Celebrating inquiry in every classroom
Teachers across the country shared photos of students in the thick of inquiry — asking questions, testing ideas, and discovering something new. Here are the classrooms that stood out.
Outstanding inquiry across every grade
These classrooms were picked for their creativity, depth of questioning, and student engagement.
The Colonial Era
This end of unit project for the Colonial America unit asks students to explore an important event or aspect of colonial life. Students chose a topic and created an illustration in the medium of their choice. They also wrote a caption that explains the event from the perspectives of the different groups they studied, helping them consider how people experienced the same moment in different ways.
Migration & Movement
After reading about different waves of immigration, third grade students created posters about a specific immigrant group and presented what they learned to the class. The activity sparked discussion about push and pull factors and helped students understand the challenges immigrants faced before and after arriving in the United States.
My Team & Self
In the My Team and Self inquiry unit, students reflected on their own strengths and then identified the strengths of their classmates. They shared and celebrated these qualities as a class while learning how each person contributes to a team. The experience helped students understand the importance of teamwork and appreciating one another.
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Explore examples from the Inquiry Work Gallery.
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The bulletin board shows a cross curricular connection between ELA and Social Studies. We studied poetry in ELA and Natural Resources in Social Studies. Students wrote poems to describe the uses, challenges, and solutions of using natural resources.
Natural Resources of the U.S.
4th Grade
Inquiry-Long Display
The bulletin board shows a cross curricular connection between ELA and Social Studies. We studied poetry in ELA and Natural Resources in Social Studies. Students wrote poems to describe the uses, challenges, and solutions of using natural resources.
Additional Info
Ronye Craft from Detroit Public Schools Community - Parent District: MI, 4th Grade
The children loved working through this unit! They were very excited to included all the places in our school, as well as showing all the people that make our school a great place to learn. When choosing a project, they were eager to build something using all of the planning and prep work they had done.
Navigating School
Kindergarten
Wall Display
The children loved working through this unit! They were very excited to included all the places in our school, as well as showing all the people that make our school a great place to learn. When choosing a project, they were eager to build something using all of the planning and prep work they had done.
Additional Info
from , Kindergarten
Students created a community name and decided what was important in the community. We also created a community cheer. The teacher says: "Who let the dogs out?" student respond by barking. This has brought our class together as a community of learners.
Meeting Needs and Wants
2nd Grade
Wall Display
Students created a community name and decided what was important in the community. We also created a community cheer. The teacher says: "Who let the dogs out?" student respond by barking. This has brought our class together as a community of learners.
Additional Info
Farrell, Jean from School District of Lancaster: PA, 2nd Grade
This is our inquiry wall that we build throughout the American Revolution. There is a timeline on the bottom with the events. The students made portraits of revolutionaries on one side (quick sketches).
The American Revolution
5th Grade
Inquiry-Long Display
This is our inquiry wall that we build throughout the American Revolution. There is a timeline on the bottom with the events. The students made portraits of revolutionaries on one side (quick sketches).
Additional Info
Kkish from Hover: PA, 5th Grade
After completing our investigation in the unit, students were presented with these different options to showcase their work.
Native America
5th Grade
Final Product
After completing our investigation in the unit, students were presented with these different options to showcase their work.
Additional Info
Hannah Azofeifa-Urena from Flemington-Raritan School District: NJ, 5th Grade
Students created a Family Mobile to represent the members of their family.
Families Near and Far
1st Grade
Final Product
Students created a Family Mobile to represent the members of their family.
Additional Info
Emily Hagan from , 1st Grade
We are just starting the American Revolution unit and the kids had just completed the gallery walk and reading about revolution and revolutionary meanings. We came back to center and discussed our inquiry question. They wrote their thoughts while thinking about the people/events they had just read about.
The American Revolution
5th Grade
Anchor Chart
We are just starting the American Revolution unit and the kids had just completed the gallery walk and reading about revolution and revolutionary meanings. We came back to center and discussed our inquiry question. They wrote their thoughts while thinking about the people/events they had just read about.
Additional Info
Maribel Moon from Cherry Creek Schools: CO, 5th Grade
My students worked so hard this unit to reach our unit goal of celebrating cultural differences!
Global Connections
3rd Grade
Final Product
My students worked so hard this unit to reach our unit goal of celebrating cultural differences!
Additional Info
Ana Mejia from Newark Educators Community Charter School: NJ, 3rd Grade
Students taking a closer look at the immigrant experience by examining Ellis Island and furthering their understanding of the 3rd wave of immigration. They are also analyzing primary and secondary sources through media and photographs, as well as drawing conclusions about the impacts of immigration in the US.
Migration and Movement
3rd Grade
Students taking a closer look at the immigrant experience by examining Ellis Island and furthering their understanding of the 3rd wave of immigration. They are also analyzing primary and secondary sources through media and photographs, as well as drawing conclusions about the impacts of immigration in the US.
Additional Info
Yolanda Lee from San Francisco Unified School District: CA, 3rd Grade
6th grade World History wrapped up their module 1 and 2 learning with the creation of a children's book. The students worked in pairs to demonstrate the advancements, adaptions, innovations, and overall life of early humans. The students had two class periods (1 hr periods) to work on it, and then two weeks to finish on their own. They had a blast creating their projects. Many utilized Canva, as well as Google Slides, and some students hand drew their books.
The Human Story
6th Grade
Other
6th grade World History wrapped up their module 1 and 2 learning with the creation of a children's book. The students worked in pairs to demonstrate the advancements, adaptions, innovations, and overall life of early humans. The students had two class periods (1 hr periods) to work on it, and then two weeks to finish on their own. They had a blast creating their projects. Many utilized Canva, as well as Google Slides, and some students hand drew their books.
Additional Info
from , 6th Grade
Students work in small groups to learn more about their state's history.
Our State and Region
4th Grade
Handout
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Students work in small groups to learn more about their state's history.
Additional Info
Sarah Arndt from Kipp Texas, Inc.: TX, 4th Grade
Students learned all about Carol Stream and learned all about the amazing places you can visit.
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Inquiry-Long Display
.jpeg)
Students learned all about Carol Stream and learned all about the amazing places you can visit.
Additional Info
Kelly Ashline from Community Consolidated School District 93: IL, 1st Grade
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