UPPER CANADA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
UCDSB Strengthens Focus on Math Achievement for EQAO-Aged Students

Dinosaurs, artificial intelligence, math and writing are coming together in classrooms across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) through a new series of interactive, video-based learning experiences. Launched earlier this month, Dino Dig Disaster for Grade 3 students and AI Gone Rogue for Grade 6 students are designed to strengthen math and writing instruction and support EQAO-style thinking in a fun way.

The approach of developing interactive, classroom-ready learning experiences was inspired by the idea of escape rooms. UCDSB staff created a series of activities featuring math-based EQAO-style questions, supported by writing tasks and interactive video elements to enhance student learning. The focus remains on developing problem-solving skills, mathematical reasoning, and real-world applications.

"Our approach to math is intentional and student-centered," said Rob Scott, Vice-Principal of Curriculum and Assessment. "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."

UCDSB's math focus 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 sent directly to schools and implemented by classroom teachers, making them accessible and flexible learning tools. Students are encouraged to participate in math conversations, explore multiple problem-solving strategies, and make connections between math concepts and everyday experiences.

Dino Dig Disaster and AI Gone Rogue have already hit Grades 3 and 6 classrooms, with additional activities currently in development for Grades 2, 4, and 5. The goal is to build a reusable bank of activities that teachers can draw from year after year with different groups of students.

"EQAO is one measure of student learning," added Scott, "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."