The latest Nation’s Report Card shows a troubling trend: math scores are down. In 2024, the average 12th-grade math score dropped 3 points from 2019, reaching its lowest mark ever, and nearly half of students scored below the NAEP Basic level. These declines underscore the urgency of rethinking how we teach mathematics—and precisely how we integrate engaging, meaningful, hands‑on learning into our practice.
Across classrooms today, many educators are seeing the same troubling trend—students struggling more than ever with math. National data confirms what teachers already know: math scores have declined, and many students lack confidence in their abilities. But instead of doubling down on worksheets or test prep, we can engage students in something far more effective—and far more inspiring.
Project-based learning (PBL) is proving to be one of the most powerful strategies for reversing math declines, especially when paired with cutting-edge resources for education. Through hands-on, real-world challenges, students build understanding, gain confidence, and see math as a tool for creativity and problem-solving.
At EDGEucating, we believe that when students do math—designing, building, coding, testing, revising—they learn math in a way that sticks. Let’s explore how you can bring this to life in your classroom.
Why Project Based Learning?
Research supports what many of us have seen firsthand: project-based learning boosts critical thinking, engagement, and long-term retention. It invites students to make connections between concepts and the real world, fostering deeper understanding and a sense of purpose.
Project Based Learning helps students:
- Apply math to authentic problems
- Practice data analysis in real time
- Strengthen computational thinking
- Develop perseverance and creativity
- Work collaboratively and inclusively
When students understand why they’re learning a concept and see how it connects to their world, motivation and mastery follow.
Building Math Fluency with Real-World Projects
Here’s how the right tools and resources make an educator’s job of designing project-based math lessons that reach all learners an easy one.
Designing with 3DuxDesign: Tiny House Challenge (Focus: Scale & Geometry)
Students explore scale, measurement, and geometry as they design and model their own tiny house using 3DuxDesign. In this engaging lesson, learners:
- Convert real measurements into scaled models
- Calculate area, perimeter, and volume
- Justify design decisions with mathematical reasoning
- Explore sustainability and space efficiency
The hands-on nature of this project supports diverse learners, making math visible and tactile. It’s also a great opportunity to integrate STEM education themes like architecture, energy, and design thinking.
Clixo: Math by Design (Focus: Geometry, Patterns & Measurement)
Clixo is a magnetic, shape-shifting design tool that brings geometry to life through hands-on exploration. Ideal for younger learners, it helps students build an intuitive understanding of 2D and 3D shapes, symmetry, angles, and measurement—all while tapping into their creativity.
Students can:
- Create repeating patterns and explore sequences
- Build and classify geometric shapes
- Investigate symmetry, perimeter, and area through design challenges
- Model math in real-world contexts like garden layouts, wearable designs, or mazes
Whether constructing a bracelet using repeating units or mapping out a shape museum, Clixo makes abstract math feel tangible, playful, and purposeful—supporting both critical thinking and early multiplication concepts through visual and spatial reasoning. Be sure to check out the expansion kits to level up the learning fun!
Finch Robot: Math in Motion (Focus: Coordinate Geometry & Operations)
The Finch robot is more than a coding tool—it’s a powerful math partner. Students use Finch to:
- Navigate coordinate grids
- Solve math puzzles with programmed movements
- Model operations like addition, subtraction, and even multiplication
- Explore concepts like slope, distance, and angles
By connecting code to movement, students experience math concepts in action—strengthening computational thinking and problem-solving skills in a highly interactive way.
Data Detectives with Labdisc & Xploris (Focus: Data Analysis & Measurement)
The Labdisc family of tools—including Xploris, BioChem, Physio, GenSci, and Enviro—bring data collection and analysis to life. Whether students are tracking temperature, light, or motion, they can:
- Collect real-world data
- Create graphs and charts
- Make predictions and draw conclusions
- Use math to describe patterns and trends
Xploris adds another layer by integrating art, animation, music composition, and storytelling into math exploration. Students might design a classroom blueprint or simulate weather data—all while practicing measurement, fractions, and symmetry.
