Shape Monster Project Brings Early Literacy to Life

Students at Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts (ASIA) Sumas campus recently embarked on a cross-grade collaboration that brought their creativity and learning to life through the Shape Monster Project.

It began in a Grade 2 classroom at King Traditional Elementary, where students were tasked with designing imaginative monsters using geometric shapes.

Their artwork didn't stay in the classroom for long.

First, the monsters were given to the creative writing class at ASIA Sumas, where the students brought the monsters to life through storytelling. Then, students in the school's textiles class took the designs and turned them into handmade plushies. To complete the transformation, Grade 6 visual arts students illustrated the stories, pairing visuals with words to create a vibrant, student-driven literary collection.

The culmination of this collaborative project was a special event where all student contributors came together. Grade 2 students reunited with their monsters, cuddled the stuffies, read their stories aloud, and celebrated the joy of reading and creating together.

"It's a fun way of connecting kids with early literacy," said Ms. Horner, a teacher at ASIA Sumas. "That's the heart of it - sparking imagination and building foundational literacy skills in a joyful, meaningful way.”

The Shape Monster Project highlights how interdisciplinary collaboration can deepen learning and build community across grade levels. As students engaged in writing, illustration, crafting, and storytelling, they weren't just learning; they were creating something memorable together.