Children possess a natural gift for questioning.
- Why does the sky change colors at sunset?
- Who decided what words mean?
- Why do we call it a building if it’s already built?
- Do fish know they’re wet?
- Why do we have to learn this?
These inquiries, whether complex or humorous, indicate a fascinating development in a child’s mind. Curiosity is a crucial catalyst for learning, yet it is seldom something we explicitly teach. We often assume it will naturally occur or hope it remains intact throughout the school day. However, a 2022 University of Virginia study revealed that by fifth grade, curiosity in the classroom is nearly extinguished. We can do more than just hope; we can foster it, demonstrate it, and intentionally integrate opportunities for curiosity into our teaching methods.
Read further to understand what curiosity truly is, its significance for children, and strategies to teach curiosity daily in the classroom. Additionally, explore seven practical activities for nurturing curiosity from the Van Andel Institute for Education.
So, What Is Curiosity Exactly?
Curiosity fundamentally drives the quest for new knowledge, experiences, and understanding. It’s what prompts a child to dismantle a flower to explore its components, ask “what’s inside?” about nearly everything, or spend an entire recess attempting to climb a slide. It goes beyond mere interest; it’s the urge to pursue that interest actively.
According to Jennifer Weaver, a psychotherapist and owner of Polaris Counseling & Consulting, “Curiosity in children looks like kids asking lots of questions. Where? Why? How come? All of these questions are super normal—even when seemingly excessive—for kids to ask all day.”
Curiosity can sometimes be perceived as nosiness. Questions like “Who are you talking to on the phone?” or “What video are you watching?” are ways a child learns about and seeks to understand the world.
When children appear relentless in their questioning or overly inquisitive about their surroundings, they are often engaging in natural brain development. Dr. Todd Kashdan, a psychologist and researcher at George Mason University, notes that curiosity is multifaceted. His study, published in the Journal of Research in Personality, identifies five distinct aspects of curiosity: joyous exploration (enjoyment in learning), deprivation sensitivity (frustration from not knowing), stress tolerance (enduring uncertainty), social curiosity (desire to understand others), and thrill-seeking (seeking novel and challenging experiences).
Recognizing these dimensions is important because they do not sustain themselves without support. The University of Virginia study found that curiosity decreases as children progress through school. Therefore, teachers need to be more than just conveyors of content; they need to actively and intentionally foster curiosity in children.
Why Curiosity Matters for Kids
Curiosity is not just an optional trait; it is intrinsically linked to how children learn, evolve, and perceive their place in the world.
Curiosity fuels deeper learning
When students are intrigued by a subject, they engage with it more deeply and retain information longer. Research by UC Davis neuroscientist Dr. Charan Ranganath indicates that curiosity activates the brain’s reward system, putting it in an optimal state for learning and memory. Essentially, curiosity not only enhances the enjoyment of learning but also aids in retention.
It builds resilience and problem-solving skills
Kids with curiosity may persevere more when faced with challenges. They often view obstacles as puzzles to solve. A student asking “why” something failed is already on the road to discovering what will succeed.
Curiosity shapes a child’s relationship with learning itself
This might be the most critical aspect. Weaver explains, “When a child’s curiosity is encouraged or suppressed, we either reinforce them to learn more or convey that learning shouldn’t be valued. It’s that simple.” Responding positively to a child’s questions sends a strong message that their curiosity is valued, influencing whether they see themselves as learners and feel their thoughts matter.
Curiosity supports social-emotional development
Curiosity about others—wondering “Why do they do things differently than my family?” or “What’s it like to be them?”—is key to developing empathy and building connections. Students curious about their classmates can become more open, cooperative, and inclusive.
How To Teach Curiosity in the Classroom
Incorporating curiosity into the classroom doesn’t require adding new units to the curriculum. It involves changing how we respond to questions, designing activities, and allowing room for discovery. Here’s how to implement it.
Validate questions—even when the timing is hard
Weaver advises teachers to verbally acknowledge and encourage students’ questions. In a busy classroom, she suggests saying, “Thank you so much for asking that. We can’t talk about it now, but I’ll make sure to answer that question later for you.”
This simple recognition tells a student their curiosity is valued and that you will revisit it. A sticky note on the board, a “wonder wall,” or a notebook for questions can help ensure this promise is kept.
Engaging activities that invite exploration over instruction
Some of the most effective curiosity-building activities are those where the outcome isn’t predetermined. When students need to figure something out rather than follow a set path to an answer, curiosity emerges naturally. The Van Andel Institute for Education (VAI) offers several practical curiosity activities and resources that accomplish this:
- Make It Float!, in the STEM Parade Timely Topic, encourages students to test outcomes using basic materials with a few variables, sparking the “I wonder what would happen if …” mindset.
- Twin To Win, from VAI’s Games & Activities, uses Pentominoes to make students curious about how shapes fit together to create something recognizable. It’s spatial, tactile, and continuously engaging.
- Bernoulli’s Principle, in VAI’s STEM @ Home Newsletter, connects abstract science to students’ everyday lives through simple experiments. When kids see physics in action around them, their questions quickly multiply.
- Wind-Powered Pinwheel challenges students to design pinwheels and learn what it takes for wind to generate electricity. The engineering challenge keeps curiosity alive throughout.
- Flight School, from VAI’s Books to Builds, allows students to explore how birds fly and what gives a paper airplane its lift. It’s a Books to Builds activity that combines reading with hands-on discovery.
- Would You Rather, in the Daily SEL Games & Activities, prompts students to be curious about their classmates in a classroom game, ideal for SEL time.
- Habitat Heroes encourages students to get curious about how they can protect the animals in their community.
Model your own curiosity
One of the simplest and most effective ways to spark curiosity is to let students hear you wonder aloud. Phrases like “I’m not sure about that—let’s find out,” “This makes me curious about …,” or “I’ve always wondered why …” demonstrate that curiosity isn’t just for kids; it’s a lifelong habit worth cultivating.
The Bottom Line
Curiosity is not an inherent trait that children either possess or lack. It is something that grows or diminishes based on their environment. Classrooms that encourage questions, stimulate wonder, and support exploration allow curiosity to flourish. However, nurturing curiosity requires deliberate effort. When curiosity is alive, it enhances engagement, resilience, empathy, and achievement, leading to deep, lasting learning. That’s a great return on continually asking “why”!
