IMS Summer Programmes – What They Do and What They Offer

IMS Summer Programmes are seasonal holiday learning and enrichment courses offered by International Montessori School (IMS) Hong Kong, a Montessori-based international school that serves children across early childhood and primary levels. The summer offerings are designed to provide children with structured, purpose-rich experiences during the school break, combining academic reinforcement, creative exploration, hands-on learning and social engagement in a nurturing, child-centred environment.

The programmes reflect IMS’s foundation in Montessori principles, emphasising independent thinking, experiential learning and holistic development. Rather than replicating regular classroom routines, the Summer Programmes give students opportunities to explore new topics, reinforce existing skills and pursue creative challenges while enjoying a supportive, playful learning environment.

Purpose and Programme Focus

The main purpose of IMS Summer Programmes is to help learners continue developing important skills while keeping their natural curiosity active during the long summer break. The programmes are designed to support children’s intellectual, social and emotional growth through a mix of guided discovery, project work and interactive activities that draw on Montessori methods.

Rather than focusing solely on academic drills, the Summer Programmes prioritise hands-on exploration, problem solving, creative arts, movement and social collaboration. These experiences help students strengthen foundational skills in meaningful ways and provide a balanced context for learning that stimulates both the mind and body.

Target Ages and Participation

IMS Summer Programmes are structured to serve a range of ages typically aligned with the school’s Montessori levels, from early childhood through elementary-aged learners. Activities and learning tracks are organised by age and developmental needs to ensure that content is appropriate, engaging and supportive for each student’s stage.

The programmes are open to both IMS students and learners from outside the school community, welcoming families who are interested in Montessori-inspired summer learning that blends academic, creative and play-based elements.

Types of Activities and Key Components

IMS Summer Programmes include a variety of project-based, experiential activities designed to encourage curiosity, confidence and growth across multiple domains:

Creative Arts and Expression
Campers participate in visual arts, creative projects and artistic exploration that build imagination, fine motor skills and aesthetic confidence. Activities might include painting, sculpture, collage, creative crafting and themed arts challenges that allow self-expression and innovation.

Montessori-Guided Learning
Drawing on Montessori pedagogy, the programme integrates opportunities for independent choice, hands-on materials and purposeful work, helping students practise concentration, decision-making and practical life skills. Learners interact with tactile materials and guided tasks that reinforce cognitive understanding and intrinsic motivation.

STEAM and Inquiry Projects
Students explore problem-solving tasks that integrate science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM). These projects encourage logical reasoning, experimentation and creativity as children build, test and iterate on ideas through exploratory inquiry.

Language and Literacy Activities
Through storytelling, literature circles, expressive writing tasks and dialogue-based sessions, students develop communication skills, vocabulary and narrative understanding. These activities support both comprehension and expressive confidence.

Movement, Play and Social Collaboration
Physical activities, group games and cooperative tasks form part of the daily rhythm, helping learners build motor confidence, teamwork skills and positive peer interaction in playful settings that balance cognitive demands with active engagement.

Structure and Daily Experience

IMS Summer Programmes are typically organised as multi-day sessions that run during the summer holiday, with options for families to enrol in one or multiple weeks depending on preference and scheduling needs. Each day is structured to combine different types of activities — creative, academic, physical and social — creating a balanced and varied learning experience.

A representative day may include:

• Hands-on learning sessions that draw from Montessori materials and methods
• Creative arts or STEAM project blocks that emphasise design, exploration or expression
• Language and literacy activities that strengthen communication skills
• Movement and social play that support physical health and teamwork
• Reflection and sharing time where students articulate ideas and celebrate work

This integrated daily design ensures that learners remain curious, active and socially connected throughout the programme.

Teaching Approach and Environment

The teaching approach in IMS Summer Programmes is grounded in Montessori philosophy, supporting self-directed learning, exploration and purposeful engagement. Educators provide structured guidance while allowing children autonomy in choosing materials, pacing their work and pursuing interests within a scaffolded framework.

Classrooms and learning spaces are equipped with Montessori materials, art supplies and STEAM kits that support diverse learning modalities. These resources help learners make abstract ideas tangible, practise fine motor skills, engage in sensory exploration and tackle problems through tactile interaction.

The learning environment is intentionally designed to be supportive, reflective and child-centred, helping students feel comfortable experimenting, questioning, practising and collaborating with peers.

Benefits and Skills Development

Participation in IMS Summer Programmes can foster a range of developmental outcomes, such as:

• Creative confidence and artistic expression through arts and project work
• Independent learning and decision-making through Montessori-guided experiences
• Critical thinking and problem-solving through STEAM and inquiry tasks
• Communication and literacy through story, discussion and exploration
• Social confidence and teamwork through cooperative activities
• Physical engagement and wellness through play and movement

These benefits support learners academically, socially and emotionally, helping maintain momentum in development over the summer break.

Conclusion

IMS Summer Programmes are Montessori-inspired holiday learning experiences for children that blend creative arts, hands-on exploration, STEAM projects, language activities and physical engagement. Designed for learners from early childhood through elementary school, the programmes provide a balanced mix of structured guidance and child-centred exploration, helping students build confidence, curiosity and collaborative skills during the summer holiday in a nurturing environment.