MERGE CUBE
Merge Cube is a six-sided lightweight foam cube. Each side is covered with glyphs that transform into lifelike AR and VR images when viewed through a phone, iPad or headset. There are currently 34 apps or experiences that work with Merge Cube. 12 of these apps are free and the others are available for a small fee ($0.99 – $8.99) from Google Play or the Apple iTunes store. Merge Cube is available for $14.99 from Amazon.com. You can also make your own Merge Cube out of paper or card stock.
DIY MERGE CUBE
If you don’t have the foam Merge Cube, you can make your own Merge Cube out of paper or card stock using any of the following three templates. Please click on each image to access the original document or website.
Template 1
Source: Jaime Donally at ARVRinEDU.com
Template 2
Source: Mark Loundry at The Janus Group
Template 3
Here is a link to a Google Drive template for a 21 centimeter cube using Template 1. Click on the image to acess the Google Doc. Make a copy of the document if you want to edit the size of each slide to make your Merge Cube bigger or smaller. 
Video:
Gabe Haydo from the Singapore American School in Singapore has a very helpful video about how to make a giant Merge Cube. Giant Merge Cubes have several advantages. They are big and good for promototing an activity. Several students can also scan the cube at the same time. However, they are often too big to hold in your hand. If you want your students to hold the cube in their hand to manipulate the cube, I recommend a smaller Merge Cube.
MERGE TH!NGS
TH!NGS is a free app for Merge Cube. It includes 16 different games and provides an excellent introduction to the various features available on Merge Cube. With this app, you can do things like cut a watermelon, fly a spaceship, shoot some fireworks, and hold a camp fire, human skull, and human heart in your hand. TH!NGS can be transformed into an English speaking activity by asking students what they saw in each of the games. You can then ask follow up questions about which game students liked the best and why. Watch the video for a preview of the TH!NGS app.
Vocabulary
When I used TH!NGS, I started by introducing students to the various vocabulary they would see when they scanned their Merge Cube using the TH!NGS app.
Discussion
After students had time to try the 16 differerent games, we then discussed what they saw and which games they liked the most. This provided additional opportunities for speaking practice. It could also be done in writing.
DEFUSED!
DEFUSED! is another free app for Merge Cube. In this game, students need to follow the written instructions in order to defuse a bomb before it explodes. This game can be used for reading comprehension as well as speaking or writing practice. After students play, you can ask them what they saw, how they felt, and their opinion of the game.
Vocabulary
When students play DEFUSED! they will need to follow the written instructions on the Merge Cube so they know what color wire to cut, which switch to turn on or off, and what numbers to enter on the key pad. It helps to pre-teach this vocabulary.
Instructions
DEFUSED! is a very fast moving game. Students need to complete the assigned task within a time limit. So, there is not a lot of time for students to get help when they are actually playing the game. I think it helps to explain the steps to the game beforehand so students know what to expect once the game begins.
Discussion
After students have tried to defuse their bomb, they can then discuss what they saw during the game and what they did. They can also discuss how they felt while playing the game. This creates opportunities for speaking or writing practice.
Other Free Merge Cube Apps
Here are some other free apps for Merge Cube that can be used with English language learners.
Moments
Moments is a research-based app designed by Kevin Chaja to help students with mental health needs describe their feelings and emotions. There are characters and scenarios for 6 emotions: happy, sad, anger, fear, boredom and sick / gross. There are lots of ways this app can be used with English language. Students can start by descibing and discussing the emotions depicted by each character and scenario. Students can then compose descriptions, speech bubbles, dialogues, sentences or stories about each of the characters and scenarios.
Object Viewer
The Object Viewer app allows you to view and upload 3D objects to your Merge Cube. English language learners can use this app to describe the various objects and compose dialogues, role plays, stories or descriptions about the objects. This can be personalized by encouraging students to find or create their own objects to upload and share.
Mr Body
Mr Body is an app designed to teach human anatomy. It features a cartoon human body situated inside a doctor’s office. The cartoon has holograms of various organs including the heart, brain, liver and lungs that you can hold in your hand and can view from different angles. Each body part is labbled and tapping on an organ opens a larger image with a short written description. English language leaners can use this app to learn about different parts of the body and the written descriptions can also be used for reading comprehension. Students could also use this app to write dialogues, role plays or stories about visiting a doctor.
MYARQUARIUM
Myarquarium is an app for designing a miniature fish tank. You start with an empty tank and add different kinds of fish and choose a sea floor to create your own custom fish tank. You can choose from 55 different kinds of fish and you can also feed them after you complete your tank. Each fish is also labelled in English. Students can use this app for language practice by describing the various fish and features in their fish tank. It would also work well as a stimulus for creating dialogues or stories about the fish.
CoSpaces
CoSpaces is a website and app for creating virtual reality experiences. The basic plan is free. However you can also use CoSpaces to build your own content for a Merge Cube. In order to do this, you need a CoSpaces Edu Pro account. Prices for this plan begin at $96 USD a year. However, you can get a FREE 30 day trial plan with 100 seats by contacting a CoSpace Ambassador on Twitter. This can be useful if you want to use CoSpaces for a project with your class.
CoSpaces has numerous classroom applications for English langauge learners. For instance, it can be used to illustrate vocabulary or grammar structures. It can also be used to create multimodal texts such as self-introduction, summaries, stories, book or film reviews, discussions, brainstorming activities, or any other activity that involves writing and illustrations.
Example 1: Classroom Vocabulary
This Merge Cube contains vocabulary related to classroom objects. It was designed for a bridging course for English language learners at the start of the school year. The objective is to help student revise vocabulary related to what they see in their own classroom. After students correctly identifty the objects, they can use CoSpaces to create their own vocabualry experience and add labels with the English name of each object.
Example 2: Book Report
CoSpaces can also be used to add written text to a Merge Cube. Then objects can be added to illustrate your text. The easiest way to do this is to create the content for each side of your cube using square Google Slides. Then attach each slide to one side of your Merge Cube using the CoSpaces platform. Here is an example of this activity using a book report template.
Here is the Google Slide template for this activity. Make a copy if you want to edit the content.
Explainer Video
Here is a expainer video about using Merge Cube with English language learners.
References
Donally, Jaime (2018). Learning Transported: Augmented, Virtual and Mixed reality for All Classrooms. Portland, Or: ISTE
