The Kindergarten classroom at St. Monica School is alive with curiosity, creativity, and discovery. From solving mysteries to building imaginative worlds, young learners are exploring the world around them in fun and meaningful ways every day. Here’s a look inside this engaging classroom where play and learning go hand in hand.
The Science Aquarium: A Mystery in Every Box
The Kindergarten classroom at St. Monica School was filled with curiosity, creativity, and discovery. From solving mysteries to building imaginative worlds, young learners explored the world around them in fun and meaningful ways every day. Inside this engaging classroom, play and learning truly went hand in hand.
Every few weeks, something mysterious appeared in St. Monica’s Let’s Explore Science Aquarium. Though the aquarium was sealed, it sparked excitement and scientific thinking as students used observation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills to identify the mystery item inside.
Armed with magnifying glasses and three photo clues, students carefully studied the object and recorded their findings on documentation sheets. Their work was displayed on the science wall, celebrating their curiosity and careful thinking. At the end of the week, the class gathered to share hypotheses and vote on their best guess before the big reveal.
This simple yet powerful activity built observational skills, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of discovery.
The Building Blocks Challenge: Creativity in Action
At the building block centre, creativity and teamwork took centre stage. Each week, the theme changed to keep young minds engaged, sometimes focusing on free building and other times on specific challenges that encouraged collaboration, design, and imagination.
Students worked with a variety of materials and loose parts to bring their ideas to life. Some challenges were connected to classroom themes, while others were inspired by students’ own interests. Whether constructing together or working independently, students developed fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and creative problem-solving.
Popular themes included:
- Dinosaur World
- The North Pole
- Squirrel Mazes
- Arctic and Antarctic Regions
- Decorating Christmas Trees
Each project helped children make real-world connections and see themselves as creators and innovators.
The Magic of Kindergarten at the OCSB
Across the Ottawa Catholic School Board, Kindergarten was more than a first step into school. It was a foundation for lifelong learning. The bilingual program engaged students in both English and French, combining play-based exploration with opportunities to build critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills.
At St. Monica School, the Let’s Explore Science Aquarium and Building Blocks Challenge showed how joyful, hands-on learning helped students develop curiosity, creativity, and confidence. Through play and imagination, the youngest learners built the skills and wonder that would guide them through their academic journeys and beyond.
