A Kindergarten Query for the beginning of the school year

Query writing: We took on a large job in kindergarten and wrote the first Query of the school year. 

A query is a Quaker kind of a question. It gives us something to think about and use as a tool to help us find ways we might grow, help each other, or help our community. 

How do we do this with 5 and 6 year olds? It begins with careful (almost radical) listening. As the children share ideas about our classroom, play with each other, work to solve differences, and manage our busy days, I listen and study and watch. I'm listening for "the thing" or a "thread." I am seeking the idea that pops up and seems to linger in our midst.

As we went about our learning, I noticed some interesting and beautiful ideas that felt like the beginning of a query. The excitement of the new year and all the newness of our classroom provided some joyful highs while also creating bumps along our path. My students are kind (an abundance of "please" and "thank you"), they are willing to include a new friend, and are happily sharing their individual ideas. Even so, we had some friends who did not feel "at home" in the classroom or within the group. We talked about how important it is to feel like you belong, to feel that you have a place in our classroom family. This sparked some ideas.

I wrote their ideas on the white board as we brainstormed ways to make the belonging happen. We can be respectful. We can make others feel happy. We can befriend others. We can play. (Absolutely!) 

We revisited our list day after day and added to it. One morning, I blended our ideas together as a question. I posed the question to the class as a Query and it was widely accepted. Some of the children made small suggestions abound words choices - is "everyone" better than "everybody?" We settled on a good draft. And that is how the Marigolds and Dandelions (my kindergarten class) wrote the first Lower School Query of 2025!

Query for September 9/9/25

How can we make sure everyone in our community feels that they belong? 

Marigolds & Dandelions )

Note about queries: Classes and groups of children/adults will write queries for the community throughout the year at my school. During this process, the children share their thinking through brainstorming, connecting, being inspired by each other’s ideas, and (in our case) allowing me to sum up, rephrase, and offer some vocabulary advice. Each class has their own process, however there are many similarities, varying by age and developmental phases.

I am proud of my Marigolds & Dandelions and their big ideas!