Curiosity Deep Dives
Turn any topic into an exploration by asking AI the questions nobody else thinks to ask.
What Is It?
Curiosity Deep Dives teach kids to ask better questions. Instead of asking AI for facts, they learn to ask questions that spark exploration—the kind of questions that lead to more questions.
Why It Works
Most kids (and adults) treat AI like a search engine: “What year did X happen?” But the real power of AI is in exploration—asking it things like “What would surprise most people about X?” or “What’s something that seems true about X but isn’t?”
This activity builds the habit of curiosity-driven inquiry.
How To Do It
Step 1: Pick a Topic
Start with something your child is genuinely interested in—a hobby, a school subject they enjoy, or something they saw in a movie.
Step 2: Ask “Non-Obvious” Questions
Instead of asking for basic facts, guide them toward questions like:
- “What’s something surprising about [topic] that most people don’t know?”
- “What do experts disagree about when it comes to [topic]?”
- “If you could ask the world’s leading expert one question about [topic], what would it be?”
- “What’s a common misconception about [topic]?”
- “How has thinking about [topic] changed over the last 50 years?”
Step 3: Follow the Thread
When AI responds, teach them to dig deeper:
- “Why is that surprising?”
- “Who discovered that?”
- “What questions does that raise?”
Step 4: Verify and Discuss
AI can be wrong. Have them pick one interesting claim and verify it through another source. This builds healthy skepticism.
Example in Action
Topic: Sharks (a common kid interest)
Boring question: “How many teeth do sharks have?”
Curiosity Deep Dive questions:
- “What’s something about shark behavior that scientists only recently discovered?”
- “Are there any shark species that don’t fit the typical ‘shark’ stereotype?”
- “What do sharks and humans have in common that would surprise most people?”
Warning Signs (When to Reset)
- They’re just asking for facts to copy into homework
- They’re not following up with “why” or “how” questions
- They lose interest quickly (the questions might be too generic)
Parent Tip
Do this together the first few times. Model your own curiosity. Say things like “Oh, I didn’t know that—let me ask a follow-up.”
Next Activity: Explain It Differently — Build deep understanding through multiple explanations.