Meet the 2026 Inquiry Work Contest winners
Teachers across the country shared inquiry work from their classrooms this fall, from anchor charts and student work to classroom video. Thank you to every teacher who entered. These are the classrooms that stood out.
Students doing the thinking
Entries were scored on how clearly the work shows students investigating a question, building evidence and sharing their own thinking.
Telling the story of 6th grade through cave art
The Human Story
After studying early humans and the stories artifacts can tell, 6th graders created their own Paleolithic cave art. Using four symbols and no words, each student answered the question "What story would you tell?" Then they switched roles, analyzed the art as archaeologists and wrote museum placards to explain it. The finished pieces came together on a simulated cave wall that tells the story of 6th grade.
Sorting artifacts to uncover their stories
Native America
5th graders spent this inquiry investigating what artifacts can tell us and who they belong to. In the video, students work together to sort artifacts from Native American cultures into categories they came up with on their own, including materials, how items were used, time frame, tribe and how items were made. They then took a position on whether artifacts should be kept in museums or returned to their cultures of origin and wrote out their claims and reasoning, shown in the photo.
Interviewing the grown-ups who help our school
Navigating School
Kindergartners brainstormed the grown-ups who help at school and voted to interview their custodian. With teacher support, they wrote questions to learn about his role and his life outside of work, then illustrated and labeled what they learned.
A layer cake for a healthy democracy
Rights and Responsibilities
3rd graders designed a layer cake to show their audience how people can take part in a democracy. They decided which layer should support the ones above it, from knowing how government works and using your rights to staying informed, volunteering and voting.
Comic strips on the Agricultural Revolution
The Human Story
6th graders created two-part comic strips about the Agricultural Revolution. First, they illustrated the changes it brought, like farming in place of hunting and gathering and people taking on different jobs. Then they showed the impact on daily life and weighed the tradeoffs, such as a steadier food supply against crop failures and disease from domesticated animals.
More standout classrooms
These classrooms will also be featured in this year's showcase.
Star student bookmarks
My Team and Self
Students designed bookmarks about being a star student, and the winning designs are printed in color and handed out with library books.
A colonial regions quilt
The Colonial Era
Students researched how culture, geography and economics shaped each colonial region, then designed quilt blocks based on historical regional patterns that came together as a bulletin-board-sized quilt.
Native America inquiry wall
Native America
Students turned their research into large posters connected to each region on a hallway map that families explored during conferences.
Mapping a community's needs and wants
Meeting Needs and Wants
Students built a class community called Sunset California and created a word splash connecting their vocabulary, with many placing scarcity at the center.
Vocabulary anchor chart challenge
Natural Resources of the U.S.
Students reviewed unit vocabulary by racing to place each term on the correct anchor chart.
Student Works
Explore examples from the Inquiry Work Gallery.
Click on a thumbnail below to expand and view more images.
The first grade team worked on symbols that represented our school community. They included a MAP key to help the reader's understand the school "map."
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Wall Display
The first grade team worked on symbols that represented our school community. They included a MAP key to help the reader's understand the school "map."
Additional Info
Chrissy Milliken from Agnes Irwin School: PA, 1st Grade
To get the kids curious ahead of the Economic unit, I created this wall display. They are so inquisitive and can't wait to see what this unit will be about! I am excited to see what they will come up with as we begin!
Economic Choices
4th Grade
Wall Display
To get the kids curious ahead of the Economic unit, I created this wall display. They are so inquisitive and can't wait to see what this unit will be about! I am excited to see what they will come up with as we begin!
Additional Info
Linda Withers from Waukee Community School District: IA, 4th Grade
Please note that our inquiry wall covers Natural Resources, Our State and Region and Economic Choices (currently in process).
Our State and Region
4th Grade
Wall Display
Please note that our inquiry wall covers Natural Resources, Our State and Region and Economic Choices (currently in process).
Additional Info
Paul Han from Next Generation School: IL, 4th Grade
Check out our Inquiry Work display and the student work that was added to it.
