Housed in the Lower School Library, a new augmented reality sandbox is available for students to use as an educational resource.

Gifted by an anonymous donor, the sandbox, which features contour lines showing the elevation of sand, will specifically enhance the Middle School curriculum on rivers and the Upper School Geographic Information Systems elective.

“For the youngest children, we’ve really set it up so that it’s a sort of tool for them to explore and play around with, and to learn about contour lines through exploration,” Dr. Matt Gallon said, who teaches science in the Middle and Upper School. 

The augmented reality sandbox includes a projector with a sensor, which detects different surface contour lines. When sand is moved around, the topographical lines change. Virtual rain can also fall, allowing students to study the path and flow of water.