10 Fun Ways to Expand your General Knowledge

Want to become more knowledgeable? Learning shouldn’t have to be a chore. There are many fun ways in which you can build your general knowledge. This post offers 10 different examples of educational activities that can also be enjoyable. 

Read fiction and non-fiction books

Reading is perhaps the best way to learn new information. However, it doesn’t have to just be non-fiction. Many fictional books are full of interesting facts – particularly crime novels, historical novels and novels centred around different cultures. Set yourself the challenge of reading a few pages of a book every day. You can also opt for audiobooks if you prefer this to reading. 

Watch documentaries and historical movies

If you don’t have the patience for reading, documentaries can be a good alternative way to learn new information. Today’s documentaries are so much more varied and exciting than what was available years ago – on top of those found on TV and streaming services, there are a whole bunch of niche documentaries on YouTube. Meanwhile, many historical movies can also be quite educational. Check out some great historical movies here on IMDB. 

Listen to podcasts and educational radio shows

There are many podcasts and educational radio shows that delve into niche topics. Through talks with experts and debates with guests, you can learn all kinds of fascinating stuff. The beauty of audial media like this is that you can learn new information while carrying out other tasks like driving or housework. For those times when you don’t fancy listening to music, try a podcast instead (this page lists a few educational podcasts to try).

Visit museums and discovery centres

Days out can also be turned into educational opportunities. Museums and discovery centres are some of the best places to learn about niche topics in an experiential way. Other attractions that can also allow you to learn new things include historical sites, zoos, aquariums, farms and tours. If you’ve got kids, these can be great learning opportunities for all the family. Take a look online to see what attractions are in your area. 

Solve crosswords

Solving a crossword puzzle every day can be a fun challenge that can test your logic skills – potentially even helping to stave off dementia. However, unlike many other puzzles, crosswords can also test your existing general knowledge. On top of this, you can learn new facts from them. You can find crossword puzzles online or in puzzle books and newspapers.

Play educational board games

There are several board games that can have an educational element. For example, you can learn new vocabulary while playing Scrabble and become better at Geography while playing Ticket To Ride. Perhaps the best game for teaching trivia however is Trivial Pursuit. These quiz-oriented games are centred around learning and recalling facts, and could be a great way to boost one’s general knowledge. Consider pulling out this board game next time you have friends and family around. 

Learn from video games

Can video games truly be educational? Some can. There are many educational app games aimed at kids. Word-based games like Wordscapes can meanwhile help to boost vocabulary. However, more traditional video games can also have educational value too – prime examples include Kerbal Space Program (for space engineering), the Age of Empires series (for world history) and Democracy series (for teaching politics). 

Attend local quiz nights

Quiz nights can not just be fun social events, but also great learning opportunities. You’ll be forced to recall all kinds of obscure facts, as well as learning new facts from teammates or from the questions you get wrong. Many pubs regularly host quiz nights, which you can look up information about online. 

Watch game shows

Many game shows like The Chase, Mastermind, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and Pointless are quiz-oriented. Watching these TV shows can be another great way to boost your trivia knowledge. Next time you’re stuck for something to watch, consider putting on a game show and see what new facts you can learn. 

Follow educational social media accounts

While there is a lot of silly content and misinformation on social media, there are also many accounts that are truly educational. Following these accounts can be a great way to learn new facts. Examples include National Geographic, Nasa, TED Talks, UberFacts and The Cultural Tutor. Social media is also a great place to follow various news publications, as well as the accounts of many leading experts in all manner of subjects. If you don’t already follow some of these accounts, consider doing so.