Early Childhood Educators Interactive Keynote on Nurturing Curiosity
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Children are born with natural curiosity and a desire to learn about the world through first-hand experience using their senses. Nurturing a child's curiosity and scientific thinking is important as some of history's greatest discoveries were made by curious individuals who observed the world around them. The document recommends using nature, outdoor spaces, and natural materials to stimulate a young child's curiosity through observation and creative play.
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Early Childhood Educators Interactive Keynote on Nurturing Curiosity
- 1. Interactive Keynote for Early Childhood Educators By Diana Wehrell-Grabowski, PhD http://www.drdianateachertraining.com
- 2. Children are born curious, they are natural scientists.
- 3. Children have a built in desire to learn first-hand about the world around them.
- 5. The young child does not merely observe the world around them. They taste it, touch it, bend it, and break it.
- 10. Why is it important to nurture and cultivate the young child’s curiosity?
- 11. Their curiosity about the world around them is the beginning of scientific thinking.
- 13. Some of the greatest discoveries in math and science were made by curious individuals. They had to use their “eyes, ears and minds.”
- 14. Leonardo Fibonacci Creator of the Fibonacci Sequence 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 … infinity Pattern is: 1 +2 = 3, 2+3=5, 3+5=8, etc.
- 16. Carl Sagan Richard Feynman Curious minds
- 21. Use the natural world to stimulate the young child’s natural curiosity:
- 23. Encourage children to make observations.
- 34. A place where creativity is natural.
- 35. A place with access to the wild.
- 36. A place to work in harmony with nature.
- 37. Incorporate materials from nature in playground activities.
- 38. A place that gives a sense of belonging.
Editor's Notes
- Curiosity leads to questioning, questioning and seeking answers leads to scientific inquiry.
- Curiosity leads to scientific inquiry.
- Einstein, Madame Curie, Leonardo da Vinci, Fibonacci all have stated that their accomplishments were based on their curiosity. They never ceased being curious.
- Ask group to observe sea shell in bag. Ask them to develop questions, discuss with the person next to them. Discuss spiral, observations etc…
- The important thing is not to stop questioning.
- The individuals I’ve shown you were lucky their natural curiosity did not diminish has they entered grade school and beyond…
- Messy! Teachers not willing to release control of the lesson, class. Too much structured time, not enough time. Etc…
- Ask group to observe and analyze polymer, clay etc… Ask a question about anything they do not know what it is.
- Encourage children to make observations, ask questions, touch, and collect specimens.
- Do not rush children during their explorations of the natural world. Allow enough time.
- Provide children with the basic discovery tools to explore the natural world… Magnifying lenses, simple microscopes, rulers, collection bags, bug boxes, drawing paper etc..
- Encourage students to make observations, use scientific tools, draw what they observe, and collect specimens from nature.
- Ask group to observe objects that have patterns in their bags. Observe patterns in nature and physical systems. Make connections, see interrelationships. Introduce structure and function.
- Use all senses while exploring the natural world. Have group study the plant, soil etc. using all their senses.
- Tell group to observe leaf in the bag. Discuss leaf, design, make a rubbing of the leaf.
- Encourage children to draw and journal daily about the natural world around them. Ask group to pick one thing to draw.
- Encourage students to collect rocks, seeds, twigs, etc. to bring inside to add to the classroom nature and curiosity collection center, table, box etc.. Observe rock, sand, etc..
- Bring nature indoors: pill bugs, earthworms, meal worms. Set up small permanent or temporary animal habitats. Have scientific tools for students to use while making observations (magnifying lens, rulers, paper and crayons for drawings). Ask group to observe pill bugs under chairs.
- Be spontaneous when the weather changes snow, rain dress children appropriately and take them outside to make observations and explore.
- Transform your playground to incorporate nature.
- Allow children to dig and explore with guidance. Provide tools for explorations. Allow children to look for pill bugs, worms, snails, and bugs.
- Build playground structures with natural materials.
- Incorporate materials from nature in playground activities and centers.
- Develop playgrounds that provide plenty of opportunities for exploring nature. Planting gardens, sand boxes, art areas, etc..
- Importance of questioning….Encourage your students to ask questions, and seek out the answers themselves… Turn curiosity into scientific inquiry.
- Take time to explore the natural world with your students. Take time to be curious, heighten your own sense of curiosity.
- Leave here thinking about what you need to do to nurture and cultivate your students curiosity, as well as your own. What might you need to do different, changes in the classroom, teaching practices, etc…