How to Turn a Question Into a Lesson

I’ve often said that some of our best homeschool lessons have happened by accident.

But the reality is that they weren’t actually accidents…they were just unplanned. 

Learning can (and does!) happen all around us, all day long, whether we’re looking for it or not.  And with a little intentionality, we can turn the questions that arise during moments of curiosity into rich and meaningful experiences for our kids.

Here are three simple tips for turning a question into a lesson:

Share What you Know 

When your child asks you about something, take the time to share what you already know about that subject.  

For example, if your little one is playing outside and says, “Why does the sun move in the sky throughout the day?” don’t just dismiss it.  Instead, take a couple of minutes to explain the answer.  (They wouldn’t be asking if they didn’t want to know!) 

Tailor the length and content to the age and interest of your child - there’s no need to give a 20 minute science lecture to a six year old.  That being said, don’t underestimate what your child can understand.  You don’t need to water down a subject just because your child is young.  Bright little minds can understand more than we often give them credit for!

Learn Together 

Don’t know the answer?  That’s okay!  Discover it together!

Grab your phone and do a quick internet search, watch an online video, or define that word they asked about.  

Have a book about the subject?  Read it together!  

Does your child learn better by getting their hands on something and working with it?  Jump in there with them and encourage them in the journey as you figure it out together!

Equip and Challenge 

Make the most of the moment!  Give them a challenge that helps them apply the information they just learned. 

For example…

• If they ask about a plant, bug, or animal tracks in your yard, challenge them by asking, “Do you think there are any more like that in our yard?  Let’s go see if we can find some!”
• If they ask about the rotation of the sun, act it out.  Say something like, “I’ll stand here and be the sun.  Now, you be the earth and rotate around me.”
• If they ask about the water cycle, do an experiment to see how much water evaporates from a cup overnight.
• If they ask about chain reactions, challenge them to build one using materials around the house.
• If they ask how to split a bag of M&Ms between their siblings equally, use the opportunity to introduce them to division.  Then give them other examples - “What if you had to split this same amount between 4 people?  6?” Let them work the with candies to form equal groups.

Questions are the perfect doorway to learning, so take a few minutes to walk through it!  A lesson can be as simple as following the tips above, and the learning that happens during that exchange will stick with your child because it happened in pursuit of curiosity.