Winter & Wolves Inspire Literacy in PK Classrooms

As a former early childhood teacher, I know firsthand the magic that happens when children’s natural curiosity is nurtured. In our Early Childhood Division, under the thoughtful leadership of Paul Lorenzo-Giguere, this magic comes to life every day. This winter, our PK classrooms became places where wonder drove discovery, as children’s fascination with the frosty world sparked an immersive, interdisciplinary exploration of how animals, particularly grey wolves, adapt to freezing conditions. Our teachers’ commitment to fostering curiosity-driven, play-based learning created the foundation for this joyous journey of storytelling, creativity, and collaboration.

In St. Patrick’s PK classrooms, children’s innate sense of wonder about winter and how animals adapt to freezing conditions became the foundation for a rich, interdisciplinary learning experience. Guided by the principles of constructivist, play-based education, the teachers harnessed the children’s interest to create an emergent curriculum that combined storytelling, art, dramatic play, and collaborative projects. Along the way, the children honed critical skills while discovering the joy of learning inspired by their own wonder.

The snowstorm that closed school, followed by a deep freeze, sparked curiosity about how animals survive in the cold. A shared fascination with grey wolves inspired storytelling and creative projects, such as “Wolf Information Books,” snowy landscape drawings, and clay dens. Through play, children explored vocabulary like “howl,” “pack,” and “habitat,” deepening their understanding of wolf behavior and winter survival.

Books and videos about grey wolves further enriched discussions, while art and mapping activities helped children visualize wolf habitats and migration patterns. Inspired by The Eyes of the Grey Wolf, they collaboratively created maps of wolf territories, developing spatial awareness and teamwork along the way.

The highlight of the project came outside on the snow-covered Primary Playground, where children joyfully mimicked wolf howls, bringing their learning to life in a way that was both imaginative and hands-on.

At St. Patrick’s, the children’s curiosity about winter and wolves blossomed into a meaningful and interdisciplinary learning experience. Storytelling, art, dramatic play, and collaborative projects intertwine to build critical skills, expand vocabulary, and encourage teamwork. This emergent curriculum showed once again that when curiosity leads the way, learning becomes an adventure filled with wonder and discovery.