Cultivating critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and rigour while instilling lifelong care for God’s creation through the permeation of science, technology, engineering, and math.
Green STEM:
- Hones higher level and critical thinking skills;
- focuses on integrative content;
- cultivates global leaders and environmental stewards
- prepares students for the complex and inter-connected world of work; and
- is engaging, experiential, meaningful and fun!
Through the focus on Green STEM (STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and following the words of Pope Francis in his encyclical “Laudato Si,” students and staff develop a deep global and social awareness and care for God’s creation while honing higher level thinking skills and preparing for the future.
The intentional focus and integration of the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math through an environmental lens prepares our students to be engaged and responsible members of the Catholic community.
Our Green STEM program is built on the foundation that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is most powerful when connected to real-world environmental challenges. We take an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach that integrates hands-on learning with sustainability principles, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.
By engaging students with authentic, place-based learning experiences, we inspire environmental stewardship while building STEM literacy and 21st-century competencies. Our students explore topics such as energy conservation, waste reduction, biodiversity, and climate action, applying their knowledge to tangible projects that benefit our school, community, and the planet.
Our Green STEM philosophy is deeply connected to our faith. Rooted in Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si, we guide students to see environmental responsibility as a moral calling, recognizing their role as caretakers of creation. Through reflection, action, and collaboration, our students develop both a scientific understanding of the world and a compassionate response to its needs.
Through partnerships with local organizations and innovative classroom projects, we equip students with the knowledge, skills, and a growth mindset to contribute meaningfully to a sustainable future. Our Green STEM approach ensures that students not only learn about environmental issues but also actively work for solutions, making a lasting impact on their communities and the world.
Program Overview
Our Green STEM program is transdisciplinary, meaning it is not a stand-alone subject but is intentionally woven throughout our curriculum. Rather than being confined to a single class, Green STEM principles are integrated across subjects, allowing students to explore real-world environmental challenges through science, mathematics, technology, engineering, and even language arts, social studies, and religion. This approach ensures that sustainability and problem-solving are embedded in daily learning, fostering deep connections between disciplines and empowering students to think critically and creatively in all areas of study.
Hands-On Learning Experiences
Our Green STEM program thrives on engaging, hands-on experiences that bring learning to life. Students actively explore, create, and problem-solve through a variety of dynamic projects and events, both inside and outside the classroom.
Indoor & Outdoor Learning Spaces
- Indoor & Outdoor Greenhouses – Students grow and care for plants, study ecosystems, and learn about sustainable agriculture.
- Outdoor Classroom – A dedicated outdoor learning space where students connect with nature, conduct scientific observations, and engage in environmental studies.
- Grow Towers – Vertical hydroponic gardens that allow students to explore plant growth, food sustainability, and engineering concepts year-round.
- STEM Lab – A fully equipped lab with cutting-edge STEM technologies and materials that spark creativity, innovation, and hands-on experimentation in every student.
School-Wide Green STEM Events
- KID Inventor Day – A celebration of student innovation where learners design, prototype, and present creative solutions to real-world problems.
- STEM Carnival – An interactive event with hands-on STEM stations that challenge students to experiment, build, and discover through engaging activities.
- STEM Family Night – A community event where families participate in exciting STEM activities, explore exhibits, and engage in hands-on learning together.
Daily Classroom Engagement
- STEM Challenges – Regular problem-solving activities where students apply engineering design, creativity, and critical thinking to tackle real-world issues.
- Homeroom Hands-On Learning – Every class incorporates Green STEM projects into daily instruction, ensuring that sustainability and innovation are embedded across subjects.
These experiences make learning meaningful, empowering students to develop STEM skills while fostering environmental stewardship and a love for discovery.
What does Green STEM look like at OLMC?
Green STEM Programming (Kindergarten–Grade 6)
Every morning at OLMC, all students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 participate in our school‑wide Green STEM transdisciplinary program. Students dive into rich, connected learning experiences where STEM is interwoven across subjects. Using meaningful projects, themes, and real‑world challenges, students explore problems from multiple perspectives—always aligned with their grade‑level outcomes.
