Teaching Mathematics with Coding and Robotics can Transform California Math Instruction
EdSource | February 1, 2026 | Online Article | PDF

RoboBlocky Math™ is a comprehensive TK–12 mathematics curriculum that improves mathematics achievement by integrating mathematics with coding, manipulatives, and robotics. It emphasizes real-world mathematical problem solving, conceptual understanding, mathematical reasoning, student agency, and TK–12 coherence. It is aligned fully with state mathematics standards and approved for adoption by the California State Board of Education (SBE) under the California Mathematics Framework. 

RoboBlocky Math supports core instruction, acceleration, intervention, enrichment, and expanded learning through flexible implementation pathways that adapt to diverse instructional models and student needs. 
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The high school RoboBlocky Math courses are UC A–G approved C-STEM courses that can be readily added to a high school's A–G course list, enabling schools to integrate mathematics, coding, and robotics into college-preparatory mathematics courses. 

Guiding Principles and TK–12 Coherence

• Supports conceptual understanding and mathematical reasoning through the strategic integration of coding and robotics only when they meaningfully enhance student learning and engagement
• RoboBlocky Math lessons focus on mathematics without requiring coding. When coding is included, it is designed to support mathematical exploration, conceptual understanding, and problem solving.
• Supports flexible implementation using manipulatives, virtual robots, and physical robots, allowing schools and teachers to adapt implementation based on instructional goals, classroom needs, and available resources. When RoboBlocky Math is implemented together with the STEAM, Computer Science, and Engineering Design with Robotics Pathways, physical robot-based mathematics activities may be delivered through the STEAM pathways to support mathematics instruction. Mathematics teachers may continue to use physical robots for lesson demonstrations when appropriate. 
• Supports hands-on learning using Linkbot Bundles as mathematical manipulatives and reconfigurable robot machines from TK through Grade 12
• Supports instructional continuity, collaboration, and peer mentoring across grade levels
• Supports cross-grade and cross-disciplinary collaboration among teachers through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)

 

Flexible Implementation for Core and Targeted Support, Fully Aligned with Grade-Level Mathematics Standards

• Supports teacher-led core mathematics instruction for all students
• Supports flexible classroom implementation and supplemental use through selected lessons and activities to enhance existing mathematics curricula, including alignment guides for over 25 widely used mathematics programs
• Supports teacher-led Tier 2 instruction through scheduled intervention courses for students needing additional support
• Supports Tier 3 paraeducator- and special education teacher-led individualized or small-group instruction using selected lessons and activities for targeted reinforcement
• RoboBlocky Math™ and the corresponding STEAM, Computer Science, and Engineering Design with Robotics Pathways are designed to complement one another. Physical robot-based mathematics activities, including RoboParade™, RoboPlay™ Competitions, and other hands-on robotics experiences, are included in both curricula. Schools implementing both curricula may conduct these physical robot-based mathematics activities within the STEAM pathways, allowing mathematics teachers to focus on core mathematics instruction while continuing to use physical robots for lesson demonstrations when appropriate.

Instructional Resources and Teacher Support

RoboBlocky Math is designed to empower all teachers, including those without prior coding or robotics experience, to confidently guide students in making mathematics meaningful, engaging, and accessible. RoboBlocky Math includes:

• Comprehensive Instructor Handbooks
• Student Workbooks (print editions in English and Spanish)
• Digital resources in multiple languages
• Ready-to-run programs in lesson Examples that support teacher-led mathematics instruction
• Structured lessons and guided activities integrating hands-on manipulatives, coding, virtual robots, and physical robots
• Teachers can modify program values to immediately observe how changes affect the program output, helping students visualize mathematical relationships and strengthen conceptual understanding
• Guided coding activities that provide scaffolded opportunities for students to apply mathematical concepts by modifying program values or selected code, as appropriate for the activity
• Cross-chapter and cross-grade Big Idea Tasks (K–5), Big Idea Projects (6–12), RoboPlay Adventures (K-1),  and RoboPlay Challenges (2-12) to promote deeper mathematical understanding

Research-Informed Instructional Frameworks

• RoboBlocky Instructional Strategy for Excellence (RISE)

  A research-informed, standards-aligned instructional strategy that supports conceptual understanding, mathematical reasoning, inquiry, problem solving, and academic language development through structured lesson design and purposeful mathematical discourse.

• REST (Run, Explain, Step, and Talk) Instructional Model

  A structured instructional model used within RoboBlocky lessons to guide inquiry-based learning through coding and robotics examples, supporting prediction, explanation, discourse, and collaborative problem solving.

• Professional Learning and Implementation Support

  Professional learning supports educators in implementing the RISE Instructaional Strategy and REST Instructional Model through classroom demonstrations, implementation examples, instructor scripts, and guided instructional practices designed to strengthen mathematical reasoning, discourse, inquiry-based learning, and classroom engagement.

