Creating Opportunities for Experiential Learning

TMS is known for the amazing learning that happens in the many beautiful spaces on both campuses: classrooms where students use the Montessori materials or present their Personal Projects, science labs where experimentation takes place, art rooms where creativity flourishes and libraries where students develop a love of reading. The other aspect to learning at TMS comes from our robust field trip program that provides an opportunity for experiential learning, an aspect of TMS that develops competencies and supports the curricular journey in a real life context.

At the Upper School, trips are either halfday, full-day, or overnight in length – all with multiple objectives. In some cases they are designed to allow for individual, cohort and full grade bonding. In others, they may be focused on building outdoor skills and pushing individual comfort zones (such as camping trips and the Duke of Edinburgh program). Day trips are more typically focused on curricular ties to a specific discipline. For example, Grade 11 students visited the Richmond Hill Library, which supported the research project for their Extended Essay, a 4000 word essay requirement for the Diploma Programme.

The Upper School structure allows for a regular Monday morning assembly, which brings together the entire student and faculty community. Once a term, an assembly is devoted to bringing in a speaker to share insights with the students. At one recent assembly, a Student Council representative interviewed Justin Morrow, a retired Toronto Football Club (TFC) soccer star who is now working philanthropically with TFC to support underprivileged youth in Canada. During Black History Month, the students heard from George Elliot Clarke, renowned Canadian poet, author, song writer and U of T professor.

At the Toddler and Children’s House level, we focus more on in-house visits where we welcome a range of speakers and experts who come into TMS to provide experiential learning opportunities. This year, our Toddlers participated in weekly yoga lessons which provided the chance for our youngest students to explore the range of movements they can make with their bodies and help to enhance their balance, body awareness, large motor coordination, focus and mindfulness. The Toddlers also enjoyed a hands-on experience with reptiles during a visit from Reptilia. This brought their vocabulary enrichment cards to life while observing, handling and exploring various species up close.

Our Children’s House students have enjoyed a myriad of visitors this year to complement and enrich the Montessori curriculum. The Culture and Science curriculum was fortified with in person visits from Mad Science, Astronomy in Action and a virtual tour of the Metro Zoo. The students learned about the principles of air pressure with Mad Science, entered the portable planetarium from Astronomy in Action and used their imaginations to become astronauts while learning about planets and stars. They expanded their understanding of various species and lifecycles “at” the Zoo.

In our Elementary program, students participate in a range of field trips, some connected to curricular learning such as the Lower Elementary visit to Black Creek Pioneer Village to enhance their understanding of Canadian history. Other visits focus on developing key leadership and collaboration skills such as the Grade 4/5 outdoor learning trip to Kettleby Valley. In Grade 6, emphasis is placed on the students’ experience as Eco-Leaders through our partnership with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). Through visits to the Kortright Centre for Conservation and Lake St. George, the students develop an understanding of environmental stewardship and their role in leading this work.

Many of our field trips convey important lessons in a fun yet accessible way. For example, all Elementary students enjoyed a magic show that helped them develop skills such as empathy and compassion and learn tools to support anti-bullying. They also benefitted from a travelling theatrical company where, in addition to enjoying a musical performance, they learned the importance of public speaking and audience manners. Our DP Physics students spent a day at Canada’s Wonderland, enjoying the rides while learning about the physics behind the roller coaster designs. Across both campuses, students regularly engage in activities to support their health and wellbeing from yoga in Children’s House to tennis lessons and bowling in Elementary to the Duke of Edinburgh program at the Upper School.

independence. Their first opportunity happens in Grade 4 and 5 with the students’ end of year visit to Teen Ranch. At the Upper School, all students start the school year with a camp experience that builds connections and encourages risk taking in a safe environment. Students learn to ski and practice their French in Quebec, learn about the workings of government in Ottawa as part of the Grade 9 Civics course and, in Grade 12, have an overnight experience that both provides the opportunity to complete their Extended Essay and have bonding time with their classmates.

These additional experiences create an exceptional educational experience for all our students, exposing them to different perspectives, environments, spaces, hands-on learning, and building key competencies – resilience, risk taking, independence, leadership and cooperation.