Start with Wonder: The First Step to Inquiry

Melissa Laurie
Jul 8
2 min read

What if the most powerful thing you could bring into your classroom this year wasn’t a curriculum map or a brand-new planner, but a question?

At The GAP Lab, we believe that wonder is the heartbeat of inquiry. It’s not a fluffy add-on for early finishers. It’s not just for science class or nature walks. Wonder is where meaningful, joyful, curiosity-fueled learning begins, and it belongs in every classroom, at every age.

Why Start with Wonder?

Wonder invites learners to become both receivers of knowledge, and seekers of it. It shifts the role of the teacher from expert to co-explorer. It creates space for children to notice, ask, and engage deeply with the world around them.

Starting with wonder also:

Boosts intrinsic motivation
Builds observational and reflective thinking skills
Honors the learner's voice and perspective
Creates natural entry points for standards-based learning

Best of all? Wonder is free. It’s always around us...if we remember to notice.

So… What Does Wonder Look and Sound Like?

It might sound like:

“Why do all the worms come out after it rains?”
“What would happen if we never threw anything away?”
“How does a bird know where to go?”
“Can we build our own paper?”

It might look like:

A group of learners quietly watching ants
A child sketching the same leaf five times
A classroom buzzing with “what if” questions
A teacher saying, “I don’t know… let’s find out”

How to Start with Wonder (Even Tomorrow)

You don’t need to overhaul your entire classroom to begin. Start small. Here are three simple ways to plant the seeds of wonder this week:

1. Begin Class with a “Noticing” Ritual: Set a timer for 3–5 minutes and invite students to observe silently. Ask:

“What do you notice? What do you wonder? What does it remind you of?”Do it in nature, out a window, or even with a classroom object.

2. Create a Wonder Wall: Designate a space for students to post questions, big or small. Revisit it weekly. Let those questions shape your next read-aloud, science activity, or project prompt.

3. Model Your Own Curiosity: Let your learners hear you wonder.

“I’ve always been curious about moss.”“Did anyone else notice how the air felt different this morning?”This gives students permission to follow their own lines of thought.