From “Oops” to “Aha!”: Curiosity in Action at Swain Campus Town Meeting

This week, in preschool through fifth-grade Town Meetings, we explored the power of asking “why” when things don’t go as expected. Using the month’s theme of Curiosity, students learned that some of the world’s greatest inventions—like the Slinky, Post-it Notes, and even the Microwave—were actually "mistakes" that succeeded because someone was curious enough to ask why they happened! The highlight of the meeting was an exploration of Oobleck, a "Non-Newtonian" fluid that acts like both a liquid and a solid. Students marveled at how the mixture hardens under pressure while flowing like a liquid with no pressure applied. We encouraged all our students to head home this week and look at their own "oops" or unexpected moments through the eyes of an inventor. Instead of being frustrated when something doesn't go as planned, we’re teaching them to say: "I wonder why that happened?" Students will also have the opportunity to contribute to a collaborative bulletin board highlighting happy mistakes within our community. We can't wait to see our students' growth mindset in action as they transform unexpected moments into opportunities for discovery!