Middle school education can be very challenging for students. They get introduced to a lot of new mathematical and scientific concepts that are often abstract in nature and difficult to understand. What if these concepts could be made more fun and tangible? Would this help the students gain more confidence in learning these concepts, let them explore the subject matter more deeply and help them develop their own reasoning behind them? The “Smart Lamp” addresses this opportunity space by creating a mixed-reality environment that brings together the advantages of both physical and virtual environments. That creates a more enjoyable learning experience which improves the students’ exploration of science and mathematics. The camera-synchronized interaction also enables students to gain some of the benefits of embodied cognition through mere observation and manipulation of physical cut-outs, making the concepts more tangible and easier to understand.