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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Students created these flip books from Module 2/Lesson1: “Mapping our Location.” It took quite a few days to complete all the pages, but students loved learning about all the different places that they live. The song/video “Here I Am” is now a classroom favorite!
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Final Product
Students created these flip books from Module 2/Lesson1: “Mapping our Location.” It took quite a few days to complete all the pages, but students loved learning about all the different places that they live. The song/video “Here I Am” is now a classroom favorite!
Additional Info
Andrea Behm from Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95: IL, 1st Grade
These products were generated for their like grade level to continue their learning in order to expand their knowledge about Ancient Egypt.
Ancient Egypt
6th Grade
Final Product
These products were generated for their like grade level to continue their learning in order to expand their knowledge about Ancient Egypt.
Additional Info
Jen Renner from Janesville Community School District: IA, 6th Grade
We piloted our first unit this year in preparation for roll out next year. After completing the Banana Split activity, we made banana splits. Unlike classes in the US, we cannot always get the foods to make a traditional banana split, so I gathered recipes and made the sauces needed. These are the recipes.
Global Connections
3rd Grade
Other
We piloted our first unit this year in preparation for roll out next year. After completing the Banana Split activity, we made banana splits. Unlike classes in the US, we cannot always get the foods to make a traditional banana split, so I gathered recipes and made the sauces needed. These are the recipes.
Additional Info
Heather Chapman from Quality Schools International: IT, 3rd Grade
The community seal was a wonderful way for kids to reflect on their learning about our community before entering the "informed action" portion of the unit.
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Handout
The community seal was a wonderful way for kids to reflect on their learning about our community before entering the "informed action" portion of the unit.
Additional Info
Linda Dostie from Montpelier Public Schools: VT, 1st Grade
Students made brochures to showcase their special location… West Chester, Ohio!
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Final Product
Students made brochures to showcase their special location… West Chester, Ohio!
Additional Info
Jessica Hickey from Lakota Local School District: OH, 1st Grade
This display of our learning was posted outside of our classroom. Instead of making the cubes, we turned our Power Folders into mini posters. Kids worked together to paint different parts of their identity. We added a poem in the middle to tie in the theme of Myself and My Team.
My Team and Self
Kindergarten
Final Product
This display of our learning was posted outside of our classroom. Instead of making the cubes, we turned our Power Folders into mini posters. Kids worked together to paint different parts of their identity. We added a poem in the middle to tie in the theme of Myself and My Team.
Additional Info
Kristen Craig from Waukee Community School District: IA, Kindergarten
For the Needs and Wants lesson, we co-created an anchor chart, then the students sorted, cut and glued the needs and wants pictures. They discussed the items with their table groups. Most students said you need “love” to survive. ❤️❤️
Families Near and Far
1st Grade
Anchor Chart
For the Needs and Wants lesson, we co-created an anchor chart, then the students sorted, cut and glued the needs and wants pictures. They discussed the items with their table groups. Most students said you need “love” to survive. ❤️❤️
Additional Info
Andrea Behm from Lake Zurich Community Unit School District 95: IL, 1st Grade
This is the infographic students create in Module 3, Lesson 4.
The Colonial Era
5th Grade
Other
This is the infographic students create in Module 3, Lesson 4.
Additional Info
Danielle Ozanich from Berkley Schools: MI, 5th Grade
Native America
5th Grade
Final Product
Additional Info
Alba Figueroa from Kipp Texas, Inc.: TX, 5th Grade
Students made brochures to showcase their special location… West Chester, Ohio!
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Final Product
Students made brochures to showcase their special location… West Chester, Ohio!
Additional Info
Jessica Hickey from Lakota Local School District: OH, 1st Grade
The community seal was a wonderful way for kids to reflect on their learning about our community before entering the "informed action" portion of the unit.
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Handout
The community seal was a wonderful way for kids to reflect on their learning about our community before entering the "informed action" portion of the unit.
Additional Info
Linda Dostie from Montpelier Public Schools: VT, 1st Grade
The community seal was a wonderful way for kids to reflect on their learning about our community before entering the "informed action" portion of the unit.
Our Special Location
1st Grade
Handout
The community seal was a wonderful way for kids to reflect on their learning about our community before entering the "informed action" portion of the unit.
Additional Info
Linda Dostie from Montpelier Public Schools: VT, 1st Grade
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