Glow & Cube: Differentiated Support for Foundational Skills
While PBL builds depth and application, tools like Glow and Cube provide personalized math tutoring that meets students where they are. These platforms help:
- Fill learning gaps in a supportive environment
- Reinforce skills through guided practice
- Track progress and adapt instruction
Teachers can integrate Glow and Cube into classroom routines or use them during centers, ensuring every student gets the help they need—without holding others back.
KaiBot: Coding, Counting & Computational Thinking (Focus: Operations & Sequencing)
KaiBot transforms traditional math practice into an active coding adventure. This screen-free robot introduces students to foundational concepts in number sense, operations, and computational thinking through movement and storytelling.
Students use coding cards and loop commands to:
- Solve addition and subtraction problems by programming KaiBot to move across a number line
- Model arrays and explore multiplication through repeated movements
- Represent and analyze input/output tables to build algebraic thinking
- Use conditional logic to explore number comparisons and factor pairs
Also consider KaiBot Market Math for Grades K–3, a hands-on companion to KaiBot that blends math with coding in a supermarket simulation. Students use a magnetic game board layout and activity cards to solve real-world math challenges—like budgeting, number sense, and decision-making—while developing computational thinking. When paired with KaiBot, students can program their robot to “shop” and scan tiles as they navigate the store, reinforcing core math and coding concepts.
With KaiBot, students don’t just calculate—they build and debug solutions, developing persistence and problem-solving skills in the process. Research-backed and designed for inclusivity, KaiBot helps students of all abilities connect math to logic, motion, and meaning. A feature that really makes this robot stand out is that it was designed with visually impaired students in mind. It can be programmed using Braille Cards and the code can be executed verbally. Learn more about assistive technology tools for education in my article Ensuring Diversity & Equity with Assistive Technology.
Start Small, Think Big: Your First Steps into Project-Based Learning
If you’re just beginning your journey with project-based learning, you don’t need to overhaul your entire curriculum overnight. Small steps lead to big shifts—and there are plenty of supports to guide you.
Here are a few ways to start:
- Choose one meaningful project. Try something like the 3DuxDesign tiny house challenge or a data-driven investigation using Labdisc. Focus on engagement and exploration, then gather feedback from your students.
- Use what’s already in your classroom. You can begin with manipulatives, graph paper, or storytelling—then layer in tools like Clixo, KaiBot, or Finch when you’re ready to expand.
- Encourage reflection. Build in time for students to think about what math they used, what surprised them, and how they’d improve their work. Reflection reinforces learning and builds metacognitive skills. Don’t skip this step!
- Celebrate growth. Focus on learning, not perfection. Projects aren’t just about the final product—they’re about thinking, collaborating, and iterating.
To support you, EDGEucating offers free classroom-ready resources to help you confidently bring project-based learning into your math and STEM instruction:
- PBL & Coding Lessons for K–2
- Identifying Squares with Computational Thinking
- 5E Computational Thinking Lesson Plan Template
- Equitable Playgrounds Design Challenge
Want more guidance on how to embed edtech and PBL effectively? Check out these educator-favorite reads:
- Trusted EdTech & Teaching Strategies
- Project-Based Learning for Young Learners
- Teaching Computational Thinking with VinciBot
Together, these resources can help you build a classroom that’s rich in inquiry, collaboration, and joyful problem-solving. You don’t have to do it all at once—just begin. Feel free to reach out if you need assistance in getting started or selecting the right products for you and your students.
Let’s Reimagine Math—Together
It’s time to stop asking kids to memorize formulas they don’t understand. Instead, let’s invite them to design, build, code, analyze, test, and reflect. When students use math to solve real problems, they don’t just improve scores—they build confidence, curiosity, and capacity that lasts.
Ready to dive into math that moves? Reach out to learn more about EDGEucating’s project-based solutions, professional development, and customized plans for your school.