Proven Impact

• Develops all students to think and reason as mathematicians
• Demonstrates significant gains in mathematics achievement (In one documented success, the percentage of 6th-grade students meeting or exceeding standards on the SBAC state mathematics assessment increased from 16% to 71% within one year, a 344% improvement)
• Empowers teachers as leaders in innovative mathematics instruction

 

RoboBlocky Math Accelerated and Highly Accelerated Curriculum follows the same guiding principles and instructional framework as the RoboBlocky Math Core Curriculum while providing rigorous, fast-paced mathematics courses for students who are ready for accelerated learning.

The curriculum provides six flexible acceleration pathways based on both the traditional (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2) and integrated (Integrated Mathematics I, II, III) high school mathematics sequences. Together, the pathways comprise four accelerated courses that provide school districts with flexibility to implement customized accelerated and highly accelerated programs that meet local pathway models and diverse student readiness levels.

Accelerated Pathways A and B provide one year of acceleration beginning in either Grade 7 or Grade 8. Highly Accelerated Pathway C enables advanced students to complete four years of mathematics content in two years, beginning in Grade 6. These pathways accelerate mastery of grade-level and above-grade-level mathematics standards while preparing students for advanced high school mathematics and post-secondary success.

Further details, pathway diagrams, pacing guides, and course descriptions are available in the RoboBlocky Instructor Guide.

RoboBlocky Math Intervention and Enrichment Curriculum follows the same guiding principles and instructional framework as the RoboBlocky Math Core Curriculum while providing flexible, hands-on mathematics courses for elementary, middle, and high school students.

The same curriculum supports both intervention and enrichment, with implementation differentiated through pacing, instructional emphasis, and depth of mathematical exploration rather than different instructional materials. Intervention implementations strengthen foundational mathematical understanding through guided instruction, additional practice, and extended instructional time, while enrichment implementations use an accelerated pace and extended problem-solving experiences to deepen conceptual understanding and application.

Courses may be implemented during the school day, afterschool, or in summer programs.

Course Title	Grade Level	Duration
Robotics Fractions	Elementary School (Grades 5-6)	One semester
Robotics Pre-Algebra	Middle school (Grades 6-8)	One semester
Robotics Algebra	High school (Grades 9-12)	One semester
Sensor-Based Robotics Geometry	High School (Grades 10-12)	One semester
Math Exploration with Coding and Robotics	Middle School (Grades 6-8)	Full year
Math Lab with Coding and Robotics	High School (Grades 9-12)	Full year

One-semester courses support either intervention or enrichment, while full-year courses are designed primarily for intervention. All courses strengthen essential mathematical concepts, build student confidence, and prepare learners for success in future mathematics, STEAM, and computer science pathways through engaging, project-based learning experiences.

Math Lab with Coding and Robotics course is a UC A–G approved C-STEM course  that can be readily added to a high school's A–G course list, enabling schools to integrate mathematics, coding, and robotics into college-preparatory mathematics courses. 

Further details, pacing guides, and course descriptions are available in the RoboBlocky Instructor Guide.

 

The STEAM, Computer Science, and Engineering Design with Robotics Pathways complement and reinforce mathematics through engaging learning experiences that integrate STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), computer science, and engineering design through robotics. Through hands-on activities using virtual and physical robots, students develop computational thinking, engineering design, creativity, collaboration, communication, and real-world problem-solving skills while building the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become innovative problem-solvers, makers, and future technology leaders.


Students engage in:

• Computational Storytelling
• Engineering Design with Robotics
• Design, Build, and Program Their Own Robot Machines
• Physical Computing with Arduino and Sensor-Based Robotics
• RoboParade™
• RoboEngineering Expo™
• RoboPlay™ Competitions

Students apply mathematics, science, engineering design, and computer science to solve authentic real-world problems while strengthening creativity, collaboration, communication, and computational thinking.

The pathways are designed to complement and reinforce RoboBlocky Math™ and existing mathematics curricula while also serving as comprehensive, stand-alone STEAM, computer science, and engineering design curricula. Each course is carefully designed to support students' cognitive development and grade-level mathematical proficiency. No prior experience with coding, robotics, engineering design, or computer science is required.

Schools and districts may implement individual courses, complete pathways, or selected curriculum resources independently to meet local instructional goals or integrate them into existing mathematics, science, computer science, engineering design, STEAM, afterschool, expanded learning, makerspace, summer camp, CTE, and enrichment programs.


