Little Olympians scored big with the winter games they designed and created for their classmates.
By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY — Little Olympians scored big with the winter games they designed and created for their classmates.
All preschool and kindergarten classes chose to represent a different country, learned about that country in their classroom, created a flag and designed an Olympic game for a lesson unit on the Olympics at Montgomery Kid Connection.
”The whole school rotates between all of the classrooms to compete in different Olympic games,” said Andrea McKenna, Kid Connection director. “Yesterday we held our opening ceremony. The whole school paraded with their respective countries’ flags. The closing ceremony will take place at the end of today (Feb. 28) with a medal and certificate ceremony.”
The learning unit lasted for a couple of weeks, giving kids a chance to watch the Winter Olympics in Sochi on television while learning about them in school. The children’s homemade games took place on Feb. 27 and Feb. 28.
”It’s a lot of fun,” Ms. McKenna said. “Since the Olympics started we started telling the kids about the Olympics. With the Olympics over we thought our games would be a good culmination. At the end of it all, all of the kids have seen something from the real Olympics. It’s a great learning experience with all of the different countries, sports, sportsmanship, teamwork and the flags of the different countries.”
The children also learned about being fair.
”It’s not about winning a medal but having fun while competing in the games,” Ms. McKenna said.
The students came up with unique ways to participate in Olympic games in their classrooms. One classroom developed the luge by using skateboards.
”The teachers got on and they did it too,” Ms. McKenna said.
Ice-skating and speed skating took place with the use of decorated paper plates that children placed under the feet and slid around the floor on. The class that selected to represent Ireland developed a curling event with a small broom and potato. Hockey was played with a stick made out of recycled toilet paper holders and recycled boxes serving as the goals.
”They get a better understanding of what the Olympics are and what they mean and that they can have a lot of fun participating,” said kindergarten teacher Cheryl Truppi.
Kid Connections kindergarten classes are housed in the Orchard Hill Elementary School.
”We have five classes there,” Ms. McKenna said. “They complement the school’s half-day program which makes it a full-day for people who sign up with us.”
After the school district holds kindergarten registration in March, Kid Connection holds its registration.
”We are still enrolling for preschool,” Ms. McKenna said.
Montgomery Kid Connection is a private, nonprofit program run under the auspices of Montgomery Township. The program is funded by tuition and is licensed by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency. Kid Connection offers preschool, kindergarten enrichment and before/after school programs for ages 3 years (on or by Oct. 1) to second grade from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information, call 908-359-2111 or email [email protected].

