STEM from the Start
This resource was funded by the Ontario Ministry of Education.
Enhance your approach to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning in the Kindergarten classroom with videos that share practical ideas and pedagogical insights. With a focus on meeting the milestones of Ontario’s 2026 Kindergarten Curriculum, each video emphasizes the Science Centre’s hands-on philosophy to highlight practical ways of encouraging the STEM mindset in early learnings. Choose the videos below that interest you or watch them all to make the most of the curiosity of early learners.
Discover how to make the most of your students’ natural inner scientists with tips on identifying and practicing STEM skills during play, modelling curiosity and encouraging a STEM mindset.
STRAND A: Foundations of Language and Mathematics
STRAND B: Problem Solving and Innovating
EXPECTATIONS: A1, A5, B12
Explore the importance of the growth mindset in STEM education. We’ll introduce ways of encouraging students to try and try again, creating comfort when facing new challenges.
STRAND C: Self-Regulation and Well-Being
STRAND D: Belonging and Contributing
EXPECTATIONS: C15, D19
With just three simple words—Ask, Test, Repeat—you can bring the fundamentals of the scientific method to life for your students by exploring process, outcome and iteration in your classroom.
STRAND A: Foundations of Language and Mathematics
STRAND B: Problem Solving and Innovating
STRAND C: Self-Regulation and Well-Being
STRAND D: Belonging and Contributing
EXPECTATIONS: A1, A2, A4, B12, C15, D19
Communication can both support STEM learning and be enhanced by it. Discover how your approach to STEM inquiry can encourage students’ nascent communication skills within the classroom.
STRAND A: Foundations of Language and Mathematics
STRAND D: Belonging and Contributing
EXPECTATIONS: A1, A3, A4, D24, D25
Hands-on, play-based approaches can make math concrete for early learners. This video explores opportunities to bring math to life in your classroom as well as tips for evaluating student progress throughout the journey.
STRAND A: Foundations of Language and Mathematics
EXPECTATIONS: A5, A6
Coding in Kindergarten is all about identifying patterns and learning to follow (and create!) instructions. Kinesthetic experiences can help students embody programmatic thinking—this video helps show you how.
Strand A: Foundations of Language and Mathematics
Strand B: Problem Solving and Innovating
Expectations: A7, B11
Explore our connections with, and responsibilities to, the land through an Indigenous lens in partnership with a guest expert from Moccasin Identifier.
Strand B: Problem Solving and Innovating
Strand D: Belonging and Contributing
Expectations: B13, D20, D23
Download the Moccasin Identifier colouring sheets here.
Promote student encounters with STEM themes and skills by making simple adaptations to your classroom environment. This video will explore how creating spaces that ask “what could you try?” enhances the STEM experience.
STRAND B: Problem Solving and Innovating
STRAND D: Belonging and Contributing
EXPECTATIONS: B12, B13, D25
We’re bringing everything together in this video highlighting six easy-to-implement activities you can use to bring STEM to life in your classroom!
STRAND A: Foundations of Language and Mathematics
STRAND B: Problem Solving and Innovating
STRAND C: Self-Regulation and Well-Being
STRAND D: Belonging and Contributing
EXPECTATIONS: A1, A2, A3, A5, A6, A8, A9, A10, B12, B13, C18, D25
Experienced educators explore the theories and practices supporting play-based learning in the Kindergarten classroom in this webinar recording. What is the role of the educator in play-based learning? How do we assess for learning and plan with intention? How can learning and learning opportunities be shared with parents and families?
Explore the benefits of introducing STEM in Kindergarten and get tips for your classroom in this webinar recording. This webinar reviews curriculum expectations and highlights effective instructional approaches, such as play- and project-based learning, inquiry and the engineering design process.
This webinar recording unpacks key ideas from Strand A of the 2026 Kindergarten Curriculum. Understand foundational literacy and math skills and explore the role of educator-led play supported by systematic and explicit instruction.
If you’ve explored our resources (or used them in your classroom!), we would love to hear what you think. The survey below takes about three minutes to complete and will be help us in developing future materials.