Student crafts math kits from hyderabad for underprivileged children

Hyderabad: Seventeen-year-old Rishab Jain, a student from Hyderabad and an avid speedcuber, has created two interactive learning kits aimed at generating interest in mathematics and physics among underprivileged secondary school students.

The kits include a math learning module with Rubik’s Cubes and a mechanical gear designed to simplify key math and physics concepts.

Jain, who recently won the Telangana State Speedcubing Championship, has been committed to the sport for the past few years, actively participating in seven to eight World Cube Association (WCA) competitions.

His social involvement began in grade 11 when he volunteered at a nearby NGO to teach children how to solve Rubik’s Cubes. However, he noticed a general lack of interest in math and physics among them, which inspired his idea: “I thought, why not use Rubik’s cubes as a fun, hands-on tool for teaching geometry, probability and sequences?”

A math learning module helps students visualize geometric shapes and patterns, and a mechanical gear set introduces them to basic physics concepts such as rotational mechanics, angular velocity, and gear ratios.

“The toolkit,” Jain explained, “is designed for teachers to use in their classrooms, allowing students to experience practical applications of these concepts through interactive models.”

Despite his busy schedule, Jain developed these kits in the 11th grade, doing most of the work during the vacations, before approaching Teach for India (TFI). He has since distributed around 50 kits in 20 schools in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Delhi and Pune, providing virtual sessions to explain the modules and even conducting an in-person demonstration in Hyderabad.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. “The kids were really interested in learning science and math using the Rubik’s Cube,” he said. Each kit provides a valuable resource in the classroom, enabling teachers to incorporate interactive math and physics lessons into their curriculum.