Today I played a game: I asked questions inspired by the things around me.

The result? A list longer than even I had expected. I stopped playing after a few dozen questions, but the game does prove a good point: we can learn everything we need to know just by paying attention to what is around us.

Why is learning from your environment better, though?

That’s easy to explain.

Let’s say two children are learning about chlorophyll at the same time. The difference is that one child is coming across it through school, and the other child is curious about her environment.

Now, the child in school (let’s call him Jimmy) is being told this information by his teacher and his textbook. The facts are presented to him in a very concise, step-by-step way. Jimmy hasn’t thought about plant color before.

The unschooler (let’s name her Jill) is out having fun in the park with her family. Jill looks at the trees before she asks why leaves are green. Her parents explain and they have a conversation about it.

Both children are told the same information, but I’ll tell you why Jill is at an advantage:.

- She’s enjoying herself. By having a positive experience, the learning becomes a happy experience, too.
- She’s shown she’s ready to learn by asking a question. Being told something doesn’t mean you’re going to (or even want to) learn it.
- She has a hands on example. She might even grab a few leaves to press as souvenirs.
- She’s encouraged to ask questions. Jimmy could leave his class wanting to know more. He might even be punished for asking questions out of turn.

Most of all, Jill has an advantage because what she’s learning is relevant to her life. She can relate to what she’s learning and she can understand how the information affects her.

Who will learn more: the child who is told to listen and repeat what he’s been told, or the child who is encouraged to seek new information? Which would you rather be?

Share your thoughts in the comments!