In a world as vast and varied as ours, getting more familiar with the unknown can be a daunting task. It doesn’t matter how old we are or how many adages we hear about dipping our toes in the water and breaking new ground, taking that first step is usually the most difficult when it comes to exploring a new subject.
So, when it comes to sparking curiosity in to kids to learn about countries and cultures beyond our own – something that we all know is increasingly vital for their future – we need tools and tips to help them get started.
Here at Rockerbox News, we believe that sparking an interest in a new place, culture, or subject is the most important first hurdle. Whether it be an interest in a photograph of a landscape, footage of a unique festival, or a story, non-fiction or otherwise, that provides the initial spark, we can empower young learners to ask questions. And luckily, kids are innately curious. Once their interest has been peaked and they have questions that need answering, young minds will almost always want to dig deeper and know more.
A Word a Day
One of our favourite ways to get young minds thinking about different cultures and peoples is by learning snippets of different languages.
Language is intrinsically linked to heritage and culture, and it’s amazing how much we can learn, for example, from knowing that in Spain there is a word for the afternoon version of brunch.
Learning new words, even just one each day, can spark endless discussions and questions. It’s an accessible way for children to start appreciating diversity, start exploring how languages reflect our history, and realise how fun new languages can be to learn.
View the Rockerbox News Words of the Day.
The Importance of News
We know it’s important to learn about news close to home, but we also know that there is a lot more happening around the globe to be curious about. And sadly, there are very few ways for inquisitive young minds to know about it. Accessing a daily snapshot of news, from the Kenyan coastal communities turning to seaweed farming to Pakistan’s new rollerblading police unit, can help us to build a mental image of what life is like in another country. Keep the news short and sweet and discuss it as a family or a class. When we start thinking about “why” something might be happening or “how” it’s different from what we’re doing in our own country, we can spark an infectious interest to keep learning more.
Personal Interests
Learning is never one-size-fits-all and the things that inspire curiosity differ for everyone, be it the subject, the style, or the way it is presented. That’s where personalisation in learning becomes so important. A young reader who loves learning about space might be drawn in by a story about the space hotel that could be in orbit by 2027. Another who loves boats could be inspired by the self-driving ferries recently introduced to a city in Norway. And a learner who is fascinated by construction will almost definitely be interested in the city of the future Toyota are building in Japan.
When we can personally connect with a theme or connect with a person through a shared interest, a spark to learn more will quickly follow.
Common Causes
Another way to inspire interest in communities around the globe is through common causes; exploring how others deal with global problems that we’re also learning about, such as plastic waste or deforestation, in their own unique ways.
Plastic waste may be universal issue, but different communities can deal with the problem in unique ways depending on cultural, economic, and social factors. Villagers in Bangladesh making air conditioners out of plastic bottles, a California company turning them into roads, and the team in Kenya that turned 10 tons of old flip flops into a sailboat; the stories may come from all over the globe, but the familiar cause makes them more relatable.
Whatever it is that sparks interest in an inquisitive young learner, being able to expand those interests to issues, cultures, and lives beyond their own is a vital part of shaping openminded, conscientious, and worldly young learners. The smallest of first steps, be it a word, a story, or an image, can open curious young minds to the wealth of knowledge that lies beyond.