Our State and Region
4th Grade
Inquiry-Long Display
Check out our Inquiry Work display and the student work that was added to it.
Additional Info
Alasia Badalamenti from South Brunswick School District: NJ, 4th Grade
This is certainly a work in progress but here is our Wall for Past, Present, and Future.
Past, Present, and Future
Kindergarten
Wall Display
This is certainly a work in progress but here is our Wall for Past, Present, and Future.
Additional Info
Jessia Volkers from The Kew-Forest School: NY, Kindergarten
Mrs. Hardy brought in her camera collection from the 1940s-1970s. She brought the cameras in as a real-life, tangible example of Innovation to go with the second grade Social Studies unit. Some of the best questions from the kids were: "Where do I look?", "Where do I click to take the photo?" and "What do all these other buttons and wheels do?" Here is a slideshow of pictures of all the cameras.
Innovation
2nd Grade
Other
Mrs. Hardy brought in her camera collection from the 1940s-1970s. She brought the cameras in as a real-life, tangible example of Innovation to go with the second grade Social Studies unit. Some of the best questions from the kids were: "Where do I look?", "Where do I click to take the photo?" and "What do all these other buttons and wheels do?" Here is a slideshow of pictures of all the cameras.
Additional Info
Christie Hardy from South Brunswick School District: NJ, 2nd Grade
Students painted birds eye view pictures, created maps and illustrated a page for a book. Their target audience was incoming kindergarten families.
Navigating School
Kindergarten
Wall Display
Students painted birds eye view pictures, created maps and illustrated a page for a book. Their target audience was incoming kindergarten families.
Additional Info
Jennie Greene from Skokie District 68: IL, Kindergarten
My students investigated the various factors that comprise our cultural identity to have a better understanding of the topic. They also investigated how the connections we form and sustain influence our cultural identities and knowledge of others.
Migration and Movement
3rd Grade
Wall Display
My students investigated the various factors that comprise our cultural identity to have a better understanding of the topic. They also investigated how the connections we form and sustain influence our cultural identities and knowledge of others.
Additional Info
Gloria Navarrete Rodriguez from dpsk12.net: CO, 3rd Grade
During the month of January and February, we studied the Civil Rights Movements and we celebrated African-American History.
Civic Engagement
3rd Grade
Wall Display
During the month of January and February, we studied the Civil Rights Movements and we celebrated African-American History.
Additional Info
Sonia Valero Arnal from San Francisco Unified School District: CA, 3rd Grade
Students created an innovation through the inquiry process. They then completed a guide stating the spark, how the invention works and the impact it will have. Students presented their innovation at a schoolwide Innovation Fair held for families.
Innovation
2nd Grade
Final Product
Students created an innovation through the inquiry process. They then completed a guide stating the spark, how the invention works and the impact it will have. Students presented their innovation at a schoolwide Innovation Fair held for families.
Additional Info
Barbara Mastin from Deerfield Public Schools District 109: IL, 2nd Grade
This is our Inquiry Wall displaying different activities worked on throughout the unit. Students had the opportunities to complete work independently as well as with partners throughout the unit. We have added to our display as the unit went on, and finally had the chance to see it completed at the end of the unit!
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Inquiry-Long Display
This is our Inquiry Wall displaying different activities worked on throughout the unit. Students had the opportunities to complete work independently as well as with partners throughout the unit. We have added to our display as the unit went on, and finally had the chance to see it completed at the end of the unit!
Additional Info
Amanda Fabian from South Brunswick School District: NJ, 1st Grade
This unit combined the second grade health unit on nutrition with the Changing Landscapes social studies unit. Students were permitted to select from a variety of inquiry products that aligned with the same inquiry challenge statement.
Our Changing Landscape
2nd Grade
Final Product
This unit combined the second grade health unit on nutrition with the Changing Landscapes social studies unit. Students were permitted to select from a variety of inquiry products that aligned with the same inquiry challenge statement.
Additional Info
Rachel Sciortino from South Brunswick School District: NJ, 2nd Grade
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