains the 15 nutrients contained within milk, which have been hidden around the house. Players must open all the chests containing nutrients.
  2. Once completed, they must check-in with the Farmer, who will direct them to the decking at the back of the house.
  3. Here, players must speak to Akim and Jenny. Jenny asks which vitamin would be most beneficial for night vision. Akim asks which food source is good for protein.
  4. Once both questions are correctly answered, players are teleported to the Silos for a bonus task.

Overall Expectations

By the end of the lesson, students will:

D.1) Demonstrate an understanding of factors that contribute to healthy development.

Specific Expectations

By the end of the lesson, students will:

D.1.1) Identify the key nutrients provided by foods and beverages, and describe their importance for growth, mental and physical health, learning, and physical performance.

Student Expectations

Demonstrate an understanding of what contributes to healthy development, and identify the key nutrients provided by foods/beverages that are important for growth.

Download the full lesson plan for the complete lesson and extra challenges.

Dairycraft processing plant image

Matter: Changing States

  • Grade: 5
  • Subject: Science and Technology
  • Total time: 20 min

Resources

Download Lesson Download World

Overview

Students will learn about the different processes that change the state or matter of dairy into other foods like cheese, yogurt, and butter.

Curriculum Alignment

Designed for grade 5 science and technology curriculum, understanding matter and energy strand.

Activities

Start: Processing Plant
Game Play: 20 minutes

  1. Player will be greeted by the Dairy Worker.
  2. The Lab Technician will teach players about the States of Matter. The table display and diagrams on the wall will demonstrate examples of states of matter, as well as how states may change through heating or cooling. The book on the lectern will explain physical and chemical changes, and the key differences between the two.
  3. Players must speak to the lab assistant to gain access to the kitchens. The Assistant will ask players if frying an egg is a chemical or physical change. The correct answer will open the doors to the kitchens and prompt players to go there next.
  4. Players will need to create yogurt, cheese, and ice cream in the kitchens to answer if they are a chemical or physical change.
  5. The correct answers will then unlock the butter kitchen.
  6. Once a player has made butter and answered the question correctly, they will then head to the Biodigester for a bonus task.

Specific Expectations

3) Understanding Basic Concepts

By the end of the lesson, students will:

3.1) Identify matter as everything that has mass and occupies space.

3.2) Identify properties of solids, liquids, and gases and state examples of each.

3.3) Explain changes of state in matter and give examples of each.

3.4) Describe physical changes in matter as changes that are reversible.

3.5) Describe chemical changes in matter as changes that are irreversible.

3.6) Explain how changes of state involve the release of heat or the absorption of heat.

3.7) Identify indicators of a chemical change.

3.8) Distinguish between a physical change and a chemical change.

Student Expectations

Demonstrate an understanding of the properties of matter, changes of state, and physical and chemical change.

Download the full lesson plan for the complete lesson and extra challenges.

Not a teacher?

You can still download our free Minecraft Windows 10 Edition (Bedrock) map here. You must have a purchased copy of Minecraft Windows 10 Edition through the Minecraft site or via the Windows store in order to play.

Getting started with Minecraft

Follow these steps to get yourself set up for the Dairycraft experience. If you’re already familiar with the program, start prepping for class by downloading our world and lesson plans.

1

Download Minecraft: Education Edition
Download Now

2

Download the Dairycraft world and lesson plans

3

Open Minecraft: Education Edition and log in with your school email address
See if you have an account

4

Upload the Dairycraft world into Minecraft to use as your canvas

5

Open the Dairycraft world, grab your lesson plan and play

Discover more learning resources from Dairy Farmers of Ontario

Our free, digital learning platform offers educational activities and resources for students from K-12. It’s compliant with the Ontario Ministry of Education's curriculum expectations.

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