Sparking Curiosity

At Rachel Keeling, we plan experiences to spark children's curiosity in the world around them.
Many children show great curiosity in a range of things. They do this by exploring our environment, trying out things, persevering when things might be difficult, sharing their discoveries, asking lots of questions and suggesting their own hypotheses.

This week, upon our return to school one of our friends was amazed to discover something very unusual in our frosty garden after the holidays.
They came to share their finding with adults and their friends, who listened with interest.
​After some discussion, the find was located as it was camouflaged in the sand. 
It was a mystery skull! Some thoughtful conversations ensued about what kind of skull it was. The children asked questions about what it was, where it had come from and how did it get there?
​
"A dinosaur because it has sharp teeth!"
"A goat"
"A pig because its head is small!"
"I think it's a baa baa black sheep because it has a big eye"
"A turtle because of the eye, it's big!"

The children collected a cardboard box from the recyclable modelling area and placed the skull safely inside. 
Staff remembered we have a ram's skull, complete with horns in school. They compared the two skulls by observing them both closely. 
After some joint research using books and online, we decided it was likely to be a sheep's skull.
Children observed the sheep's skull closely and some created marks in response to what they saw: once child commented "He growed teeth out his chin" and another was still convinced it was a "monster's skull!"

We will continue to allow children to explore the skull and then we will consult with them what to do with it.
 Look for opportunities for awe and wonder everywhere you go and see what you and your child can discover.