Elementary STEAM and Computer Science with Robotics Pathway (Grades K–5)

• STEAM and Computer Science with Robotics (Kindergarten)
• STEAM and Computer Science with Robotics (Grade 1)
• STEAM and Computer Science with Robotics (Grade 2)
• STEAM and Computer Science with Robotics (Grade 3)
• STEAM and Computer Science with Robotics (Grade 4)
• STEAM and Computer Science with Robotics (Grade 5)

Middle School STEAM and Computer Science Pathway (Grades 6–8)

• STEAM and Computer Science with Robotics (Grade 6)
• STEAM and Computer Science with Robotics (Grade 7)
• STEAM and Computer Science with Robotics (Grade 8) 
• Introduction to Programming with C (Grades 7–8)
• Physical Computing with Arduino (Grades 7–8)

High School Computer Science and Robotics CTE ICT Pathway (Grades 9–12)

• Computer Science with Robotics
• Computer Programming for Solving Applied Problems
• AP Computer Science Principles with Robotics
• Robotic Technologies

The High School Computer Science and Robotics CTE ICT Pathway courses are UC A–G approved C-STEM courses that can be readily added to a high school's A–G course list. AP Computer Science Principles with Robotics is a College Board-endorsed course.

For more information, please click here. 

The Expanded Learning with Robotics Curriculum Program consists of the Robotics Curriculum for Expanded Learning and Robotics-Math Curriculum for Expanded Learning, each available in five grade bands (TK–K, Grades 1–2, Grades 3–5, Grades 6–8, and Grades 9–12). Schools and districts may also implement selected courses from the RoboBlocky Math™ Intervention and Enrichment Curriculum to support expanded learning.

Expanded Learning with Robotics extends the RoboBlocky Curriculum beyond the regular classroom through engaging, standards-aligned learning experiences in mathematics, STEAM, computer science, engineering design, coding, and robotics. Using the same robot, platform, curriculum resources, and professional learning, schools and districts can provide coherent learning experiences across afterschool, summer, intersession, intervention, enrichment, MTSS, Expanded Learning Opportunities Programs (ELO-P), makerspaces, and community learning programs.

Building upon structured curriculum experiences, students strengthen foundational skills, accelerate learning, engage in Computational Storytelling, explore Engineering Design with Robotics, Design, Build, and Program Their Own Robot Machines, and participate in RoboParade™, RoboEngineering Expo™, and RoboPlay™ Competitions.

For more information, please click here.

Integrated Learning Components

The RoboBlocky Curriculum includes the following Integrated Learning Components:
 

• Engineering Design with Robotics (TK–12)
• RoboEngineering Expo™
• RoboPlay™ Competitions (TK–12)
• Holiday Activities (TK–12)

These Integrated Learning Components are an integral part of the RoboBlocky Curriculum. Together with the Curriculum Programs, they provide authentic opportunities for students to Design, Build, and Program Their Own Robot Machines, participate in hands-on engineering design projects, robotics learning activities, seasonal learning experiences, robotics and engineering design showcases, and age-appropriate mathematics and engineering design competitions. 
 

Engineering Design with Robotics provides students with authentic opportunities to Design, Build, and Program Their Own Robot Machines while exploring and applying engineering design, computational thinking, mathematics, computer science, robotics, creativity, and STEAM through real-world engineering projects and challenges.

Linkbot is Barobo's patented reconfigurable modular robot. Each Linkbot serves as a programmable robot building block with precision actuators and wireless connectivity, enabling students to quickly Design, Build, and Program Their Own Robot Machines.

Students are inspired by a growing library of more than 100 2D and 3D structures built using Linkbot accessories as mathematical manipulatives and over 100 robot machines built using Linkbots and accessories, each supported by demonstration videos, complete parts lists, step-by-step building instructions, ready-to-run programs, and engineering design guidance. Students first build existing robot machines to develop engineering skills and confidence, then modify, improve, combine, or redesign those examples before ultimately Designing, Building, and Programming Their Own Robot Machines.

Platform and Instructional Features:

• SnapConnect™ Technology: Using Barobo's patented SnapConnect™ technology, Linkbots, OmniBots, Arduino boards, ultrasonic sensors, LEGO® components, and accessories can be quickly connected without special tools, allowing students to focus on engineering design, computational thinking, creativity, and innovation rather than mechanical assembly.

• TK–12 Versatility: The same robot and programming platform support learning from TK through Grade 12, allowing students to progressively strengthern their knowledge while using familiar tools year after year.

• Unified Robotics Platform: Engineering Design with Robotics integrates Linkbots, OmniBots, Arduino modules, sensors. and accessories into one common Linkbot-based platform, providing extensive opportunities to explore robotics, engineering design, physical computing with Arduino and sensor-based rootics, and authentic real-world applications.

• Ease of Programming: Students can quickly program the robot machines they build, allowing them to immediately test ideas, investigate engineering solutions, and refine designs through engaging interactive activities.

• LEGO® Integration (Optional): Through the LEGO® Connection Pack, widely available LEGO® components can easily be incorporated into Linkbot robot machines, providing additional opportunities for creative engineering design.

