Walk into any Kindergarten classroom in an Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) school, and you'll find a world of curiosity, creativity, and discovery. From counting and sorting to building and problem-solving, our youngest learners are developing essential skills through play without even realizing they're doing math! At St. John the Apostle School, Kindergarten students are having fun while building a strong foundation in math using hands-on tools like K'Nex.
Learning Through Play and Exploration
The heart of our Kindergarten program is learning through play. Play helps children develop intellectually, socially, physically, and emotionally. In all of our elementary schools, we offer a bilingual Kindergarten program where students learn in both English and French, providing them with a well-rounded education that promotes communication and cognitive development in two languages.
Building Math Skills with K'Nex
At St. John the Apostle School, one of the ways their Kindergarten students develop their math skills is through K'Nex, a hands-on building toy that encourages problem-solving and creativity. As students connect the colourful rods and pieces, they begin to understand math concepts such as symmetry, counting, and measurement. They practice counting the pieces they use to create structures, while also learning about proportions as they replace longer rods with shorter ones. These math skills are integrated into their play, making learning fun and meaningful.
Teamwork and Self-Regulation
Working with K'Nex also helps students develop teamwork skills. They often collaborate with friends, sharing ideas and building similar structures. This process teaches them how to communicate and support each other, fostering both social and problem-solving skills. At the same time, our Kindergarten program focuses on self-regulation helping students manage their emotions and behaviours, ensuring they can stay focused and engaged in their learning.
A Strong Foundation for Lifelong Learning
Through play, collaboration, and hands-on experiences, our Kindergarten program provides students with a strong foundation for future success. From early math concepts to developing emotional intelligence, our program equips students with the skills they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond.
