Side Quests with the Merge Cube: Bringing AR into the Library
By Chrystal Burkes, Librarian & Merge EDU Ambassador
In our middle school library, the Merge Cube has quickly become a favorite stop at our Augmented Reality station. What began as an experiment in giving students something hands-on and engaging has grown into one of the most exciting parts of our program. The Merge Cube doesn’t just entertain—it sparks curiosity, supports collaboration, and helps students better understand topics that are often hard to grasp in traditional lessons.
Learning through Exploration
Our students love using Merge EDU because it lets them hold digital 3D objects in their hands. For hands-on and visual learners, this is a game-changer. Instead of just reading about abstract concepts or looking at flat pictures, students can rotate, zoom, and explore in 3D. They’re not passively consuming information—they’re actively investigating it.
Extending Learning into Social Studies
One of the best examples came from our 5th-grade social studies classes, where geography takes center stage. Using Merge Explorer, students interactively explored Earth’s tectonic plates in 3D while discussing the history of the planet. Seeing how continents drifted and mountains formed wasn’t just a theory in a textbook anymore—it was a dynamic, hands-on visual unfolding right before them. Students connected the dots between what they read and what they saw, and suddenly, geography felt alive.
Supporting Science with “Side Quests”
In our library, we like to call collaborations with teachers outside of regular library lessons our “Side Quests.” Merge Cubes make these Side Quests easy, fun, and impactful. For example, when science classes are learning about earth systems, our library AR station becomes an extension of the classroom. Students can explore weather patterns, plate tectonics, or even the solar system in ways that align with standards while also encouraging curiosity and peer-to-peer discussion.
Collaboration and Engagement
The Merge Cube naturally inspires collaboration. Students gather around, discuss what they see, and explain their observations to each other. That shared experience builds teamwork, sparks new questions, and creates memorable “aha” moments. It’s especially powerful in the library setting, where students from different classes and grade levels can interact and share ideas.
Why Merge EDU Works in the Library
As a librarian, I see the Merge Cube as the perfect bridge between technology, science, and creativity. It turns the library into a hub of exploration where students can go beyond the page and bring learning to life. Whether it’s supporting social studies with geography visuals or launching Side Quests with science teachers, Merge EDU allows us to connect content areas and foster a love for learning that stretches across the curriculum.
Looking Ahead
We love what Merge EDU has already brought to our students, and we can’t wait to continue growing our AR station. With the Merge Cube, every day in the library can lead to a new Side Quest—whether it’s discovering the layers of the Earth, tracing tectonic shifts, or exploring a whole galaxy. The possibilities are as endless as our students’ curiosity.
👉 Want to spark curiosity and collaboration in your own school library? Learn more at trymerge.com.
