Last Tuesday, I worked as part of a group of three Laidlaw Scholars to deliver a session to children aged 9–10 on the importance of research. Teaching such a mature concept to a young audience initially felt like a daunting task, so we focused on making the topic accessible and engaging.
To achieve this, we designed an interactive “whodunit” scenario in which cupcakes had been stolen, and the children had to use clues to ask questions and uncover what had happened. This activity encouraged them to think critically about the kinds of questions they were asking and how gathering information leads to better understanding.
Through this approach, we aimed to demonstrate that research is not just an academic exercise, but a practical and enjoyable process of curiosity, questioning and discovery. By the end of the session, the students were actively engaged and more confident in using questions to explore a problem.