The Monster Museum: The Owls' Culminating Event

What starts with a spark of inspiration can become something truly unforgettable in a Marylhurst classroom—and this spring, the Owls (our prekindergarten class) brought their imaginations to life in the most extraordinary way.

It all began in the fall during a buddy activity with our 4th and 5th grade Ravens. The older students introduced the Owls to a collaborative monster-drawing activity, where they took turns adding features to imaginative creatures. The Owls were captivated—not only by the monsters themselves but also by the idea of creating something together.

That spark quickly caught fire in the classroom. Soon, the Owls were drawing their own monsters, and with the guidance of teachers Elizabeth and Kristen, they began crafting stories to go with them. These stories reflected not only their creativity but also their growing skills in narrative, sequencing, and expressive language.

The Owls wanted to build three-dimensional versions as their monsters became more detailed and their stories more elaborate. Using recycled materials, each child created a sculpture of their monster—carefully choosing shapes, textures, and colors to bring their creations to life.

Then came the idea too big to ignore: What if we built a monster big enough to go inside? And not just enormous—this monster needed wings, moving arms, and two heads.

Over the following weeks, the classroom transformed into a collaborative building site. With support from their teachers, the Owls planned, constructed, revised, and celebrated the creation of their giant class monster. Their work was hands-on, open-ended, and deeply meaningful—hallmarks of progressive education, where learning grows from the child’s interests and curiosity.

To culminate their project, the Owls hosted a Monster Museum, where they displayed their monsters, shared their stories, and invited families and friends into their creative world. As a final chapter, the Owls worked with Teacher Liam to write a group monster song they performed for museum visitors.

In our preschool and prekindergarten classrooms, projects like this reflect the heart of our philosophy: children learn best when their ideas are taken seriously, their questions are honored, and their creativity is allowed to lead. Through storytelling, sculpture, collaboration, and joy, the Owls showed us what’s possible when learning emerges from genuine curiosity—and when monsters aren't something to be feared but celebrated.