DIY Minecraft School Supplies: Pencil case & notebook cover

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Third grade is no joke!

School projects. Book reports. Required reading in a variety of genres. Nightly homework assignments, instead of a packet of worksheets sent home in a batch and due at the beginning of the next week.

Homework is about to get real here, and I’m not sure any of us are ready for it!

Especially not the third grader, who would much prefer to spend his afternoons snacking, playing with friends and gaming.

There will be time for that — because all that stuff is important, too. But I think we’re going start a “homework first” routine to ensure schoolwork gets done without stressing any of us out.

To give Jackson the motivation he needs to stay focused on his homework and remember what he’s working towards, I made him some cool Minecraft school supplies as part of my partnership with Gameband, the wearable tech that is a must-have for every Minecraft player.

When he finishes his homework, Jackson earns screen time to play Minecraft using Gameband.

First up are these cool DIY pencil cases, which you make using cardstock and double-stick tape. (Stay tuned for the instructions and printable patterns.)

I also made some Minecraft pencils, using the decoupage technique I shared last week on the DecoArt blog. (I used these free printable Minecraft wallpapers from Healthy Family to make the pencils.)

I also made a Homework First/Minecraft Forever notebook cover. You can download the free printable notebook cover here. I recommend printing it on heavy cardstock and trimming to fit your notebook. You can use doublestick tape or decoupage glue to attach the cover to your notebook.

Now let me show you how to make the pencil boxes. (These would also make great party favors or treats for Halloween or Valentine’s Day.)

You have several different Minecraft terrain options. Download the printable patterns below:

• Minecraft Dirt and Grass Pencil Box
• Minecraft Grass Pencil Box
• Minecraft Dirt Pencil Box
• Minecraft Terrain Pencil Box
• Minecraft Grass and Dirt Pencil Box

Once you’ve printed out your template on 8.5X11-inch cardstock, cut it out along the solid lines.

Other than some adhesive Velcro dots, you don’t need any special craft supplies to make these Minecraft pencil boxes.

But I do recommend these products to make the job easier:

• scoring board and scoring tool
• paper snips scissors
• super sticky double-sided tape (regular double-stick tape or craft glue will also work)

Crease the pencil box along the dotted lines. I like to use my scoring board and tool to get sharp, straight lines. But you can just fold along the lines, being careful to keep the edges neat and straight.

Fold the pencil box along the creases.

Then use doublestick tape, glue or sticky strip (my preference) to secure the box.

The red sticky strip tape works best for these types of projects, I’ve found. Once you peel off the red backing and stick the two pieces of card stock together, it’s not going to budge. Since you’ll be adding pencils to these cardboard boxes, you want something that is going to hold and stand up to use.

Apply tape to the bottom of the box, fold in flaps and secure.

Finally, add Velcro dots to flap and front of the box. Allow adhesive to set for several hours before trying to pull apart the Velcro to ensure a permanent bond.

Jackson and I both love how these turned out, and I’m hoping they’re going to keep us on track with homework assignments. If you have any homework strategies and suggestions, please share them with me. We’re entering new territory here and we could use all the help we can get.

When he’s finished with his schoolwork, he’ll earn free time to spend playing Minecraft using his Gameband.

Oh, and the Gameband is also a watch with an LED display, so Jackson can use it to track his required reading time before he starts playing.

If you’re not familar with Gameband, it’s a great for kids who love Minecraft and want to game on the go.

Gameband is a wearable USB-style bracelet that lets you take your Minecraft worlds with you and play anytime, anywhere on any computer. This is a great feature for kids who go to a babysitter, a friend’s house, afterschool clubs or daycare after school.

It’s also useful for families who have to run kids to appointments and extracurricular activities in the afternoons. As long as you have a laptop computer, they can plug in their Gameband and play Minecraft on the go. I know a little boy who has to tag along to his sister’s dance lessons several times a week. His mom is always looking for ways to occupy him while they’re waiting for the dance lessons to finish.

He’s one of Jackson’s gamer buddies, so I know he’d love a Gameband.

But only if he’s done his homework first!

Don’t miss out on any Minecraft posts at AttaGirlSays. Twice a month, in partnership with Gameband, I share Minecraft party ideas, kid-friendly craft projects, Minecraft party games, recipes, Minecraft printables, chore charts, giveaways and more. You can find all my Minecraft posts here.

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