Story and photos by Kaiden Simms ’30
History is often learned through textbooks, lectures, and memorization of dates. However, at MICDS, students in Winter Term have the opportunity to experience history in a much more creative and hands-on way. Through the course Recreating Historical Moments, students explore important events by rebuilding them using tools like Legos and Minecraft. By combining research, imagination, and collaboration, this class allows students to connect with the past in a meaningful and engaging way.
The structure of the course is designed to guide students from personal creativity to deeper historical understanding. Each week builds on the previous one, allowing students to move from simple ideas to more complex historical interpretations. In Middle School Math Teacher Mr. Delfin’s and Middle School History Teacher Mr. Duvall’s class, the students revisit significant historical events in history. The students pay close attention to details in that historical moment and create what they imagined it to look like from their own perspective. The students construct these scenes from the past through physical touch like Legos or through the digital world like Minecraft. By the end of the course, students will have replicated how they imagined certain events in history may have looked like.
In the first week of Recreating Historical Moments, the students were building a moment or artifact about their past, present, or future. I asked Caleb Newton ’33 what he was building, and he said, “a banana from the game Donkey Kong because when I played the game it was really fun and a great memory.” In the second week in Winter Term for Recreating Historical Moments, the students then picked a present or past historical moment, researched it, and then built it in LEGOs or on Minecraft.
Bryan Li ‘32 recreated the Twin Towers on Minecraft. Bryan says he picked this historical moment because “It’s a very important part in history and is fun to research and learn about. Also, I think it is fun to work with others to make big projects.”
I asked Mr. Delfin what the main goal of recreating history through Minecraft or Legos is and he responded with, “The main goal is to give students an atypical outlet to capture their vision of historical moments from the past. LEGOs and Minecraft allow students to demonstrate their understanding of historical moments that allow them to take ownership of their research, understanding, and interpretation.” I asked Mr. Duvall why is it important for students to think about what history might have looked like, not just what we know for sure. He responded with, “It’s important for students to learn about history because it’s fun, ongoing, and creative. Learning about history can create a better society, and it can help humans be more understanding and aware of the world around them.”
Overall, Recreating Historical Moments shows how learning history does not have to be limited to reading and note-taking. By allowing students to physically and digitally or physically recreate the past, the course makes history more engaging, memorable, and personal. Whether building with LEGOs or designing in Minecraft, students are encouraged to think critically about what events may have looked like and why they still matter today. This creative approach helps students better understand history while also developing imagination, teamwork, and a deeper appreciation for the world around them.