Nurturing lifelong learners through open-ended questions, real-world exploration, and joyful discovery.

At Seven Peaks School, curiosity isn’t just encouraged—it’s foundational. It fuels creativity, drives deeper learning, and helps our students engage with the world in thoughtful, connected ways. But curiosity doesn’t stop in June.

Summer is an ideal time to nurture your child’s natural wonder—without worksheets or structured lessons. With a little intention, everyday moments can become powerful opportunities for inquiry-based learning, strengthening both IB Learner Profile traits and Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills.

Here are five simple ways families can build curious thinkers all summer long:

1. Ask bigger, better questions

Transform daily conversations by swapping quick facts for open-ended questions:

• What do you notice?
   
• Why do you think that happened?
   
• How might that work in a different country?
   
• If you could redesign this, what would you change?
   

These types of questions develop thinking and research skills while building reflective and open-minded learners.

Try it: During a hike, ask, “Why do you think this trail exists here?” or “What would happen if no one maintained this path?”

2. Keep a summer wonder journal

Encourage your child to write or draw one thing each day they’re curious about—why bees like certain flowers, how skateboards work, where clouds go when they disappear.

This builds self-management and encourages independent learning—core ATL goals.

Pro tip: Keep the journal in your car or backpack. Curiosity strikes everywhere!

3. Turn outings into explorations

Museums, nature centers, farmers markets, even grocery stores can be full of questions and connections.

At High Desert Museum: “How do we know this artifact is real?”
At Safeway or Market of Choice: “Where does this fruit come from?”
At Drake Park: “What’s something here that most people might overlook?”

Encourage your child to take photos or sketch their observations—this supports communication skills and attention to detail.

4. Host a family debate night

Choose lighthearted topics like:

• Is a hot dog a sandwich?
   
• Should kids have phones before middle school?
   
• Beach or mountains for the best vacation?

Help kids form opinions, listen respectfully, and back up their ideas with evidence. This fosters communication, social, and critical thinking skills. Bonus: Let them lead the discussion—it builds confidence and leadership.

5. Let curiosity lead the day

Every now and then, pause your plans and ask, “What do you want to learn today?”

Whether they choose building a fort, researching volcanoes, or baking a new dessert, following their interests builds autonomy and nurtures their identity as learners.

Small moments, big impact
Inquiry-based learning doesn't always require a lesson plan—it just takes a shift in mindset. When we value questions over answers, we help kids see that learning is everywhere.

By embracing curiosity this summer, you’re not just preparing your child for the next school year—you’re raising a thinker, communicator, and inquirer for life.

Stay curious, Seven Peaks families.