Browse examples of student work created through inquiry-based learning. These artifacts highlight the variety of ways students investigate questions, analyze sources, and communicate their thinking through authentic products and performances.
Literacy is woven into the fabric of elementary social studies learning. As students build social studies content knowledge and disciplinary skills, they engage in deep literacy work: interrogating diverse sources, evaluating and constructing arguments, examining differing points of view and...
This article supports teachers who use ClassLink to manage student access to inquirED.
Social studies and literacy instruction can’t really be separated: social studies requires the examination of complex texts as sources of evidence. If we want students to seek answers to complex questions, conduct sustained investigations, and construct conclusions based on facts...
Learn how to use the Materials & Prep tab to organize, access, and track lesson materials efficiently. This guide helps teachers save time and stay organized.
Varying how students engage with a text is an excellent strategy when there are diverse reading levels in the classroom. These common reading procedures may be effective in your classroom, but this list is by no means exhaustive. Note that...
Yes, and... is a structured protocol that helps students respond and add to others’ ideas rather than critiquing or modifying them. Use it to support students’ development of individual project ideas and their ability to thought-partner with each other.
This graphic organizer can help students reflect on how a text has changed or deepened their understanding.
If students are reading independently, in small groups, or in pairs, consider creating several text-dependent questions that require students to stop, locate evidence to support a response, and write the response.
The inquiry-based classroom provides opportunities for student-driven exploration. While this can be highly motivating and engaging, it also places high demands on students' executive functioning skills. Consider the following strategies to provide scaffolds as individual or whole-class supports of executive...
Inquiry Journeys includes a diverse collection of books that support student understanding as they move through an Inquiry. Check out the book list and use the book stickers to help organize resources. The stickers are printable and should be used...
Learn how to access and add curriculum for additional grade levels included in your inquirED subscription.
The Question Formulation Technique, or QFT, was developed by the Right Question Institute as a simple step by step process that helps anyone produce, improve, and prioritize questions. Watch this video to hear about a teacher's journey using the Question...
The mid-year point is a perfect time to engage in structured, intentional reflection. Read this month’s Spotlight to learn how Christine Phillip, Innovation Coach from Franklin Park District 84, helps teachers and coaches get the most out of reflections.
Using an Anticipation Guide is an excellent way to ensure students have a clear direction and purpose for their reading. In the center column, write main ideas, key details, and important concepts you want students to be on the lookout...
Download and use this note catcher to organize your thoughts and observations as you advance through the "Differentiation in Inquiry" course.
The Question Formulation Technique, or QFT, was developed by the Right Question Institute as a simple step by step process that helps anyone produce, improve, and prioritize questions. Watch this video to learn more about the process in 90 seconds.
Simulations facilitate an experience that students can reflect upon to draw conclusions about concepts or ideas. When designing a simulation, avoid those that may be triggering, including asking students to act out inappropriate dynamics or perform another person's identity or...
Here are protocols for analyzing student work.
Concentric Circles get students talking to different classmates, allowing them to hear from a variety of perspectives in response to a series of prompts. This protocol fosters understanding of different perspectives while promoting students’ speaking and listening skills.
Use these strategies to prompt a quick conversation between students who are already seated close together. Because there is no special seating arrangement or protocol required, it is perhaps the most flexible and informal discussion strategy.
Popcorns challenge students to share their ideas without talking over each other, which is great practice for real-life discussion skills. Use this strategy when it’s not necessary to hear from every single student in response to a prompt or question.
A Predict Learn Conclude prompts students to make inferences, test those inferences while gathering information, and construct conclusions. Use this strategy as a pre-assessment, as an anticipatory set, or to assess student thinking.
Investigation stations provide a source or sources that students use to gather information. Sources might include text, images, artifacts, videos, or even step-by-step activities, and are often clustered by subtopic. Students might choose stations based on interest, or they might...
