Mattapoisett kids learn about nature via video game
Mattapoisett kids learn about nature via video game
Mattapoisett kids learn about nature via video game
By Tim Seeberger
October 24, 2020
Summary
MATTAPOISETT - Racoons building a village on an island, collecting bugs to donate to a museum run by an owl, and using the sales of turnips as a stock market sounds like a nonsensical video game idea.
At a virtual children's event from the Mattapoisett Library on Oct. 24, kids learned about what they can find right outside their doorsteps using the popular game "Animal Crossing: New Horizons."
"It's a way of experiencing through gaming how our world is shaped very uniquely," said Amanda Morin-Boyanowski, Master Programmer at Mastermind Adventures who led the learning session.
The goal of the game is to build a functioning community on an island.
Each player has their own island, and with it comes flowers that are native and can't be found elsewhere.
Like players who amass a personal collection of found species, Morin used her own real-life collection to teach kids about nature.
Morin held up a horseshoe crab shell to the excitement of the kids watching.
While they can be found in the game only in August past 9 p.m., she explained that these animals are extremely important these days.
Another sea creature found in the game are zebra turkey fish.
While players can build sprawling museums full of species in the game, Morin encouraged kids to start their own personal collection of plants and bugs at home, too.
Reference
Seeberger, T. (2020, October 24). Mattapoisett kids learn about nature via video game. Retrieved November 02, 2020, from https://sippican.theweektoday.com/article/mattapoisett-kids-learn-about-nature-video-game/50265