A Transdisciplinary Approach to STEM
Our program goes beyond traditional subject boundaries. Students engage in learning that blends science, technology, engineering, math, literacy, social studies, and the arts into unified experiences that mirror real‑world problem‑solving. Each grade engages in developmentally appropriate projects that promote creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, and innovation.
Examples of Green STEM Learning Across the Grades
Kindergarten: Dream Playground Designers
Using mentor texts such as My Dream Playground by Kate Becker, our youngest learners imagine and create their own dream playgrounds. As they build, they explore:
- How structures stand
- Which materials are strongest
- How design choices affect stability and function
This playful exploration introduces engineering thinking in an age‑appropriate, hands-on way.
Grade 2: Solving Fairy‑Tale Conflicts
Grade 2 students dive into the world of folk and fairy tales, analyzing familiar stories through a STEM lens. After identifying the central conflict in each tale, students plan, design, and build a solution to help the characters.
Wish our STEM students were around when Hansel and Gretel entered the woods—they might have engineered a much safer journey!
Grade 5: Coding Across Alberta
Grade 5 students merge coding, geography, and history by programming robots to navigate a model of Alberta’s diverse landforms. Their robots follow the paths of early explorers, connecting:
- Geography
- Historical inquiry
- Mathematical calculations (including distance measurement through code)
This learning brings Alberta’s landscape to life while reinforcing complex STEM concepts.
Learning Through Living: Growing Our Own Food
Through our indoor grow towers, all students participate in hands‑on agricultural science. They test and propagate various types of lettuce, observing how seeds develop under different growing conditions. Once ready, students harvest their produce and share it with the school community during our annual School‑Wide Salad Day. Every student brings their own toppings and dressing, showcasing the flavourful benefits of growing our own food and understanding where our food comes from.
STEM at the Heart of OLMC
These examples offer just a glimpse of the rich, inquiry‑based learning that defines the Green STEM Morning Program at OLMC. From building structures to solving story problems, coding robots to growing vegetables, our students experience a dynamic, integrated approach to learning that prepares them to think deeply, act responsibly, and engage with the world as curious, capable problem‑solvers.
Green STEM Afternoon Program (Grades 4–6)
Our Green STEM Program offers students in Grades 4–6 an enriched and engaging afternoon experience that blends the foundations of STEM with creativity, wellness, and community leadership, also known as Leadership. Students spend the afternoon learning in their grade‑level groups, participating in hands‑on, workshop‑style sessions led by our leadership teachers.
What Students Experience
Throughout the year, students rotate through a variety of interactive and meaningful learning opportunities, including:
- Agricultural Learning: Exploring plant science, environmental stewardship, and sustainable practices through real‑world, nature-based activities.
- Coding & Robotics: Building problem‑solving skills as students learn coding concepts, program robots, and work through engineering challenges.
- Makerspace Exploration: Designing, inventing, and creating using tools and materials that spark innovation and curiosity.
- Physical Education & Wellness: Staying active, building teamwork skills, and developing healthy habits.
- Music & Art: Expressing creativity through visual and performing arts that complement STEM thinking.
STEM Foundations + Leadership Development
Students not only strengthen their STEM learning but also build confidence, collaboration, and critical‑thinking skills. Our leadership teachers guide students through workshop sessions that deepen their understanding of STEM foundations and encourage them to lead their learning with curiosity and creativity.
Social Justice in Action
A key part of the Green STEM experience is making a positive impact in our school and the community. Students participate in social justice projects that nurture empathy, responsibility, and a sense of global citizenship.
A Full Afternoon of Purposeful Learning
Just like any elementary program, students enjoy a full afternoon of diverse subjects—but with a unique STEM‑centered focus that prepares them for future learning and helps them make meaningful connections to the world around them.