Why do people build with arches? Why do we use stone in some places and wood in others? What's a foundation? How do you plan a road or construct a bridge? The answers to these questions can help gamers in Minecraft and in the real world! Through building their own structures and systems in Minecraft, young readers and gaming fans will learn about the past and present of human engineering, with a vision toward the future.

The castles of Europe have become a long-lasting symbol of the hard work and ingenuity of medieval builders. This volume is a great way to learn all about the engineering principles needed to create these giant, enduring buildings. Readers will learn how to build arches, drawbridges, towers, and more. The photographs and illustrations show the historical period during which castles were built, as well as examples of castles constructed in Minecraft. Readers will also be encouraged to explore computer programming to make their own mods in Minecraft.

Minecraft is a monumentally popular sandbox game, as well as the best-selling computer game of all time. In this set, readers are presented with beautiful illustrations and useful designs to help them make the most of their Minecraft experiences. These books address essential science and engineering concepts that readers will also learn about in school. Readers will explore mining, agriculture, biomes, and much more, both in Minecraft as well as in the real world. Building and exploring in Minecraft fosters creativity and encourages critical thinking about scientific and engineering concepts. The possibilities in Minecraft are endless, but these books help readers to work and learn within set frameworks in the game's Survival mode. Features include: Informative fact boxes provide readers with real-life connections to their structures. Colorful images help readers see what their construction might look like in the game. Inclusion of STEM concepts supports the Next Generation Science Standards.

People have been building bridges for centuries. Many bridges allow people to cross rivers and ravines. Others were constructed to bring water from distant mountains to city centers. Today, people recognize beautiful bridges from all over the world, such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. These bridges can be reproduced in Minecraft. This volume helps young readers understand essential engineering concepts. Readers are encouraged to experiment with coding and creating mods in Minecraft. Stunning cutaway images and Minecraft illustrations allow readers to bring their own bridges into the game.

Minecraft is an exploratory sandbox game that has become tremendously popular. Players are able to craft tools, build homes, mine for gold and other resources, and do much more. Players can also build and run their own farms. Thanks to frequent updates, Minecraft farms are becoming more and more like real ones. Players can grow crops, build barns, and raise livestock. These activities will teach readers about real-world STEM concepts. Readers are also encouraged to learn about computer programming as a way to create their own mods for the game. Colorful photographs and fun illustrations show readers how to create their own functioning farms in Minecraft.

Minecraft is known as a platform for creativity, and with mods, players can take their gaming experience to another creative level. Mods, short for "modifications," are any software that change Minecraft's original content. Mods can make minor changes or change the entire world--it's all up to the player. Screenshots show mods in action, with STEM and coding sidebars providing additional information.

Creating things is fun! It's even more fun when you can take something practical you've made and personalize it just for you. Crafting is also an important part of the game of Minecraft, but not everything you make has to be practical. This book shows Minecraft fans how to put their own stamp on their in-game buildings and tools. Age-appropriate text will show them how these methods compare to methods used in the real world for years, such as dyeing, smelting glass, and metalworking.

One of the most exciting aspects of creating worlds in the popular game of Minecraft is constructing railroads to carry your character around the towns you build. Rails and carts can also be used to make transportation systems in mines, but also roller-coasters. This volume shows readers how railroads constructed in Minecraft can display engineering concepts used in the real world. Using the redstone blocks in Minecraft gives readers a basic understanding of electronic circuits. Readers are also encouraged to explore computer programing and creating mods in Minecraft. The colorful illustrations and photographs help allow readers to make important connections between Minecraft and engineering.

When building in Minecraft, the sky is the limit! You can construct a city with buildings that tower over Steve and the game’s other inhabitants. Using Minecraft constructions as a guide, this book teaches readers about STEM in the real world. With a mixture of dazzling photographs, cutaway illustrations, and Minecraft examples, this book is sure to amaze and educate young readers. The text encourages readers to use computer coding skills to make their own mods in Minecraft. Help readers get on the elevator and take it to the top floor of this fascinating volume.

What's the earliest-used tool you can think of? An ax? What about a shovel? Someone had to invent those first tools back in the dawn of human civilization. Gamers use them in the world of Minecraft, too. Many tools helped early people, and help people today, make the principles of physics and engineering work for them. Through learning how to create simple to complex tools in Minecraft, students will get a look at the history of tools while also gaining an essential understanding about the history of human inventiveness.