Chalkboard

This feature is exclusive to Minecraft Education.
 
This article describes content that has been officially made unobtainable in Bedrock Edition.
 
It can still be obtained using third-party software. However, this can cause unexpected behavior such as bugs and crashes.
Chalkboard

Chalkboard Slate.png: Infobox image for Chalkboard the block in Minecraft

Chalkboard Poster.png: Infobox image for Chalkboard the block in Minecraft

Chalkboard Board.png: Infobox image for Chalkboard the block in Minecraft

Invicon Slate.png: Inventory sprite for Slate in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: SlateInvicon Poster.png: Inventory sprite for Poster in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: PosterInvicon Board.png: Inventory sprite for Board in Minecraft as shown in-game with description: Board
Renewable

No

Stackable

Yes (16)

Tool

None

Blast resistance

?

Hardness

1.15

Luminous

No

Transparent

Yes

Waterloggable

Yes

Flammable

No

Catches fire
from lava

No

A chalkboard is a block that can display more text than a sign.[1] Three sizes are available: 1×1 (slate), 2×1 (poster), and 3×2 (board).

Obtaining

In Minecraft Education, chalkboards can be obtained in the Creative inventory or through the /give command. In Bedrock Edition, chalkboards cannot be obtained by commands or the Creative inventory, and can only be obtained by using glitches or inventory editors.

Usage

A chalkboard can be used similarly to a sign, to display text. Once placed, select the chalkboard and enter the desired text and click the "OK" button. The "×" in the upper right corner of the board closes the edit screen.

Placement

Chalkboards may be placed on the top or side of other blocks (including non-solid blocks like fences, glass, rails, and other chalkboards). To place a chalkboard, use a chalkboard item while pointing at the block the chalkboard should be attached to. To place a chalkboard on a block that can be interacted with by the use control (for example, chests, note blocks, etc.), sneak while placing the chalkboard.

1×1 slates placed on the top of a block stand on a short post, facing in the direction of the player who placed it, in any of 16 different directions. 2×1 posters and 2×3 boards can be placed in any of 4 different directions. Chalkboards placed on the side of a block simply float there, even if the block doesn't make contact with the chalkboards.

Text

When entering text, six lines of text are available for the slates and posters, while fifteen lines of text are available for the 2×3 boards. To switch between lines, the player can press Enter or the up/down arrow keys. The location of text currently selected has a flashing cursor.

While editing, typing and backspacing can occur at any point in the line by moving the cursor using the left and right arrow keys. Once the end of the line has been reached, the word is hyphenated and is continued on the next line.

After the editing window is closed, right-clicking on a chalkboard reopens the editing menu. Copy and paste can be performed, and no more than the basic/shifted keyboard characters may be entered.

Interaction

Chalkboards act as though they have a use action, so sneaking is required to place blocks or use items while the cursor is pointed at them.

Unlike signs, boards block a piston from moving.

Boards have no collision box (they are completely non-solid), so items and mobs can move through boards blocks. Other blocks (including other boards) can be placed on any edge of a board.

Water and lava flow around boards. Lava can create fire in air blocks next to boards as if the boards were flammable, but the boards do not burn.

Sounds

BlockSprite stone.png: Sprite image for stone in Minecraft stone sound type
SoundSourceDescriptionResource locationVolumePitch
BlocksOnce the block has brokendig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhen the block is placeddig.stone1.00.8-1.0
BlocksWhile the block is in the process of being brokenhit.stone0.370.5
PlayersFalling on the block with fall damagefall.stone0.41.0
PlayersWalking on the blockstep.stone0.31.0
BlocksJumping from the blockjump.stone0.121.0
BlocksFalling on the block without fall damageland.stone0.221.0

Data values

ID

NameIdentifierNumeric ID FormItem ID[i 1]Translation key
BlockSprite chalkboard.png: Sprite image for chalkboard in Minecraft Blockchalkboard230Block & Ungiveable Item[i 2]Identical[i 3]tile.chalkboard.oneByOne.name
tile.chalkboard.twoByOne.name
tile.chalkboard.threeByTwo.name
ItemSprite board.png: Sprite image for board in Minecraft Itemboard454Itemtile.chalkboard.oneByOne.name
tile.chalkboard.twoByOne.name
tile.chalkboard.threeByTwo.name
  1. ID of block's direct item form, which is used in savegame files and addons.
  2. Unavailable with /give command
  3. The block's direct item form has the same ID as the block.

Metadata

See also: Data values

Chalkboards uses the following data values:

  • Slate: 1
  • Board: 2
  • Poster: 3

Block states

See also: Block states

Bedrock Edition:

Note: Chalkboards only use block states if it is on a wall.

NameMetadata Bits Default value Allowed valuesValues for
Metadata Bits
Description
direction0x1
0x2
0x4
0x8
00
1
2
3
0
1
2
3
The direction the block is facing. For example, a block facing east is attached to a block to its west.
  • 0: south
  • 1: west
  • 2: north
  • 3: east


History

Pocket Edition Alpha
v0.16.0build 1
Added chalkboards.
Chalkboards can be obtained and placed using the /give and /setblock commands respectively. However, they serve no purpose.
Their addition was likely accidental due to Pocket Edition sharing the same codebase as Education Edition.
build 2Removed chalkboards. Their textures still exist in the files.
Bedrock Edition
1.11.0beta 1.11.0.1Re-added chalkboards. They still exist as entities, but can't be spawned. The items can't be spawned either.
1.17.30beta 1.17.30.20Chalkboards can now be placed consistently.
1.21.50Preview 1.21.50.25Slates have been added to the Creative inventory, likely by accident.[2]
Chalkboard models are now masked by placeholder block models, even in worlds with the Education edition toggle on.[3]
Preview 1.21.50.28Slates have been removed from the Creative inventory.
1.21.60Preview 1.21.60.21 Chalkboard items no longer have a texture.
Minecraft Education
MinecraftEdu MinecraftEdu, Education Edition's predecessor, had "Big Signs", 3 block wide signs that served a similar purpose.
1.0
Added chalkboards.
1.0.2The UI of chalkboards now has a locked option.
Students now can place their own chalkboards even without a worldbuilder ability.

Gallery

Screenshots

References

  1. https://education.minecraft.net/support/knowledge-base/using-slates-posters-boards/
  2. MCPE-187696 — Slate appears in Creative Inventory with Education toggle off
  3. MCPE-187753 — Slate is covered by missing texture in Education Edition

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