Minecraft Heroes: Kids Build a City That Beats Floods!
Imagine using your favorite game to help save the real world — that’s exactly what these students are doing! At Archbishop Temple School, kids are using Minecraft to recreate rising rivers and dangerous floods in their own town. Then, they design smart solutions like barriers and defenses to stop the water.
This isn’t just playtime — it’s serious problem-solving. By experimenting in a virtual world, students learn how flooding works and how to protect communities from climate change. One student said it best: they’re “learning while playing” and finding ways to help the planet.
Teachers love it too, because games like Minecraft make learning hands-on, fun, and meaningful. In this pilot project, kids aren’t just playing a game — they’re becoming real-life problem solvers who could help save cities in the future.
Take the Challenge
More News Stories
Roblox has exploded into one of the most popular gaming platforms in the world, especially for kids ages 8–12. What started as a small company has grown into a massive online universe with more than 40 million user-created games and experiences — from obstacle courses and role-playing worlds to fashion shows and virtual adventures. In fact, Roblox now has more monthly users than Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation combined.
But with its huge popularity comes growing controversy. Critics say that because almost anyone can create a game on the platform, some content may not always be appropriate for younger users. That has raised questions from parents and safety experts about how well kids are protected online.
Roblox co-founder and CEO Dave Baszucki says the company takes safety seriously and has “no tolerance” for inappropriate content. The platform has introduced new protections, including limits on messaging for users under 13. Still, reports show that some kids can sometimes find ways around age restrictions, which keeps the debate going.
Baszucki also says millions of users are having positive, creative experiences on Roblox every day — and reminds parents that they ultimately decide whether it’s the right platform for their children.
What if homework meant baking a cake, designing a board game, or building something creative instead of filling out worksheets? One elementary school has replaced traditional homework in subjects like math and reading with hands-on projects that students can choose themselves.
Supporters say the new approach makes learning feel more real and less stressful. Students report having more choice, more family time, and more fun. A cooking project, for example, can still involve math, reading, measuring, and following directions — all while making something you can actually eat.
But not everyone agrees. Some people wonder whether creative homework truly prepares students for the more demanding assignments they may face later in middle school, high school, and beyond. Others worry that without regular practice, students may miss chances to build discipline, organization, and study habits.
So what counts as real learning: finishing worksheets — or using skills in everyday life? This school’s homework experiment is raising big questions about how kids learn best.
Scientists use a revolutionary technique to better study the DNA of bones from burial sites over a thousand years old. Highlighting gradual changes in the DNA is unlocking Britain’s history, providing information on human migration and the interaction between different populations from the Romans to the Anglo-Saxons. This video is excerpted from BBC News.
Kids today can swipe before they can tie their shoes — but some teachers say all that screen time may be changing the way young children learn, talk, and handle emotions. One preschool is pushing back by focusing on hands-on play, conversation, creativity, and movement instead of tablets and videos. Teachers say they’re seeing more kids struggle to explain what they want, calm themselves down, or interact socially after spending hours watching screens instead of experiencing the real world firsthand. Experts recommend no screens at all for children under 2, and no more than 30 minutes a day for ages 2–5.
Roblox has exploded into one of the most popular gaming platforms in the world, especially for kids ages 8–12. What started as a small company has grown into a massive online universe with more than 40 million user-created games and experiences — from obstacle courses and role-playing worlds to fashion shows and virtual adventures. In fact, Roblox now has more monthly users than Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation combined.
But with its huge popularity comes growing controversy. Critics say that because almost anyone can create a game on the platform, some content may not always be appropriate for younger users. That has raised questions from parents and safety experts about how well kids are protected online.
Roblox co-founder and CEO Dave Baszucki says the company takes safety seriously and has “no tolerance” for inappropriate content. The platform has introduced new protections, including limits on messaging for users under 13. Still, reports show that some kids can sometimes find ways around age restrictions, which keeps the debate going.
Baszucki also says millions of users are having positive, creative experiences on Roblox every day — and reminds parents that they ultimately decide whether it’s the right platform for their children.
What if homework meant baking a cake, designing a board game, or building something creative instead of filling out worksheets? One elementary school has replaced traditional homework in subjects like math and reading with hands-on projects that students can choose themselves.
Supporters say the new approach makes learning feel more real and less stressful. Students report having more choice, more family time, and more fun. A cooking project, for example, can still involve math, reading, measuring, and following directions — all while making something you can actually eat.
But not everyone agrees. Some people wonder whether creative homework truly prepares students for the more demanding assignments they may face later in middle school, high school, and beyond. Others worry that without regular practice, students may miss chances to build discipline, organization, and study habits.
So what counts as real learning: finishing worksheets — or using skills in everyday life? This school’s homework experiment is raising big questions about how kids learn best.
Scientists use a revolutionary technique to better study the DNA of bones from burial sites over a thousand years old. Highlighting gradual changes in the DNA is unlocking Britain’s history, providing information on human migration and the interaction between different populations from the Romans to the Anglo-Saxons. This video is excerpted from BBC News.
Kids today can swipe before they can tie their shoes — but some teachers say all that screen time may be changing the way young children learn, talk, and handle emotions. One preschool is pushing back by focusing on hands-on play, conversation, creativity, and movement instead of tablets and videos. Teachers say they’re seeing more kids struggle to explain what they want, calm themselves down, or interact socially after spending hours watching screens instead of experiencing the real world firsthand. Experts recommend no screens at all for children under 2, and no more than 30 minutes a day for ages 2–5.