This week, Saklan students in Kindergarten through eighth grade came together for one of our favorite school traditions: Family Groups! On October 28, students gathered across grade levels to explore our October Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) focus: Curiosity.
Family Groups offer students an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with classmates in other grades while developing the social-emotional skills that help them thrive. This month, students explored what it means to be curious, why curiosity matters, and how asking questions can open the door to new discoveries.
What Does It Mean to Be Curious?
Students began by sharing a little about themselves before diving into a conversation about curiosity. Together, they considered what curiosity looks like, why it matters, and how it helps us learn more about ourselves, others, and the world around us.
Curiosity encourages us to ask questions, explore new ideas, express ourselves creatively, and approach unfamiliar experiences with an open mind.
Learning Through Exploration and Play
After their discussion, students put their curiosity into action through a series of interactive activities designed to spark wonder and encourage creative thinking.
Working together, groups explored a mystery bag, examined mystery photos, and challenged themselves with trivia questions. These activities invited students to observe carefully, think critically, share ideas, and learn from one another. Older and younger students partnered up, creating opportunities for collaboration and connection across grade levels.
Sharing Our Wonder
To wrap up the meeting, each student received a paper leaf and wrote down something they were curious about, adding a drawing when space allowed. From questions about the natural world to interests and ideas waiting to be explored, each leaf represented a unique spark of wonder.
The leaves were then added to a shared Family Group poster, creating a colorful collection of questions and interests that celebrates the many ways curiosity inspires learning.
Curiosity Connects Us
At Saklan, curiosity is more than asking questions. It means being open to new perspectives, exploring possibilities, and discovering that learning often begins with a simple “I wonder…”
As our students continue to explore their questions and follow their interests, we look forward to seeing where their curiosity takes them next!
