A child’s natural curiosity can lead to the most amazing discoveries and learning through inquiry! Children age 3-6 years of age are not afraid to ask questions, and take chances. This makes this age group the most amazing of all to teach and learn with.
Inquiry has always been a driving force in our planning and emergent play experiences and leads. We have decided to designate inquiry with its very own page, as we believe in it’s value, possibilities and place within the classroom.
Over the past few months various questions have been asked by the children and recorded on our “We wonder…” chart, we would like to take you with us as we explore these questions with the children and further their natural inquiring minds!
Just last week this question emerged during a conversation about the importance of treating all our friends with respect in how we talk and act toward those around us daily. We began talking about the power of a smile, and began sharing smiles with one another around the school to see if smiles are in fact contagious -as they say!
We added the question to our board “We wonder if we smile at others, will they smile back?”
Over the next week we continued to choose pairs of children to share a smile and walk through the school. Our findings were very interesting, some teachers and children who walked by shared a more curious facial reaction, while others walked by intrigued to read the message on the children backs. after creating a tally chart with the children, it was clear our post predictions were correct, a smile is in fact contagious 🙂
What a great learning experience for all!
For more information about how to promote and explore inquiry within your classroom, or with your children at home please visit our website at;
http://www.journeytogetherfdk.com/play-4/inquiry-and-teachable-moments/
Journey Together FDK 