Minecraft related activities that do not involve playing minecraft

[GerbilsAteMyCat]

So, my sons are very into minecraft. They mine and mine and talk about mining or build lego minecraft or watch videos about minecraft or read books about minecraft.
After reading a minecraft related thread this morning they went of the museum bery happily to learn about geology and rocks in minecraft. We found rocks made of lava, glowstone and obsidian. We were all very happy.
So... Building on this, what other things can we do that are minecrafty... But really are educational (bwa hahahaha).
Let's not discuss screen time or the values of playing minecraft, but things on a minecraft theme that will get them out of the house and opening their eyes.

I should add that we already do try and stimulate them, but they are happier if it's minecraft based... Or if dragons are involved.

Watching with interest...

Make Mushroom Soup.

Do some more geology type stuff. I bet you can find more museums, or books or whatever. If you have a garden that you don't mind them digging up, let them find rocks there?

Do some sand and water experiments? (Is that a bit preschool?)

Simple carpentry?

Those minecraft paper cutting out clutter creators activity book things. (Spatial awareness, fine motor control, arts and crafts)

There are loads of minecraft themed maths/English worksheets online aimed at home educators but most of them are awful TBH.

Ahh mushroom soup.
Thanks!!
Zombies maybe? Iron golems?robotics?

Yes definitely to the geology stuff. We bought a rock spotter's book so are going to try to spot more rocks. There is enthusiasm about lava so looking at basalt. Maybe involve a magnifying glass.
I would rather die than do the activity cutting out books. Inevitably something gets ripped and floor ends up covered in itty bitty bits of paper.
Picks? Swords? Armour like Steve wears?
Will have a look for educational worksheets, just in case!

Rock spotter's guide:
www.usborne.com/catalogue/book/1~ILB~ILG~613/spotters-guides-rocks-and-minerals.aspx

Humm simple carpentry... Though I fear younger DS will hit older one with a hammer...

We have serious Minecraft cooking here; cube cakes and the like.

There's a Neolithic Flint mine called Grime's Graves if you are planning a trip to Norfolk at any point. You descend via a wooden ladder, so very authentic.

I know you've said no to papercraft, but you can download custom papercraft skins free online to print and make.

I'll think of more soon...

How old are your children?
DS sketches a lot of his ideas on paper, or with pen and ink. He's also a fan of dragons. DD is the cookery and model-making sort. I'll ask them for ideas when they get in.

DS1 is currently obsessed with making minecraft hama beads - he's made all the animals, creeper, Steve etc.

DS1 and DS2 also try to make their own Stampy-style videos, where they plan out in advance what they are going to do and say, writing a little script,then try to film it.

Dcs here love to use his minecraft paper cutty out kit with the iPad to make animation.
Takes a while and a bit of thought to get it right but the 7yr old manages to produce some good videos.
We use the Lego stop animation app.

Gardening!

Last year I bought the DC some square Tupperware boxes which they used to grow cress create their own minecraft gardens. This is obviously far more authentic if you already own some hideously overpriced minecraft figures and mobs to populate the gardens with.

This year I'm going to mark out squares in our garden and let them loose on that!

Oooo these are brilliant! We have hama beads, they love Stampy and the stop motion animation sounds right up their alley!
DSs are 6&8.

Love the idea of Grimes Grames but we're in NI :(
Thanks so much the ideas folks! Please please keep them coming!

Oh yes cave exploring, there must be some somewhere.

Right, will seek out local caves. I think there are some in Fermanagh.

Ooo minecraft gardens. I missed that one. That could be good. Thanks!!