The Sandtray World was developed by Outsidetheblocks in partnership with Ellie Finch of Playmode Academy. We had a great deal of fun building this creative Sandtray therapy world, and while it was originally developed as a tool for therapists, like many Minecraft Education worlds, it has many uses beyond that. It's also a great build platform in a calming environment where students of any age group can bring their own ideas and creations to life. It has been designed as a multiplayer creative, peaceful environment, with easy access to all the unique assets we've developed (you can see many of them below).
In addition to our many unique assets, there are many familiar Minecraft entities available, but we've adjusted their behaviour so they can't move, and now act like NPCs so they can tell their own stories.
This world is freely available in Education and Bedrock formats on request from the Playmode Academy website where Ellie does a much better job than I could describing it therapeutic uses. There are also additional support resources and information. Hopefully it will also be available directly from the Minecraft Education Library in the near future! We hope you enjoy Sandtray World, you can explore some of the unique assets we've created, below.
Players can fly this entity to soar above their creations for a birds-eye view. Best flown in 3rd person. You can read more about the creation and inspiration behind this creation, here.
A drivable car in all it's 1970s glory! You can have it in any colour you like... as long as it's British Racing Car Green. You can read more about it's creation and inspiration, here.
A 1960s inspired, drivable van.
A placeable house. We felt that some players may want the option to create houses quickly, so you can erect this house in an instant as a placeable entity. You can read more about it's development, here.
A ridable bicycle modeled on my very own 40 year old bike. You can read more about it's inspiration, here.
Originally developed for my Holiday Activity world, a ridable old-timey Penny Farthing bicycle. It's much easier to ride here in Minecraft!
A red couch that seats two! That's right, you and a friend can sit on this cozy couch for selfies.
A early 70s style pram. Unlike the real one this is based on, it doesn't way a ton, and is easy to push around!
Based on the cot we had made for our daughter.
What school room is complete without an easel? This was developed for a school addon I made; it also has a home here in the Sandtray world. You can read my reflections on the design process, here.
Created originaly for my school pack addon, a Minecraft old-timey school desk you can sit in (without the massive discomfort). You can read more about my reflections on it's inspiration (and the modern one next to it), here.
A slightly more modern, sittable school desk from my school pack addon. It's still old enough that it has an inkwell!
We wanted to have colourful, posable figurines that players could use to express themselves other than through words. These re-modelled and re-textured armour stands fill that gap. You can read more about my reflections on these figurines, here.
We also wanted to give players the option of giving voices to entities, structures or elements that didn't have them. These can be placed next to anything you want to have a "voice".
Meet the robot, Binder (pronounced bine-der). He was originally developed just for fun and makes occasional appearances in other projects. This NPC comes in several different colours, and is texture animated.
We also wanted a simple, friendly, easily identifiable, welcoming robot NPC that could not be confused for another player or standard NPC. This robot guides you through the experience and offers help in various places on the item shelves.