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Cool School: Cat-Shaped Kindergarten Makes Us All Want To Go Back To School

Coolest school ever.
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We’ve seen schools that float, change colour and even double as an outdoor playground, but now a cat-shaped kindergarten has beat them all for the title of coolest school ever.

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Kindergarten Wolfartsweier in Karlsruhe, Germany, is shaped like a big, white cat sitting in a Sphinx-like position. The building was created in 2011 by Tomi Ungerer and d’Ayla-Suzan Yöndel and stimulates children’s imaginations with its design.

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As kids enter the unique building through the cat’s mouth, it feels as though they are being swallowed whole. Inside the feline’s belly lies the classrooms, coatroom, dining room and kitchen, while the paws house the children’s play areas.

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And if that weren’t cool enough, the second floor’s massive windows act as the cat’s eyes and grass on the building’s roof mimics that feline’s fur. Plus, there’s a slide at the back of the building so kids can exit through the cat’s tail.

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Who wouldn’t want to attend this school?

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:

Coolest Schools Around The World
Fuji Yochien(01 of34)
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Where: Tokyo, JapanThis is the coolest classroom we’ve ever seen! This building doubles as a classroom and playground for students. Clearly, it’s greatest feature is the large tree that protrudes from the middle of the building, giving the space an open and natural feel. According to Design Boom, “the learning environments aim to project a fruitful and liberating atmosphere that is free of constrictive elements.”More photos here. (credit:Twitter)
Dai-Ichi Yochien Preschool(02 of34)
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Where: Kumamoto City, JapanThis preschool in Japan was designed to “let kids be kids.” The courtyard was designed by lead architect Hibino Sekkei to accumulate rainwater when it pours. That way, kids can splash and play in the gigantic pool once the rain stops. (credit:Twitter)
Dai-Ichi Yochien Preschool(03 of34)
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When dry, the courtyard can be used as a badminton or softball court. Now kids can play in rain or shine. More photos here. (credit:Twitter)
Telefonplan School(04 of34)
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Where: Stockholm, SwedenThis unique school doesn’t believe in having classes or classrooms. Instead, the school is set up with open spaces filled with colourful furniture, learning zones, and workstations. Children are then taught in small groups.With this type of learning environment fosters children’s “curiousity and creativity” and encourages them to work independently.More photos here. (credit:Twitter)
Kindergarten Kekec(05 of34)
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Where: Ljubljana, SloveniaThis kindergarten school allows its students to change its colour whenever they want! The school was constructed using prefabricated wood panels that are painted in bright colours on one side. The design is meant to be a learning tool and play thing for kids. It helps them learn their colours, get familiar with wood as a nautral material, and change the appearance of their school.More photos here. (credit:Twitter)
École Maternelle Pajol(06 of34)
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Where: Paris, FranceDesigned by Palatre & Leclère, this kindergarten school is known as one of the most colourful in the world! The architecture firm used splashes of colour both inside and out of the 1940s building as part of its renovation. The results were a “youthful and fun cartoon-esque environment” for the staff and students. More photos here. (credit:Twitter)
Makoko Floating School(07 of34)
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Where: Lagos, NigeriaMakoko Floating School is exactly what it sounds like. Due to unpredictable weather changes, this school was built to float and consists of a playground and two stories of classrooms. But the coolest part of all? The school partially self-sustainable thanks to its ability to collect solar energy and rainwater. More pictures here. (credit:Twitter)
Green School(08 of34)
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Where: Bali, IndonesiaLike the name suggests, this school is one of the greenest in the world. Made of bamboo, the school not only includes classrooms, but also a gym, offices, cafes, and faculty housing. The building is only powered by clean energy sources, such as solar panels. More photos here. (credit:Twitter)
Loop Kindergarten(09 of34)
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Where: Tianjin, ChinaThis doughnut-shaped school has no corners. Everything has rounded edges, even the windows! The three-story building is painted in 18 different colours, making is very fun and kid-friendly. The colours are also used to help kids identify different areas of the school so they don’t get lost. More photos here. (credit:Twitter)
Hazelwood School(10 of34)
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Where: Glasgow, UKThis elementary school was designed for kids with visual, sensory, or motor impairments. The school’s main feature is its “sensory wall” to help students orient themselves and a “trailing board” to help the visually impaired.More photos here. (credit:Best Buildings)
Xiaoquan Elementary School(11 of34)
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Where: Sichuan, ChinaAfter an earthquake in 2008, the community worked together to rebuild the local elementary school. The concept for the new school was to make it like a small city, with courtyards and a labyrinth of passages and playgrounds. This was meant to foster children’s curiousity and imagination.More photos here. (credit:Twitter)
1. Alberta(12 of34)
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Depending on the district and the school, Alberta’s school year can begin in August or September. For instance, most schools under the Calgary Board of Education start the year in September, but about 25 begin in August. (credit:Vlastula/Flickr)
2. Quebec(13 of34)
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When students graduate high school (at the end of Grade 11, called Secondary V), they attend two years at a general or vocational college before qualifying for university in Quebec. This is called Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel, aka “CÉGEP.” (credit:Simon le nippon/Flickr)
3. Nunavut(14 of34)
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Nunavut schools are grounded in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, which translates as Inuit ways of knowing, being and doing. Principles include: respecting each other, being resourceful and working together.Until grade three, students receive bilingual instruction in the Inuit language, and either English or French. As of 2019, dual-language lessons will extend through all primary and secondary education. (credit:subarcticmike/Flickr)
4. New Brunswick(15 of34)
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Reflecting its French and English speaking population, the province of New Brunswick is divided into a set of Francophone Districts and a set of Anglophone Districts. (credit:Shawn Harquail/Flickr)
5. Ontario(16 of34)
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Some cities in Ontario, such as Hamilton, Ottawa and Toronto, have middle schools for kids in grade 7 and 8, sometimes called “junior high” and sometimes include Grade 6. However, other Ontario cities, like Barrie, don’t use a middle school system at all. (credit:paul bica/Flickr)
6. British Columbia(17 of34)
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In BC, there is government funding for Sikh, Hindu, Christian and Muslim religious schools. (credit:bfraz/Flickr)
7. Ontario(18 of34)
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School attendance is not mandatory in Ontario until the age of six (or grade one). At the other end of the spectrum, school is mandatory until age 18 (it’s 16 in many other provinces) or until you get a high school diploma. (credit:Onasill ~ Bill Badzo/Flickr)
8. Manitoba(19 of34)
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Manitoba primary schools are tightly capped by a strict class-size formula. From kindergarten to grade three, classrooms are capped at 20. There is wiggle room for up to 23 students -- but only one class out of 10 is allowed to be larger than 20. (credit:manumilou/Flickr)
9. Saskatchewan(20 of34)
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In Regina, school bus transportation is cancelled if the wind chill or temperature is below -45 C as of 7 AM. (credit:Daniel Paquet/Flickr)
10. Newfoundland and Labrador(21 of34)
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High school students in Newfoundland and Labrador can access free online tutoring. Tutors in subjects like chemistry, grade nine math, french and history make themselves available for five to six hours per week. (credit:kennymatic/Flickr)
11. Yukon(22 of34)
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Yukon schools finish the year on various weeks in June. For example in June 2015, the last day of school dates range from June 5 to June 25. (credit:The Cabin On The Road/Flickr)
South Korea (#1)(23 of34)
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Amazingly, South Korea is 100 per cent literate, which is likely due to the fact that children study all year round -- in school and with tutors.

