Fostering Curiosity in Young Science Learners

Sand castles, paper airplanes, leaf collections, and bouncing balls—researchers Sue Dale Tunnicliffe and Eleni Gkouskou recently studied how preschool children engage in scientific thinking during spontaneous play. The study revealed that children regularly explore concepts like force, motion, materials, and change—often without adult prompting or instruction. 1) Children Use Scientific Thinking During Play - Children use science-related behaviors during play, such as observing, classifying, comparing, predicting, and testing. These actions reflect early forms of the scientific method and show that children can explore ideas through everyday experiences. 2) Science Concepts Emerge from Simple Materials - Children investigate concepts like motion, force, and material properties while playing with blocks, water, sand, and other objects. These materials prompt real-time experimentation and exploration of scientific content. 3) Language Helps Children Deepen Understanding - Talking with peers and adults allows children to describe their thinking, ask questions, and refine ideas. Dialogue helps connect hands-on discovery with developing vocabulary and reasoning. 4) Environments Promote Scientific Inquiry - Environments that offer natural materials, loose parts, and flexible time encourage children to investigate and explore. The design of learning spaces plays a role in supporting inquiry during play. 5) Adults Can Support Science Through Observation and Talk - When adults listen, ask open-ended questions, and join in play without taking over, they can guide children's thinking and extend learning. Supportive conversation helps children stay curious and build confidence. Full Citation: Tunnicliffe, S. D., & Gkouskou, E. (2019). Science in action in spontaneous preschool play – an essential foundation for future understanding. Early Child Development and Care, 190, 54–63.

My 5 year old built a video game console. Not really... but in his mind, he did, which is pretty cool! (Pictures below). Summer with toddlers is exhausting but this makes it worth it. So, how’d he make this game console? He used magnetic blocks, an AA battery, tape, a headphone cord, and his iPad. 🤯 Next, he says, “Daddy, plug this cord into the TV so I can have a bigger screen!” So now I have a dilemma: Do I tell him it’s not going to work, play along, or leverage ChatGPT to figure out how to explain building a game console to a five-year-old? 😂 I went with option three. Here’s what ChatGPT, acting as a video game console engineer, suggested: 1. 🗳️The Magic Box (Console Casing): This is where everything happens. The magic box holds all the important parts. 2. 🧠The Brain (CPU): Just like our brain, the CPU (Central Processing Unit) tells the console what to do. 3. ❤️The Heart (GPU): The GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) makes the pictures we see on the screen. 4. 📝Memory (RAM): This helps the console remember what it's doing right now. 5. 📦Storage (Hard Drive): This is where games and data are stored, like a bookshelf for digital stuff. 6. 🎮Controllers: These are how we tell the console what we want to do in the game. Explaining this to my son was tough but he got it! We talked about how each part of the console works together to bring his favorite games to life. His eyes lit up and he was full of questions and ideas. WHY AM I TELLING THIS STORY? This experience shows the importance of STEM education at an early age. Kids are naturally curious, and when they have access to technology, their imagination knows no bounds. Encouraging this curiosity can lead to amazing discoveries and innovations. As parents, it’s up to my wife and I to foster this curiosity and provide our children with the tools and knowledge to explore their world. Whether it’s building a “game console” out of household items 🤣 or diving into real coding and engineering projects on Scratch and Tynker! The possibilities are endless. So, while my son’s game console might not be functional, the excitement and creativity it sparked is real. Maybe he’ll even discover his passion along the way! #STEM #diversityintech #Technology #gamedevelopment

What turns a curious child into tomorrow’s innovator? In Pittsburgh, NSF-funded initiatives at children's museums and science centers are cracking the code: playful learning, wonder, hands-on discovery, and AI-powered exploration. Consistent with Remake Learning’s vision, technology and joy intersect, transforming STEM education into an unforgettable adventure. (Shout out to Gregg Behr) Picture kids collaborating eagerly, guided by interactive exhibits that respond in real-time—fostering deep scientific thinking and creative problem-solving. From predicting earthquakes alongside a friendly animated gorilla to experimenting with gravity using playful ramps, these NSF-backed experiences don't just entertain—they ignite dreams and build essential skills. Have you ever seen a child's eyes widen with the thrill of discovery? Programs like Dr. Nesra Yannier’s NoRILLA Intelligent Science Exhibits leverage NSF funding to ensure kids aren’t just learning science—they’re falling in love with it. But today, NSF grants that power these innovative programs are at risk. Funding cuts threaten the very opportunities that prepare our children for the future, undermining America's innovation, competitiveness, and economic security. We face a clear choice: invest boldly in experiences that spark lifelong curiosity, or retreat from our responsibility to nurture the next generation. Losing this investment means losing future breakthroughs, skilled workers, and the joy that makes STEM resonate with families nationwide. America’s economic strength and national security depend on discoveries today's kids will make tomorrow. Explore Melissa Rayworth’s insightful Kidsburgh.org piece, “AI-infused teaching that really helps kids learn? Schools and learning hubs are embracing tech made possible by the National Science Foundation”, and see why investing in joyful, curiosity-driven STEM education secures America's innovation and prosperity.

