Using Video Games to Achieve Academic Standards

“Every lesson you teach should connect to the real world of your students.” I received this advice from an administrator while student teaching, and it’s guided me throughout my decade-plus career. Students today are recognized as digital natives; some even say that gaming is part of their DNA. With digital media woven into their being, how do we align core standards with their intrinsic motivations?

The answer: We play competitive video games. I’ve witnessed how esports, competitive video gaming, can revolutionize education. Beyond well-documented social and emotional benefits, esports align with academic standards, helping students meet and exceed key benchmarks, preparing them for academic success and real-world challenges.

Below, I share how esports can align with Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and how educators can use this engagement to help students achieve academic goals.

CCSS for English Language Arts

The CCSS for English language arts (ELA) is foundational in developing students’ critical literacy skills: reading comprehension, writing, speaking, and listening. Esports provide a unique platform for cultivating these skills in an engaging way.

Reading Comprehension and Analysis (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1): You can leverage esports by incorporating game narratives into your curriculum. Students can analyze the story line, character development, and thematic elements of the games they play. Take The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, in which the protagonist, Link, embarks on a classic “hero’s journey.”

Students can explore how Link’s adventures align with the hero’s-journey narrative structure, identifying key moments that reflect stages like “the call to adventure” or “the return.” This analysis helps students meet the CCSS standard for reading comprehension and literary analysis by deeply engaging with complex narratives. Other games that support this include Animal Crossing, the Pokémon series, Super Mario Odyssey, the Lego Star Wars series, and Luigi’s Mansion 3.

Writing and Presentation (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.1 and CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.4): Esports can enhance writing and speaking skills; students might write game reviews, create strategy guides, or craft creative stories inspired by games like Minecraft. They can present their works to the class, fulfilling standards for writing and presentation. This approach improves writing abilities and communication skills, helping students articulate their ideas clearly and persuasively.

I’ve seen firsthand, during local county tournaments and summer camps, how this project can raise awareness of sustainability, inspiring students to stand up for a cause. During day-to-day lessons or summer programming, students can learn how to design and build eco-friendly structures within Minecraft. This necessitates consideration of renewable energy sources, efficient water systems, and imaginative green spaces.

Two learning theories underpin this approach: constructivism—which emphasizes active, contextualized learning where students build their knowledge—and situated learning, which stresses the importance of acquiring knowledge within its application context.

The immersive nature of esports, as seen in games like Splatoon 3, makes these theories particularly relevant; students engage with ELA skills in a meaningful, engaging environment. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Rocket League also support this standard.

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics

Esports align with the CCSS for Mathematics, focusing on strategic thinking, problem-solving, and mathematical reasoning.

Ratios and Proportions (CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.RP.A.3): When I was a sixth-grade teacher, I taught ratios and proportions using traditional methods with consumables and a guided curriculum. I later realized how a game like Rocket League could make these concepts more tangible and engaging. Rocket League requires players to consider speed, angles, and timing—all of which can be analyzed using ratios and proportions.

Students could calculate the ratio between the car’s speed and the time it takes to reach the ball or examine how altering the angle of approach changes the outcome. By connecting mathematical concepts to a gaming scenario, students can see how ratios and proportions apply to everyday decision-making. Games like Fortnite, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and the FIFA series offer opportunities to explore ratios and proportions in practical, engaging ways.

Problem-Solving and Strategic Reasoning (CCSS.MATH.PRACTICE.MP1): Games like Rocket League encourage students to persevere in problem-solving and strategic reasoning. Educators can design lessons in which students articulate their strategic decisions and mathematical reasoning. They might model different in-game scenarios using algebraic thinking (pattern recognition, generalization, symbolic representation, etc.) or discuss the probabilities of various outcomes based on their strategies.

These activities align with the CCSS Mathematical Practice standards. Games like Kerbal Space Program, Factorio, and Civilization VI present opportunities for students to strengthen their critical problem-solving and strategic reasoning capabilities by tackling sophisticated challenges and managing resources effectively.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for Life Science

The NGSS emphasize integrating scientific practices, cross-cutting concepts, and core disciplinary ideas. Minecraft, particularly in Creative Mode, offers an innovative way to meet NGSS standards, especially in the study of ecosystems and biomes.

Ecosystems and Biomes (MS-LS2-4): One of the NGSS standards, MS-LS2-4, focuses on constructing an argument, supported by empirical evidence, that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations. In Minecraft, students can simulate ecosystems by creating biomes and populating them with different species, each playing a specific role within the ecosystem.

By altering the environment—such as removing a species or changing weather patterns—students can observe and analyze the effects on the ecosystem’s balance. This hands-on activity allows students to explore abstract concepts like interdependence and biodiversity.

You can align these Minecraft activities with the NGSS by developing assessments in which students must explain their design choices and the scientific principles underlying them. Students can write reports or present their findings on how simulated ecosystems responded to changes, demonstrating their understanding of ecological relationships and cause and effect. Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Zoo Tycoon, and Stardew Valley also support standard MS-LS2-4, allowing students to simulate and analyze the impacts of environmental changes on ecosystems and biodiversity.

Incorporating video games into education offers a dynamic way to make abstract concepts more tangible and engaging. By aligning games like Minecraft, Rocket League, Animal Crossing, and others with educational standards, we bridge the gap between students’ interests and core academic goals. This approach enhances their understanding of literacy, mathematics, and science while fostering critical thinking and problem-solving.