The average student works up to 13 hours per day in South Korea. This is because the culture believes that if you work hard, you can achieve anything, so there is really no excuse for failure.

South Korea has very big class sizes compared to North America. This allows for the teacher to teach the class as a community and for students to develop relationships among their peers.

(credit:Monkey Business Images Ltd via Getty Images)
Japan (#2)(24 of34)
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In Japan, schools don't have janitors. Instead, it’s up to the kids to clean their own school every day. This is thought to teach them respect.

Japan’s school year starts in April and ends in March. The country’s compulsory education consists of six years of elementary school, three years of junior high, and three years of high school.

Japanese school buses can get really creative, as proven by the photo to the left.

(credit:Twitter)
Finland (#5)(25 of34)
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In Finland, kids don't start school until they are seven years old.

Finnish kids get 75 minutes of recess every day, which is a lot compared to the average of 27 minutes in the U.S.

Finland has short school days usually starting at 8 or 9 in the morning and ending between 1 and 2 in the afternoon. This is because Finnish culture believes important learning experiences occur outside the classroom.

(credit:Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images)
Ireland (#9)(26 of34)
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Education in Ireland is compulsory from ages six to 16 or until students complete three years of second-level education.

(credit:Andrew Rich via Getty Images)
Germany (#12)(27 of34)
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German kids only get six weeks of summer vacation.

(credit:Julia Wheeler and Veronika Laws via Getty Images)
Russia (#13)(28 of34)
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In Russia, school is only mandatory until grade 10. Eleventh and twelfth grade are optional.

(credit:DOF-PHOTO by Fulvio via Getty Images)
Australia (#15)(29 of34)
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Because Australia is in the southern hemisphere, kids enjoy summer vacation in December and January. The year is then divided into four terms with a two-week vacation period between them.

(credit:Sally Anscombe via Getty Images)
New Zealand (#16)(30 of34)
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New Zealand’s school terms are divided into four semesters with two-week breaks in between.

(credit:Wealan Pollard via Getty Images)
Israel (#17)(31 of34)
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Kids in Israel go to school six days a week from September to July. Education is compulsory from age five to 16.

(credit:Valueline via Getty Images)
Italy (#25)(32 of34)
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Kids in Italy go to school from Monday to Saturday.

(credit:Digital Vision. via Getty Images)
Chile (#32)(33 of34)
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Kids in Chile get 12 weeks of summer vacation, lasting from mid-December to early March.

(credit:Cathy Yeulet via Getty Images)
Brazil (#38)(34 of34)
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In Brazil, school starts at 7 AM and runs until noon. Kids then go home to enjoy lunch with their families, which is considered the most important meal of the day.

(credit:Hero Images via Getty Images)
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