Ontario has introduced a new kindergarten curriculum that will teach children as young as three years old fractions, coding and grammar.
The provincial government made the announcement on Wednesday, calling the curriculum a “back to the basics” approach that will better prepare students for Grade 1 with an emphasis on reading, math, writing and science and technology.
A spokesperson for Education Minister Paul Calandra told CTV News Toronto on Thursday that the ministry was instructed to pause the introduction of the revised kindergarten curriculum by one year specifically to provide educators with the time, training, and supports needed for “effective implementation.” Teachers will receive formal training early next year on the new curriculum, which will take effect in September 2026.
“The revised curriculum is being released months in advance of September to ensure teachers have ample time to review the curriculum and prepare ahead of implementation, with additional resources and training available in the new year to support classroom delivery across the province,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
“The curriculum will support each child in developing foundational reading, writing and math skills, while maintaining play-based learning that allows students to learn through play.”
On the Ministry of Education’s website, an explainer noted that the four strands of the curriculum will be foundations of language and mathematics, problem solving and innovating, self-regulation and well-being and belonging and contributing.
The explainer outlined that the curriculum introduces language conventions, including grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary. Students will also be expected to develop early reading and writing skills through “evidence-based systematic instruction.”
In regards to math, under the new curriculum, the province stated that students will be expected to learn basic math skills earlier, including key milestones for counting, estimating, comparing, exploring number relationships to 20, and adding and subtracting to 10.
Students will also be expected to develop a “foundational understanding of fractions by solving equal-share problems” and also learn to sort objects or data using one attribute, the explainer noted.
Children will also be expected to learn to describe two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional objects, and the location and movement of people and objects. The province added that students will learn to give and follow directions for moving from one location to another.
The province stated that students will also be introduced to coding by “creating a sequence of steps and creating and following instructions involving movement.” They will also be expected to learn to use an inquiry process to answer questions and explore solutions to problems, adding that “students will conduct scientific investigations and engage in engineering design.”
Here’s what children may learn in their kindergarten classrooms starting Fall 2026:
Language:
Speaking, listening, and using facial expressions, gestures and body language to communicate Word reading and spelling Vocabulary Reading fluency and comprehension Applying knowledge of letters, words and sentences to create simple texts
Math:
Understanding numbers, including counting and exploring number relationships to 20 Adding numbers to 10 and related subtraction Sharing equally
Science and technology:
Performing scientific investigations to gain knowledge about the world around them Using engineering design to create something new or different Using innovative thinking to solve problems Using coding to help them think in different ways, solve problems and create