Upper Canada District School Board launches interactive math and writing videos for elementary students
Dinosaurs, artificial intelligence, math and writing are coming together in classrooms across the Upper Canada District School Board through a new series of interactive, video-based learning experiences.
A media release from the UCDSB explains that Dino Dig Disaster launched earlier this month for Grade 3 students, and AI Gone Rogue for Grade 6 students. The programs are designed to strengthen math and writing instruction while supporting EQAO-style thinking in an engaging way.
The interactive approach was inspired by the concept of escape rooms. UCDSB staff developed classroom-ready activities that combine math-based EQAO-style questions with writing tasks and interactive video elements. The focus is on building problem-solving skills, mathematical reasoning and real-world applications.
“Our approach to math is intentional and student-centred,” said Rob Scott, vice-principal of curriculum and assessment in the media release. “We wanted to create something fun and interactive that mirrors EQAO-style thinking while being easy for teachers to use in their classrooms, without the need for additional support.”
The board’s math strategy includes consistent classroom practices aligned with the Ontario curriculum, the use of assessment data to inform instruction and ongoing collaboration among educators. The interactive activities are designed to be delivered directly to schools and implemented by classroom teachers, offering flexible and accessible learning tools.
Students are encouraged to take part in math conversations, explore multiple problem-solving strategies and make connections between math concepts and everyday experiences.
Dino Dig Disaster and AI Gone Rogue are already in use in Grade 3 and Grade 6 classrooms, with additional activities in development for Grades 2, 4 and 5. The long-term goal is to create a reusable bank of activities that teachers can use year after year with different groups of students.
“EQAO is one measure of student learning,” Scott said. “Our goal is to support well-rounded math development, so students are prepared not just for a test, but for future learning and real-life problem-solving.”
Taken from a media release from the Upper Canada District School Board