Curious / A sense of wonder

A SENSE OF wonder

To be curious is to be inquisitive and eager to learn. At three years of age our children begin their introduction to school life in Early Learning, with a wonderful sense of curiosity. They look with joy at their surrounding world; exploring, discovering and continuously asking questions.

It is our role as educators and parents to nurture and encourage this delightful sense of wonder and to ensure that our children retain this passion until Grade 12 and beyond.

As part of the new Launceston Grammar Identity, our enduring focus on nurturing curious learners and leaders has been affirmed.

At the Junior Campus we nurture curiosity by:

• Implementing an inquiry approach to teaching and learning;

• Embedding Visible Thinking Routines in our everyday classroom practice;

• Using interesting and fascinating scenarios to stimulate our students’ thinking;

• Embracing the expertise of members of our community through incursions and excursions;

• Developing our students’ ability to design and pose stimulating questions; and

• Explicitly teaching the language of learning.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) encourages us all to support and nurture children’s curiosity and critical thinking in a global context. One text that IB recommend as a must-have for anyone who is committed to raising curious children is Did You Ever Wonder? by John Barell.

Curiosity and passion are closely connected. By having the opportunity to explore and learn about the things we find interesting and intriguing, this often leads us to discover our passions. These are the areas in which we invest time and energy on a regular basis. Being curious and following our passions can add zest to our lives; it can enrich our whole sense of wellbeing and confidence.

Most importantly, as adults, we must live and breathe being curious, modelling this for our children. We need to make time to explore and discover new things and to follow our passions. By doing this we can help to create a culture of ongoing curiosity throughout our own life.

The International Baccalaureate encourages us all to support and nurture children’s curiosity and critical thinking in a global context.

Jane King, Head of Junior Campus