Curiosity...the Center of Learning

Wonder Wall

Building an Environment that places WONDER at the center of the learning.

We need to let students know that their questions are not only valued and important, they are the foundation for which thinking and learning will occur.

Through conscious teaching, careful planning and the willingness to wonder myself, I have discovered and utilized ways to foster, encourage, and facilitate opportunities for curiosity, wonder, and questioning within the confines of my classroom and beyond. Below are a few ways to build and maintain a sense of curiosity in the classroom that can spark a plethora of thinking and learning for all ages:

Wonder Window or Wonder Wall

A place where group questions can be modeled, recorded, shared, and researched. As students discover answers to their questions they can be crossed off and more can be added. Another option is to have students write their questions on sticky notes that can be placed on the window/wall. When we were learning about the rainforest this wall took the shape of a giant tree. When we were learning about Puerto Rico this wall took on the shape of the country. 

Wonder of the Day

Posting a Wonder of the Day is a hit in my classroom. Students look forward to what question will be on the board when they walk in each morning.  Developing questions sparks thinking, discussion, research, and learning, as well as vocabulary acquisition. 

wonderopolis.com

Wonder Words

Using wonder words as sentence starters can encourage students’ sense of wonder. These words can be used to elicit written and oral communication around topics of curiosity.

• My thinking is...this makes me wonder...
• What
• When
• Where
• Do
• If
• Can
• Why
• How

Wonder Center

This center can be a collection of carefully chosen objects which can fit in with current themes in the classroom. Natural objects work well and create opportunities for students to use many scientific skills such as observing, measuring, classifying, predicting, and inference making.
The wonder center can post photographs, illustrations, diagrams, etc.

Possible ways to record thinking at the Wonder Center:

• Wonder Journal
• Wonder cards
• Observation templates
• Interactive Science Notebook
• Curiosity Calendar

Possible Objects for a Wonder Center:

• Natural objects (rocks, soil, plants, shells…)
• Artifacts
• Pictures
• Magnifying Glasses
• Magnets
• Rulers
• Balance scales
• Microscopes
• Tape measures
• Wonder Bottles – sealed pop bottles full of liquids and other items like glitter. These allow students to see how liquids mix or don’t as well as how items can float or sink on the liquid. You can put together a collection with water and oil, corn syrup, pancake syrup, and saltwater. 

Recommended Professional Resources

 A Place for Wonder by Georgina Heard and Jennifer McDonough

The Curious Classroom by Harvey Daniels