• 3D Printing (optional): Schools with access to 3D printers may design and fabricate custom robot parts using downloadable STL files and integrate them into Linkbot robot machines for advanced engineering design projects.

Engineering Design with Robotics supports RoboBlocky Math™, STEAM, Computer Science, and Engineering Design with Robotics Pathways, Expanded Learning with Robotics, RoboParade™, RoboEngineering Expo™, and RoboPlay™ Competitions, providing a common engineering design experience throughout the RoboBlocky Curriculum.

Together, these resources provide students with unlimited engineering design possibilities while inspiring the next generation of innovators, engineers, scientists, and technology leaders.

For more information, please click here.

RoboPlay is a unique, mathematics-focused, level-playing-field robotics competition for students in grades TK–12.

RoboPlay™ Competitions include RoboPlay Adventure Competitions (K–1) and RoboPlay Challenge Competitions (Grades 2–12).  

Designed around grade-level mathematics skills, the competition fosters teamwork and showcases students’ real-world mathematics problem-solving, engineering design, and creativity under time constraints. Participants use reconfigurable modular Linkbot robots and accessories to creatively solve mathematics adventures and challenges that integrate coding, engineering design, and robotics. Key features of RoboPlay include:

• Equitable and inclusive competition: All teams use the same robotics equipment, and adventures and challenges are revealed on the day of the competition. This ensures a level playing field, eliminating advantages associated with  funding, custom-build robots, or prior preparation.
• Easy classroom implementation: No advance planning required, making the competition ideal for classroom instruction, afterschool programs, and expanded learning programs.
• Curriculum-aligned and cost-effective: All adventures and challenges use the same equipment and curriculum resources already incorporated throughout the RoboBlocky Curriculum, with no additional purchases required. 
• Ongoing access to materials and support: New adventures and challenges are released annually, and Instructors have access to all past adventures, challenges, and sample solution videos. Support is also available for organizing school, district, and regional RoboPlay Competitions.

For more information about the RoboPlay™ Competitions, please click here.

Holiday Activities are an Integrated Learning Component of the RoboBlocky Curriculum. They provide engaging seasonal learning experiences that integrate mathematics, coding, robotics, engineering design, computational thinking, and creativity through authentic holiday themes. Students apply grade-level mathematics concepts while participating in meaningful hands-on activities such as counting, operations, geometry, measurement, coding, robotics, and engineering design.

The curriculum is available in five grade bands (TK–K, Grades 1–2, Grades 3–5, Grades 6–8, and Grades 9–12). 

Holiday Activities complement RoboBlocky Math™, STEAM, Computer Science, and Engineering Design with Robotics Pathways, Expanded Learning with Robotics, RoboParade™, RoboEngineering Expo™, and RoboPlay™ Competitions, providing enjoyable opportunities for students to reinforce classroom learning while celebrating seasonal events, and strengthen school traditions throughout the school year. 
 

RoboBlocky offers a suite of free lessons and activities designed to integrate coding with mathematics and robotics. Linkbot robots are optional for use with this free curriculum. These materials are well suited for a wide range of outreach and enrichment programs, including open houses, back-to-school events, school STEM nights, robotics clubs, afterschool programs, summer camps, Hour of Code, Hour of Robotics, STEM and engineering expos, museum events, library programs, community science fairs, maker fairs, tech nights, and youth organization activities such as Scouts or 4-H.

Arduino is one of the most widely used open-source low-cost microcontroller platform across a board range of industrial applications. The free Introduction to  Physical Computing with Arduino curriculum engages students in core computer science concepts through physical computing and electronics.

For more information on how to get started, please visit the Documents page.

Professional Development

• Barobo offers both online and on-site professional learning to support educators in integrating RoboBlocky curricula into classroom instruction and expanded learning programs.

• In collaboration with higher education partners, including UC Merced Professional & Continuing Education and  UC Riverside Professional and Global Education, Barobo supports educators pursuing a Computer Science Supplementary Teaching Credential and related professional learning opportunities. UC Merced also provides Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for participating educators.

• A train-the-trainer program is also available, enabling school districts to conduct their own professional learning for teachers, building local capacity and supporting long-term sustainability.

For more information, please click here.

Educator Testimonials

"I like how I can use the curriculum to integrate coding and hands on math to bring math alive for the students …Fun, exciting, and lots of opportunities for kids to learn from their mistakes." --- Catherine Ouellette, Kindergarten Teacher Hacienda La Puente, California "The RoboBlocky curriculum is a godsend for distance learning! Thanks!" --- Robert Beckett, High School Robotics Teacher Manor, Texas “RoboBlocky is awesome! Bringing programming to life with the Linkbot! The materials and online curriculum are fantastic.”  --- Margaret Willett, 9-12th Grade CS Teacher Houston, Texas