Discover the Benefits of Inquiry-Based Learning

• A Case for Curiosity: Hear from one educator on the value of asking “why?” and learn how to preserve and nurture a curious mindset. (Edutopia, 2016)
• 3 Rules to Spark Learning: Watch a short video to understand how student questions seed real learning. (TED Talks, 2013)
• Why Curiosity Enhances Learning: Read about findings of a neurological study on curiosity. (Edutopia, 2014) 
• Designing Learning That Matters: Learn about the benefits of inquiry-driven, deep-learning experiences. (Edutopia, 2015)
• The Research Behind Choice and Inquiry-Based Education: Explore a collection of research and success stories. (A.J. Juliani)
• Excerpt From Teaching for Meaningful Learning: Check out a book excerpt to review existing research. (Edutopia, 2008) 

Back to Top

Create Learning Environments That Foster Inquiry

• How to Bring ‘More Beautiful’ Questions Back to School: Take a look at five ways to create learning environments that value questions. (KQED’s MindShift, 2016)
• Creating a Culture of Inquiry: Understand how to honor inquiry within assignments and assessments. (Edutopia, 2015) 
• Preparing a Classroom Culture for Deeper Learning: Examine five cultural transitions to initiate. (Edutopia, 2015)
• Ten Tips for Launching an Inquiry-Based Classroom: Dive in and try a few of these tips yourself. (KQED's MindShift, 2015)

Back to Top

Plan Curriculum That Supports Inquiry

• Inquiry-Based Learning: An Approach to Educating and Inspiring Kids: Scan an in-depth inquiry-based learning guide for information on techniques and strategies for doing inquiry-based projects in any educational setting. (YouthLearn, 2016)
• Quality Instruction + Differentiation: Find out how to help students relate work to overarching questions. (Edutopia, 2015)
• Four Phases of Inquiry-Based Learning: See how to break out inquiry-based learning into four distinct stages. (TeachThought)
• Teaching Through Inquiry: Learn about "engage, explore, explain, and extend" as an instructional framework. (ASCD, 2013)
• Inquiry-Based Learning in a Literacy & Social Studies Classroom: Take five steps to launch a journey of historical inquiry. (Teaching Channel, 2013)

Back to Top

Use Strategies to Increase Inquiry in the Classroom

• Curiosity: The Force Within a Hungry Mind: Explore ten ways to encourage students to be curious. (Edutopia, 2015)
• Fostering Student Questions: Read about four protocols that can help scaffold student questions. (Edutopia, 2015)
• The Power of Asking the Right Questions: Understand when and how much to help students refocus questions. (Edutopia, 2015) 
• Encouraging the Einstein and Edison in Everyone: Discover how to teach creativity. (Edutopia, 2015)
• Learning to Work and Think Like an Artist: Find steps to develop artistic thinking. (Edutopia, 2015)
• Avoiding Learned Helplessness: See how to stop giving answers and instead ask more questions. (Edutopia, 2015)

Back to Top

Conduct Activities That Promote Inquiry

• Query Books: Ask students to chronicle their ideas, ponderings, and questions. (Edutopia, 2014)
• Hackathons: Check out a hackathon playbook to plan activities that provide experiences with overcoming failure.  (Edutopia, 2015)
• 20% Time: Try out Genius Hour (a.k.a. 20% Time). Explore more resources in the Genius Hour Wiki. (Edutopia, 2013)
• Adventures with Dr. Smallz: Inspire students' need to know with a microscopic doctor lost in a patient's body. (Edutopia, 2014)
• Questions Before Answers: Use great questions that motivate learning. (Edutopia, 2014)
• School in the Cloud: Ask students to investigate a Big Question within a Self-Organized Learning Environment. (School in the Cloud)

Back to Top

Downloads and Examples From Schools That Work

Edutopia's flagship series highlights practices and case studies from K-12 schools and districts that are improving the way students learn. Below, find downloads used by practitioners at featured schools, and dive into real-world examples of inquiry-based learning.

Inquiry-Based Learning: Developing Student-Driven Questions

At Wildwood IB World Magnet School, teachers use student questions to drive lessons, and channel student curiosity into student-centered projects. Check out a few of Wildwood's inquiry-based teacher tools:

• Curriculum Map for Grades K-5 -- Download this chart to understand how Wildwood aligns its lines of inquiry to specific curricular themes, central ideas, and key concepts throughout the year.
• Personal Project Questions -- Download a worksheet that includes prompts to help students focus and think through the topics of their research.
• Sample Research Worksheet -- Download a sample "My Personal Project" worksheet to learn how teachers at Wildwood help students organize plans for projects; students record questions, research notes, unfamiliar vocabulary, and how they will demonstrate what they've learned. For another resource of this type, see Wildwood's Personal Project Planner.
• Personal Project Skills Survey -- Download a project skills survey to discover how Wildwood students reflect on the skills they've tapped and personal work habits they've practiced while working on their projects.

Inquiry-Based Learning: From Teacher-Guided to Student-Driven

See how Ralston Elementary School teachers guide the inquiry process over a series of lessons and teach students how to ask deeper questions to prepare them to lead their own inquiry into specific problems.

"I Wonder" Questions: Harnessing the Power of Inquiry

Learn how educators at Crellin Elementary School use students' "I Wonder" questions to drive lesson planning, differentiate instruction, and foster student curiosity.

Inquiry-Based Learning in the Science Classroom 

Science students at Casey Middle School begin with a central question and seek answers through research, experimentation, and data analysis. Review a sample question and lesson plan to understand how this works in practice.

Back to Top