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Social Studies

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Integrated ELA & Social Studies

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Social Studies

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Join inquirED this fall for Exploring Inquiry Journeys, a webinar series for school and district leaders. Each session offers practical insights and strategies from our curriculum to engage students and support teachers in inquiry-based elementary social studies.

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Downloadable guides, frameworks, and tools designed to help district leaders take action on social studies curriculum and instruction. Looking for our most downloaded resesources? Check the quick links below.

Curiculum Review Guide

Literacy in Social Studies Rubric

Social Studies Pacing Guide

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Fresh ideas, research, and reflections to help district leaders stay sharp and responsive in an evolving social studies landscape.

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Real-time conversations and on-demand learning with experts and district leaders tackling challenges in social studies education.

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Social Studies Curriculum Review Guide

Download this free tool designed to help educators, districts, and curriculum developers create, evaluate, and select social studies instructional materials that meet the demands of today’s classrooms.

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inquirED Blog

Your source for inquiry-based learning and teaching strategies.

Elementary Social Studies

Creative ways districts are making time for K-5 social studies

Elementary teachers often struggle to protect time for social studies when ELA and math dominate the schedule. This post shares practical strategies from real districts that show how storytelling, clear expectations, and high-quality curriculum can keep social studies thriving. With intentional planning, districts can ensure students build the knowledge they need for literacy, civic readiness, and lifelong learning.

inquirED

Sep 2, 2025
5
MIN READ

Elementary Social Studies

How Oconomowoc made standards stick

Oconomowoc Area School District adopted a new high quality elementary social studies curriculum to meet new standards. Students now practice key inquiry skills—asking questions, analyzing sources, and collaborating—to build deeper understanding across subjects.

Sep 3, 2025
5
MIN READ

Elementary Social Studies

What is Inquiry-Based Social Studies?

No matter your entry point – we’ve created & curated information to help you build your knowledge of inquiry-based social studies!

Nov 9, 2021
4
MIN READ
Illustration of teacher reading a story to classroom

Elementary Social Studies

The Missing Piece in Reading Comprehension: Social Studies

Reading tests don’t just measure decoding – they measure what students know. When social studies disappears from the elementary day, so does some of the context that makes reading meaningful.

Nov 13, 2025
6
MIN READ
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Elementary Social Studies

Canby Brings Oregon’s Vision for Social Science Education to Life

See how Canby School District uses Inquiry Journeys to meet Oregon’s new social science standards through inquiry-based learning, civic engagement, and equity-focused instruction.

upcoming webinar

Free Resource

Elementary Social Studies

How Standards-Based Inquiry Sparked Innovation in Iowa City Community School District

In the Iowa City Community School District, social studies is no longer squeezed out of the schedule. By grounding instruction in clear priority standards and an inquiry-based social studies curriculum, the district has made social studies a driver of deeper learning and community connection.

upcoming webinar

Free Resource

Elementary Social Studies

How West Aurora Turned Social Science into Literacy Gains

See how West Aurora used dedicated social science time and Inquiry Journeys’ inquiry-based literacy practices to build academic vocabulary, boost engagement, and strengthen real-world communication skills.

upcoming webinar

Free Resource

Integrated ELA

Writing for Meaning and Understanding: The Power of Integrated ELA and Social Studies

Explicit writing instruction is most effective when paired with meaningful content. Learn how integrating ELA and social studies strengthens writing, comprehension, and knowledge-building.

upcoming webinar

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Webinars

Discourse and Differentiation: A Day in the Life of Inquiry in a 5th-Grade Classroom

A behind-the-scenes look at differentiation and how inquiry comes to life through discourse, routines, and task design in a real 5th-grade classroom.

upcoming webinar

Free Resource

Integrated ELA

Deeper Knowledge and Comprehension Through ELA and Social Studies Integration

Learn how integrating ELA and social studies builds two layers of knowledge, supporting deeper comprehension, stronger transfer, and more meaningful reading experiences for students.

upcoming webinar

Free Resource

Integrated ELA

The Cognitive Load Problem: Why Too Many Programs Undermine Learning

Discover how juggling multiple ELA and social studies programs increases cognitive load, reduces instructional coherence, and limits deep learning. Explore why integrated design offers a more sustainable, effective path forward.

upcoming webinar

Free Resource

Illustration of teacher reading a story to classroom

Elementary Social Studies

The Missing Piece in Reading Comprehension: Social Studies

Reading tests don’t just measure decoding – they measure what students know. When social studies disappears from the elementary day, so does some of the context that makes reading meaningful.

upcoming webinar

Free Resource

Integrated ELA

The Elementary Time Problem: Too Much to Teach, Too Little Time

Elementary schools face more instructional demands than the day can hold. Learn how limited time affects teaching, what trade-offs educators face, and why integrated curriculum design helps make every minute count.

upcoming webinar

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Take a closer look at Inquiry Journeys

Inquiry Journeys (K–5 social studies curriculum) provides inquiry-based instruction for young learners through hands-on investigations and primary source analysis. Explore how elementary students build knowledge and skills by asking questions, analyzing evidence, and connecting learning to their lives and communities.

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