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High quality curriculum, grounded in inquiry
Need standards alignment? We got that. Want joy? We got that too.
There’s a name for learning that’s both rigorous and joyful
Inquiry-based high-quality instructional materials are designed using a structured and rigorous approach to a pedagogy that’s known for student engagement. Students investigate a challenging question, build knowledge from complex text and authentic sources with a teacher guiding the way, and reason toward conclusions they can apply to new contexts.
High quality programs that turn a preschooler's why into a fifth grader's here’s why
Pre-K | TK
Full Day
Our youngest learners can do big things
Great First Eight is a play-based Pre-K/TK curriculum co-designed with Dr. Nell K. Duke. The PRe-K/TK curriculum builds knowledge across every content area, with hands-on projects and purposeful play.
Explore Great First Eight →K-2
ELA & Social Studies
ELA and social studies are better together
Inkwell integrates K–2 reading, writing, grammar, and social studies into one 70-minute block. Each Inkwell unit builds toward one big idea, text by text across ELA and social studies, so reading and writing add up to durable understanding.
K-5
Social Studies
Elementary students can ask big questions, investigate, and prove
Inquiry Journeys K–5 social studies is designed around complex questions and authentic primary and secondary sources. It builds the background knowledge first, then puts the real documents in their hands and teaches them to question them.
Explore Inquiry Journeys →Meet the designers and researchers behind inquirED’s programs
Dr. Nell K. Duke
Executive Director, Center for Early Literacy Success, Stand for Children; Professor, University of Michigan
EdWeek named her one of the most influential education scholars in the U.S., and the International Literacy Association awarded her the William S. Gray Citation of Merit.
Dr. Marisha L. Humphries
Co-Director, Great First Eight (PreK–Grade 2); Associate Professor and licensed clinical psychologist
Her research examines the social and emotional development of African American children in early learning settings.
Dr. Claire D. Vallotton
Co-Director, Great First Eight (Infant–Age 3); Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University
She leads CUPID, a national collaborative of 60 scholars working to prepare the infant and toddler care workforce.
Connie Hebert
Director of Curriculum, ELA, inquirED
She previously served as an ELA Content Specialist at EdReports.org and as a curriculum writer for the Louisiana Guidebooks project.
Shanti Elangovan
CEO and Founder, inquirED
She founded inquirED after teaching elementary school, and holds an M.Ed. from Teachers College and an MBA from the University of Iowa.
Elisabeth Ventling Simon
Chief Academic Officer and Co-Founder, inquirED
She spent over 16 years in public education before joining inquirED as Chief Academic Officer in the fall of 2017.
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What all that knowledge building is for
How learning transfers to new content through inquiry-based investigations
Students start with essential facts, deepen understanding by building concepts and schema, and then transfer what they’ve learned to new topics and real-world situations...all through purposeful, structured inquiry.
Learn more about the inquiry process.
This is how you build it
Marian Webb has spent years watching young writers freeze at the blank page. She joins Lit Talk to explain why, and what actually helps.
High quality curricula leaders and teachers love
“They’ll rise to the challenge.”
“Inkwell made it click!”
“They are imagining their dream jobs."
It’s not HQIM without embedded implementation services
Our professional learning services are tailored for each curriculum and customized to district and school needs. Our implementation coaches go beyond explaining how our instructional materials work. We help you build your plan for implementation and problem solve with you along way.
What you all do so well is take what we’re trying to do and help operationalize it within the context of not just inquirED ... but broader”
Elizabeth Triden
Executive Director, Science & Social Studies,
Detroit Public Schools
Join the conversation with some of our favorite people
Lit Talk with Dr. Nell K. Duke
webinar series
·
Literacy
Conversations on early literacy, writing, and the science of reading.
Source Material | NCSS and inquirED
webinar series
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Social Studies
The source material for stronger social studies teaching: classroom examples, teaching practices, and research, with inquirED and the National Council for the Social Studies.
latest thinking
explore
·
inkwell
How integrating ELA and social studies actually works
read
·
integrated ela
Writing for Meaning and Understanding: The Power of Integrated ELA and Social Studies
read
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integration
Deeper knowledge and comprehension
through ELA and social studies
integration
learn more
The research case for integrating ELA and social studies
A short, district-ready brief on why integration builds knowledge and strengthens literacy outcomes, with theevidence behind it.
FAQ
What is inquirED?
inquirED is an elementary curriculum company founded by teachers. We support educators with high-quality instructional materials that make joyful, rigorous, and transferable learning possible for every student. Our curricula include Great First Eight (Pre-K/TK), Inkwell (K–2 integrated ELA and social studies), and Inquiry Journeys (K–5 social studies).
What grade levels do inquirED’s curricula serve?
inquirED offers three curricula across early childhood and elementary grades. Great First Eight serves Pre-K and TK classrooms. Inkwell brings integrated ELA and social studies to grades K–2, with grades 3–5 in development. Inquiry Journeys, our elementary social studies curriculum, spans kindergarten through fifth grade. We also offer a World History curriculum for middle school.
What is inquiry-based HQIM?
High-quality instructional materials (HQIM) are standards-aligned, evidence-based curricula complete enough that teachers can focus on teaching instead of piecing lessons together. inquirED designs its HQIM around structured inquiry: students investigate compelling questions, build knowledge from primary and secondary sources, and apply what they learn in the real world, with step-by-step lesson plans that support teachers throughout.
What’s the difference between Inkwell, Inquiry Journeys, and Great First Eight?
Each curriculum serves a different grade band. Great First Eight, co-designed by Dr. Nell K. Duke, is a Pre-K/TK curriculum that builds early literacy, math, and other key areas of development through purposeful, play-based learning. Inkwell is a K–2 core curriculum that fully integrates ELA and social studies into one coherent 70-minute block. Inquiry Journeys is a K–5 social studies curriculum used in schools nationwide. All three share the same design principle: students build deep knowledge through structured inquiry.
Do inquirED’s curricula align to state standards?
Yes. Inquiry Journeys is aligned to state social studies standards and the C3 Framework. Inkwell addresses ELA and social studies standards together in a single instructional block. Great First Eight is grounded in research on early learning and development. Our team works with district leaders to map each curriculum to their state’s specific standards and requirements.
What implementation support is included?
inquirED pairs every curriculum with curriculum-based professional learning, an approach research links to stronger teaching and improved student outcomes. Support can include orientation sessions, instructional coaching, model lessons, leadership workshops, and ongoing check-ins throughout the school year, in virtual or in-person formats. Our team designs the plan around your district’s goals and timeline.
Is Inkwell a full ELA curriculum or a supplement?
Inkwell is a complete K–2 core ELA curriculum. It replaces traditional reading comprehension, writing, grammar, and language programs, and it teaches social studies in full within the same 70-minute block. Inkwell is designed to be used alongside your foundational skills curriculum, so decoding and meaning-making grow together.
Can a district adopt more than one inquirED curriculum?
Yes. Districts often pair curricula across grade bands: Great First Eight in Pre-K/TK, Inkwell in K–2, and Inquiry Journeys in grades 3–5 or across K–5. Because Inkwell teaches social studies in full, K–2 classrooms using Inkwell don’t need a separate social studies program. Our team can help you map the combination that fits your schedule and goals.
How can I see the curricula in action?
You can join a live product demo, experience a sample lesson, or explore sample materials for each curriculum. If you’re evaluating options for your district, our team can walk you through the curriculum that fits your grade levels and goals.
