Mysteries and Explanations

Students explore nature while digging deep into curiosity. They propose and refine questions and pose possible explanations for what they see, without the need to be right.

Asking questions, finding mysteries, and making explanations are fun and dynamic ways to be creative in nature. If we think of nature as a world of endless small mysteries, we can become fascinated wherever we go. What’s causing the pattern of flowers on the hillside? Why are the clouds moving so quickly today? Who is making holes in the stump at the edge of the schoolyard? This activity invites students to make explanations about their questions and observations, and offers a mindset and set of skills for interacting with nature mysteries wherever they go. Exercising curiosity, asking questions questions, and making explanations are foundational scientific inquiry skills. Wonder also adds to the delight of being alive.