Teaching Area, Perimeter, and Volume with Minecraft

Math. It can be really hard, especially when you can’t understand why the process works the way it does.

Today, we are going to focus on three of the many math-related things you can teach and really help your student grasp the process using Mincraft®: Area, Perimeter, and Volume. Depending on where your child is in math, you may have encountered one of these three before.

First let’s head out on a crafting adventure. Journey into the Minecraft world of your child’s choice, and choose your favorite brick to build a variety of rectangular structures which you will use to practice figuring out AREA, PERIMETER, and VOLUME. Have your child build at least five rectangular structures in the ground, and figure out the area and perimeter of each. Then have your child build five rectangular structures above the ground and figure out the volume of each.

Teaching Area using Minecraft

AREA = Base x Height

For the rectangle in the picture below, the Base is 3 and the Height is 4.

Area = 3 x 4 = 12. This rectangle has an area of 12.

Teaching Perimeter using Minecraft

PERIMETER = 2(B + H)

Using the same rectangle we used to figure area in the example above, the Base is 3 and the Height is 4. So the Perimeter = 2(3+4) = 14.

Teaching Volume using Minecraft

VOLUME = Base x Height x Length

Using the rectangle below, the Base = 5, Height = 3, and Length = 6. So the volume =  5 x 3 x 6 = 90

Area, Perimeter, and Volume Minecraft Video

Area, Perimeter, and Volume Extension Activities

When you are finished with your crafting adventure – you are ready to take the concepts of Area, Perimeter, and Volume even further. Consider these extension activities to help cement the concept and get hands-on experience.

Use Cheezits to find Area and Perimeter from Sailing to Second

LEGO Perimeter and Area Lesson from Walking by the Way

Volume from the Ground Up with free printables from Math Coaches Corner

Finding Volume with LEGOs from Tutor House

Area, Perimeter, and Volume – Books to Read

Perimeter Area and Volume by David Adler

Pools to Ponds: Area, Perimeter, and Capacity by John Perritano

Spaghetti And Meatballs For All! by Marylin Burns

Want more Minecraft ideas for your homeschool? Check out our 31 Day series!

Homeschooling with Minecraft

Want even more ideas for learning with Minecraft? Follow our Pinterest board.