If you’ve found yourself caught in the swirl of catastrophic headlines — “AI will kill critical thinking.” “Screens are ruining childhood.” “Teachers will be replaced by 2030.” Take a breath. Get above the silo. The truth is: education isn’t ruined, it’s being rewritten. And the best way to shape what’s next isn’t panic. Its purpose. You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. But you do need to start taking intentional steps now. Here are five actions you can take today to design for balance, equity, and human connection before reaction becomes policy. Problem → Purpose → Solution: Don’t Let Curiosity Be Collateral Problem: We’re fast-tracking AI into schools without asking: Whose dreams are we designing for? Too often, we focus on teaching how to use tools before we've given the space to imagine why they might need them. Purpose: To ensure that the tools we adopt amplify curiosity, not replace it. To remember that the spark begins with a question, not an answer. Solution: Actions That Protect Curiosity and Build Capacity 1. 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐚𝐩𝐬 → Identify where students are being asked to consume vs. create. → Integrate inquiry-based learning models where students investigate real-world careers and questions before applying AI tools. 2. 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 “𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦-𝐭𝐨-𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥” 𝐦𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 → Have students first identify a career or passion, then explore how AI might enhance their journey. → Reinforces purpose-first learning rather than tool-first exposure. 3. 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬 → Move beyond “how to use AI” to “how to use AI with intention.” → Frame tech skills within a context of self-awareness, ethics, and ambition. 4. 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐬 → Let students present how they’d use AI in the job of their dreams, whether it’s an astronaut, artist, or activist. → Support them with mentorship and interdisciplinary exploration. 5. 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 → Involve students in reviewing and giving feedback on AI tools your school is considering. → Teach civic engagement that ensures AI decisions are grounded in lived experience. Protect open-ended inquiry in curriculum design. Center student voice in AI adoption strategies. #EducationalLeadership #AIinEducation #EthicalAI #FutureofEducation #Superintendents #Teachers #Edtech #Strategy #Implementation #Purpose #BrightMinds

In most schools, the questions are “What did you learn?” and “When will you be tested?” At Always Meaningful Education (AME), we ask different questions: “How are you learning?” “Why does this matter to you?” “What progress have you made?” Because real learning isn’t about checking off content. It’s about becoming—curious, capable, and connected to your own growth. We’ve seen too many brilliant young minds crushed by perfectionism. Haunted by test scores. Taught to fear mistakes. Conditioned to believe that what they know and when they know it defines their worth. It doesn’t. Progress is the true measure of learning. Not the grade. Not the pace. Not the comparison to someone else. And science backs this up. When students feel curious—when they’re invited to ask “Why?” and explore “How?”—the brain lights up. Dopamine is released. Focus sharpens. Motivation rises. Learning sticks. That’s not just theory. It’s neuroscience. Curiosity is not a luxury. It’s a biological gateway to learning. So we’ve built a system around it. A daily rhythm that honors progress over perfection, and reflection over regurgitation. A model where young humans move from curiosity to creation to contribution. Not just for a grade. But for growth. For meaning. For life. Always Meaningful Education: A model where young humans move from curiosity to creation to contribution. Not to earn approval. Not to chase perfection. But to understand themselves, grow through challenges, and make meaning of the world around them. Because when we honor the process— The questions, the setbacks, the sparks of curiosity— We raise thinkers, not memorizers. Creators, not just consumers. Humans, not products. Progress is not a detour. It is the path. And every step forward is a victory worth noticing.

In education circles, curiosity often gets simplified into merely “wanting to know”—as if it's an innate trait some people are lucky to possess. But that view entirely misses the true power of curiosity. It isn’t just a personality quirk; it’s a transformative mindset that reshapes how we learn, work, and experience life itself. At Sora, we've discovered firsthand that meaningful learning doesn't come from trendy technologies or curricular gimmicks. Rather, it emerges from nurturing genuine curiosity. We want students to imagine life as an immersive game or a gripping novel, filled with hidden mysteries, fresh challenges, and endless opportunities to discover something new. Every experience, no matter how it turns out, is an exciting chapter in your life that you’ll never be able to re-read. Approaching education—and life—with this playful, curious perspective unlocks a profound shift in engagement and motivation. The Zen concept of "Shoshin," or beginner’s mind, illustrates this beautifully. Zen master Shunryu Suzuki, whose teachings deeply influenced visionaries like Steve Jobs, famously stated: “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.” Adopting this beginner’s mindset means learning to let go of preconceived notions, embracing uncertainty, and seeing each challenge as an opportunity rather than a barrier. It means trying to see the world through a child’s eyes by identifying and strategically stepping out of mental ruts. Imagine students approaching algebra, history, or science not as mandatory hurdles, but as fascinating adventures filled with potential discoveries. What if students genuinely grasped why brilliant people dedicate their lives to these subjects? Anxiety would give way to excitement, creativity would flourish, and instead of asking, “Why do I have to learn this?” students would wonder, “What incredible discovery lies ahead?” I understand this might sound idealistic, perhaps even unrealistic to some seasoned educators. Yet, not only is it achievable—it might be the most impactful gift we offer our students. At Sora, curiosity isn't an afterthought—it's the cornerstone of our entire educational approach. Our students immerse themselves in real-world problems that ignite their interests. They learn through exploration, questioning, and creativity, viewing every obstacle as an invitation to innovate and grow. We intentionally keep rubrics and curriculum roadmaps open-ended to foster genuine inquiry and discovery. And no grades are final until a student says they’re done learning. This curious, beginner's mindset isn't just valuable for kids. The most successful founders and innovators live life at the edge of their seats, eager for the next wild twist or unexpected lesson. They think of their lives like a movie; even negative experiences can be profoundly interesting and beautiful. That's the perspective shift we want for every student, and it starts with school.