‘Stay curious, ask questions, stay open minded, slow your thinking down, keep wondering …’ – Kath Murdoch
As educators, part of our responsibility is in preparing learners for what may come. The world of tomorrow holds significant economic, social and environmental challenges, many of which we cannot anticipate. Learners who master a diverse range of competencies will be able to engage, adapt and be successful in this largely unknown world to come. Our learners will need to be collaborators, critical thinkers, communicators and, most importantly, curious.
In an educational setting, we can intentionally cultivate curiosity through our use of provocations and questioning routines. Within our inquiry approach to learning, question competence is a key learning competency. When young people ask questions, they actively engage with the world around them. This engagement helps them to explore new ideas, challenge existing beliefs and seek out knowledge beyond what is presented to them.
Let’s consider the questions from some of our youngest learners. These questions were generated during their exploration of various scientific phenomena through the concept of Discovery:
How do mirrors work?
How do mirrors reflect all my poses?
Is it possible for a low pitch (sound) to lift an object?
When you look at light through refraction glasses, why does it make a rainbow?
Why can we see through the cellophane so clearly?
What about the wonderings of our most senior students who are inquiring into the concepts of social justice and leadership?
How can we influence other people’s decision making?
Why should people suffer because of the actions of others?
How can we convince people in power to help us?
Who should make the first step? Will people follow?
What do these questions tell us about our learners and the schema they bring to their learning experience? What academic language are our learners able to transfer into their questioning routines? The individual questions are a window into their interests, passions and skills, the essence of a personalised learning pathway. Our job must be to cultivate and respond to this curiosity. Stay Curious!
Purchase a tote to support the Kitchen Garden Program!
The Junior School Parents Association (JSPA) proudly supports the Carey Kitchen Garden Program, and this year will be selling a specially designed tote bag created by Year 6MD students Tia Li and Samara Wilkinson.
The Carey Kitchen Garden Program has been a very successful and popular Year 3 experience for over a decade, and this year has been extended to Year 4 students. The School has some wonderful ideas for the program and appreciates JSPA's support and funding contributions – most recently the purchase of a new bench seat for the children's outdoor learning space.
Tote bags are available to purchase for $30 each (plus Humanitix fees) and make great gifts for Christmas!
All profits from the tote bag sales will go towards the Carey Kitchen Garden Program.
Orders close Friday 13 September 2024.
Emma Chiera
Acting Deputy Head of Junior School Kew – Student Wellbeing
