inquirED Blog
Your source for inquiry-based learning and teaching strategies.
All blog posts
Elementary Social Studies
Inquiry-Based Learning: Research
Review key research showing how inquiry-based learning boosts academic outcomes, deepens understanding, and helps close achievement gaps across student groups.
upcoming webinar
Free Resource
Lesson Strategies
Engaging Discussion Strategy: Conver-Stations Protocol
Conver-stations allow students to discuss topics in constantly changing small groups. Use this format in response to complex discussion prompts or sources, including photos, videos, audio recordings, or written text.
upcoming webinar
Free Resource
Elementary Social Studies
Why Inquiry-Based Social Studies Matters in K–5 Classrooms
Discover how inquiry-based learning in social studies can transform elementary classrooms. Explore the benefits of student-centered instruction and get practical strategies in our free Inquiry in Social Studies Guide.
.webp)
upcoming webinar
Free Resource
Elementary Social Studies
Why Inquiry Skills Matter in K–5 Social Studies Classrooms
Discover the five Inquiry Skills at the heart of inquirED’s K–5 curriculum. Learn how Creative Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Personal Agency, Communication, and Collaboration help students build essential skills and deeper understanding through inquiry-based social studies.
upcoming webinar
Free Resource
Lesson Strategies
Group Roles | Inquiry Lesson Plan Strategy
In today's collaborative classrooms, the use of group roles can enhance productivity and improve the overall learning experience for students. There are two approaches to group roles: fixed and flexible. Both have their merits, depending on the lesson objectives and the needs of your students. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of each approach, provide examples of roles, and offer tips on how to implement them effectively in your classroom.
upcoming webinar
Free Resource
Webinars
Tell Me More: Using Diverse Books and Inquiry to Teach History
Picture books are a great way for students to investigate diverse perspectives in history and build literacy skills. Special guest Melissa Marks (Professor of Education, University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg) joined us for practical ideas about using inquiry, critical thinking, and diverse books in your classroom.
upcoming webinar
Free Resource
Webinars
Layers of Meaning: Knowledge Building and Complex Texts
Why do students need to grapple with complex texts? How can teachers scaffold these texts to help students build background knowledge and vocabulary? Join us as we examine how inquiry-based learning provides a framework for building layers of knowledge and meaning that help students get the most out of their interactions with complex texts.
upcoming webinar
Free Resource
Webinars
Background Knowledge and the Science of Reading
What role does background knowledge play in building literacy skills? How can social studies instruction support the development of these skills through knowledge building? We asked these questions during our webinar...
upcoming webinar
Free Resource
No results found.
There are no results with this criteria. Try changing your search.
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.
